Sheikh Uthaymeen explaining that whoever denies that a Jew or Christian is a Kaafir, then he is a Kaafir himself
03-08-07
[This is by
far one of the most useful fataawaa that can be used in the West. In the West,
we have the Murji’ah propagating that we are not allowed to call the Jews,
Christians (and other disbelievers) as Kaafir. This is a statement of
misguidance that can lead to apostasy. Let it be clear that every single Jew and
Christian - whether they are good mannered or ill mannered - are all Kaafir; and
anyone who denies this after the evidence is established, is a Kaafir himself.
The childish argument of, “You don’t know if they will become Muslim,” doesn’t
hold any weight when they are outwardly practicing Kufr and Shirk; and by the
standards of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah, we judge by what is apparent and that is
how our system works under an Islamic State.]
Question:
One of the preachers in one of the mosques in Europe claimed that it is not
allowed to consider Jews and Christians disbelievers. You know - may Allah
preserve you - that most of the people who attend the mosques in Europe have
very little knowledge. We fear that statements like this one will become
widespread. Therefore, we request from you a complete and clear answer to this
question.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-`Uthaymeen
replies:
I say: The statement that came from that man is misguidance. In fact, it can be
blasphemy. This is because Allah has declared that Jews and Christians are
disbelievers (kuffaar) in His Book. Allah has said, “And the Jews say, ‘Ezra is
the son of Allah,’ and the Christians say, ‘The Messiah is the son of Allah.’
This is a saying from their mouths. They imitate the saying of the disbelievers
of old. Allah’s curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth. They
took their rabbis and their monks as lords besides Allah and [they also took as
Lord] the Messiah, son of Mary. But they were commanded only to worship none but
One God. Praise and Glory be to Him, [far above is He] from having the partners
they associate with Him.” [at-Taubah 9:30-31] That shows that they are
polytheists who associate partners with Allah. In other verses, Allah has made
it clear that they are disbelievers:
“Surely in disbelief are they who say that Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary.”
[al-Maidah 5:17 and 72]
“Surely, disbelievers are those who said, ‘Allah is the third of the three [in a
Trinity].” [al-Maidah 5:73]
“Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of
David and Jesus, son of Mary.” [al-Maidah 5:87]
“Those who disbelieve among the People of the Book and the idolaters will abide
in the Fire of Hell.” [al-Bayyinah 98:6]
Many verses and hadith express the same meaning. The one who rejects the idea
that the Jews and the Christians who do not believe in Muhammad [peace be upon
him] and deny him are disbelievers is, in fact, denying what Allah has said.
Denying what Allah has said is blasphemy. If anyone has any doubt concerning
them being disbelievers, then he himself is also a disbeliever.
Glory be to Allah!
How could that man be pleased to say that it is not allowed to say that they are
disbelievers when they themselves say that Allah is one of a Trinity? Their
Creator Himself has declared that they are disbelievers.
How could this man not be pleased to call them disbelievers when they actually
say, “Jesus is the son of God” or “the hand of Allah is tied,” and “Allah is
poor and we are rich”?
How could this man not be pleased to call them disbelievers and apply the word
of disbelief (kufr) to them in general when they describe their Lord in such
ways that are nothing but cursing and abusing Allah?
I call upon that man to repent to Allah and to read Allah’s words, “They wish
that you should compromise (in religion out of courtesy) with them, so that they
(too) would compromise with you.” [al-Qalam (68):9] He should make it clear to
everyone that they are disbelievers and that they are the inhabitants of the
Hell-fire. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “By the One in whose hand my
soul is, no Jew or Christian of this community hears about me - that is from the
community of people from the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) until the
Day of Judgment - and then does not follow me - or he said does not believe in
what I brought - except that he is from the inhabitants of the Hell-fire.” [Saheeh
Muslim]
The one who made such a statement must repent to his Lord because of this great
falsehood he has stated. He must make a clear announcement that they are
disbelievers and that they are inhabitants of the Hell-fire. He must also
announce that it is obligatory upon them to follow the unlettered Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him). he is the one that the Jews and the Christians
know and they know him like they know their own sons. Allah has stated, “Those
who follow the Messenger, the illiterate Prophet whom they find written about
with them in the Torah and the Gospel, he commands what is right and forbids
what is evil. He allows them the good things and forbids for them disdainful
things. He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the fetters that were
upon them. So those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the
light which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful.”
[al-Araf 7:157]
He is the one of whom Jesus, son of Mary (peace be upon him) gave glad tidings.
Jesus said, as His Lord states in the Quran, “O Israel, I am the Messenger of
Allah for you confirming the Torah (which came) before me, and giving glad
tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad [one of the names
of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him]. But when he came to them with clear
proofs, they said, ‘This is clear magic.’” [as-Saff 61:6]
When the one, Ahmad, who was promised came to them with clear signs, they said
that it was nothing but magic. By this, we can refute those Christians who say
that the one Jesus promised was named Ahmad and not Muhammad. We say to that
that Allah said, “When he came with clear proofs,” and none has come to you
after Jesus except Muhammad (peace be upon him). Muhammad is Ahmad and Allah
inspired Jesus to call Muhammad Ahmad. This is because Ahmad is a name from the
root meaning, “to praise,” and the name itself means, “One who praises Allah
more than others.” Therefore, [Muhammad (peace be upon him)] is the most
praiseworthy of Allah among all peoples…
I further say: If anyone claims that there is a religion on earth other than
Islam that is acceptable to Allah, then the person who made that claim is a
disbeliever and there is no doubt about his disbelief. This is because Allah has
said in His Book, “Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be
accepted from him and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers. [ali-Imran
3:85]. Allah has also said, “Truly, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam”
[ali-Imran 3:19]. Another verse states, “This day, I have perfected your
religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as
your religion” [al-Maida 5:3]
Based on that - and I repeat it for a third time - the person who made that
statement [mentioned in the question] must repent to Allah, Most High. And he
must also make it clear to all the people that those Jews and Christians are
disbelievers. This is so because the proof has been established against them,
they have received the message but they have refused to believe.
The Jews have been described as those who have earned Allah’s wrath. That is
because they knew the truth and chose to go against it. The Christians have been
described as those who have gone astray. This is because they sought the truth
but were misled from it. Now, all of them have knowledge of the truth and
recognize it. However, they go against it. Therefore, they all deserve to have
the wrath of Allah upon them. I call all those Jews and Christians to believe in
Allah and all of His Messengers. I call upon them to follow the Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him). This is what they have been ordered to do in their own
books. Allah states in the Quran, “My Mercy embraces all things. That (Mercy) I
shall ordain for those who are God-fearing and give zakat, and those who believe
in Our revelations. Those who follow the Messenger, the illiterate Prophet whom
they find written about with them in the Torah and the Gospel, he commands what
is right and forbids what is evil. He allows them the good things and forbids
for them disdainful things. He releases them from their heavy burdens and from
the fetters that were upon them. So those who believe in him, honor him, help
him, and follow the light which has been sent down with him, it is they who will
be successful. Say (O Muhammad): O Mankind! Verily, I am sent to all of you as
the Messenger of Allah, to whom belongs the heavens and the earth. There is no
true God but He. It is He who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah
and His Messenger, the unlettered, who believes in Allah and His Words. And
follow him so that you may be guided.” [al-Araf 7:156-158].
[By having such faith, those converts from Judaism and Christianity] shall
receive their reward twice. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,
“There are three people who will receive their rewards twice: A person from the
People of the Book [Jews and Christians] who believed in his prophet and
believed in Muhammad…” [al-Bukhari and Muslim].
I have also found in the law book al-Iqna`, in the section on apostasy, where
the author has stated, “One who does not consider as a disbeliever one who
follows a religion other than Islam, such as the Christians, or who has doubt
about their disbelief or who approves of their way himself is a disbeliever.”
And he quotes Ibn Taimiya as saying, “[The following is] a disbeliever: Whoever
believes that churches are the houses of Allah in which he He is worshipped or
who thinks that what the Jews and Christians do are valid acts of worship of
Allah and obedience to Him and His Messenger, or loves or approves of what they
do, or aids them in having such places and establishing their religion, and he
does so thinking that is a way of getting closer to Allah or worshipping Allah.”
He also stated, “If someone believes that visiting the Jews and the Christians
in their places of worship is an act that brings him closer to Allah, then he is
an apostate.”
These statements support what was stated in the text of the answer. This is a
matter concerning which there is no room for doubt. And help is sought only with
Allah.
This question was responded by
Ibn Uthaimin, Fatawa Islamiya, vol. 1, p. 87