A Murji Principle: No one is To Be Declared a Disbeliever Based on Their Actions or Statements Alone [Part 12]

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Allaah, the Most High, Said:

“And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this Qur'an) that when you hear the Verses of Allah being denied and mocked at, then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them” [an-Nisaa 4: 140]

This is further proof that a spoken word can be a proof of disbelief. Moreover, there is no proof in this Aayah that disbelief is restriction to beliefs of the heart alone.

Allaah, the Most High, Said about Iblees:

“And they prostrated except Iblis (Satan), he refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers (disobedient to Allah).” [al-Baqarah 2:34]

The disbelief of Iblees in this Aayah is the disbelief of obedience, becoming a disbeliever by not acting upon the Command of Allaah upon him.

Likewise, the Most High, Said:

“Say (O Muhammad  ): "Obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad  )." But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers.” [aal 'Imraan 3:32]     

        

This group of people have been declared as disbeliever based on their rejection and turning away from the obedience of Allaah.

It is also possible that disbelief could occur if one was completely negligent of the Religion of Allaah. He, the Most High, Said about this:

“But those who disbelieve turn away from that whereof they are warned.” [al-Ahqaaf 46:3]

And He, the Glorified, Said:

“And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of his Lord, then he turns aside therefrom?” [as-Sajdah 33: 22]

And He,the Glorified, the Most High, Said:

“ Sulaiman did not disbelieve, but the Shayatin (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magi” [al-Baqarah 2:102]

Here, those who practice magic have been described as being disbelievers. A ruling of disbelief established upon them based on practicing and learning these actions.

A consensus of the scholars has also been narrated on the disbelief of a person if they were to commit certain actions of disbelief. Examples of disbelief via actions and consensus on its rulings has been narrated by the likes of Ishaaq bin Raahooyah[1], Abee Thawr[2], Ibn Hazm[3], Ibn al-'Arabee al-Maalikee[4], Ibn Taymiyyah[5], Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahmaan bin Hasan[6], Shaykh Muhammad bin Ibraheem[7] and others. In fact, the scholars have recorded in the books of Fiqh, chapters which describe rulings connected to apostates. Again, proof that disbelief occurs in the actions of a person and likewise their statements. In fact, some statements and actions have been described as major disbelief (Kufr).

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[1] Ta'theem Qadr as-Salaat (2/93) and Saarim al-Maslool (Pg. 152)

[2] Sharh Usool al-'Itiqaad ahl as-Sunnah of Laleekaa'ee (4/849)

[3] Al-Fusl (3/249)

[4] Ahkaam al-Quraan (2/987)

[5] As-Saarim al-Maslool (Pg. 514)

[6] Majmoo'ah as-Raasil wa al-Masaa'il an-Najdiyyah (1/380)

[7] Sharh Kashf ash-Shubuhaat (Pg. 102)