Calling Muslims as non-Muslims

30-3-2006 | IslamWeb

Question:

There are some Soofi groups who affiliate themselves to Islam but they associate partners to Allaah, so is a person who does not declare them as non-Muslims a non-Muslim himself?

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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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

A Muslim should be very careful and not hasten to call someone a non-Muslim, as this is a very serious matter. The consequences that result therefrom are very grave, because if a person is confirmed to be a non-Muslim, he should be separated from his spouse, and he will be prevented from inheriting or being inherited, and he deserves to eternally abide in Hellfire on the Day of Judgement, and so forth. It is for this reason that it is strictly forbidden in Islam to call a Muslim a non-Muslim before making sure that the conditions of declaring someone a non-Muslim are met while there are no impediments of calling him as such. Ibn Taymiyyah said: 'No one can declare a Muslim as a non-Muslim even if he is wrong and has committed a grave error, until the evidence is established against him and the proofs are presented to him. If a person is truly confirmed to be a Muslim, this cannot be changed from him with doubt. Islam cannot be withdrawn from a person until the evidence is established against him and the misconception is removed.'

Allaah Knows best.