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Fatwa CenterLabeling a Muslim with disbelief
Question
My father is associated to a Sufi Tareeqah (Path). He also holds celebrations for birthdays of the (claimed) ‘Allies of Allaah’ and glorifies the dead. If he dies before he is educated beyond excuse of ignorance and doubt, what is the ruling of Islam on his case and the consequent rulings related to the family?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
There is no doubt that Sufi Tareeqahs nowadays are characterized by a lot of deviation, practicing of Bid‘ahs (religious innovations) and myths. Some of these corrupt practices affect the core of ‘Aqeedah (creed), which must be preserved beyond Shirk (polytheism) and doubts.
Some of Sufis, in reality, supplicate to other than Allaah, seek relief from the dead and believe in attaining benefits and warding off harm through their spiritual mentors, whom they call the ‘Allies of Allaah.’
Also, other Sufis practice Bid‘ahs (religious innovations) in their acts of worship. None of them are blameless of believing in myths, erroneous things, incorrect stories and presenting weak and fabricated Hadeeths as evidence for their practices.
However, no judgment is to be passed on anyone for merely being associated with a Sufi Tareeqah, unless he is educated beyond excuse of ignorance and doubt, the conditions for passing such a judgment are fulfilled and there are no impediments. He may simply be ignorant or present evidence in other than its proper context. Such judgments may lead to labeling a person with disbelief, a matter which is not trivial because of its consequences in this world and the Hereafter. In the Hereafter, the disbeliever deserves eternity in Hell; and in this world he deserves the penalty of death for apostasy. The consequences of apostasy also include separation from his Muslim wife; deprivation of inheritance; his inheritance not being allowed to be distributed; him not being prayed over, and him not being buried in the graveyards of the Muslims.
Therefore, many of the Salaf (Righteous Predecessors) were cautious not to label anyone who was apparently a Muslim with disbelief. Some of them said that committing mistakes in considering a thousand persons as Muslim was preferable to them than being the cause of people considering one person as other than Muslim.
Moreover, it is reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that anyone who calls his fellow Muslim a disbeliever, while he is actually not so, then the word returns upon him. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Accordingly, your father is to be treated as a Muslim in his life and after his death. However, you have to advise him to renounce Sufism and tell him about its defects and the statements of competent researching scholars regarding it. Also, inform him of Fataawa issued by such scholars about Sufism so that Allaah the Almighty may help him to relinquish the practices of Bid‘ah.
Dear brother, do not forget the Divine order to be dutiful to your parents. That is, to be good to your parents, even if they are non-Muslims, and to obey them unless they order you to do an act of disobedience. Allaah the Almighty Says (what means): {And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. To Me is your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.} [Quran 29:8]
Allaah Knows best.
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