As the Murji’ah erred in their understanding of
Kufr, stating that Kufr is denial and rejection and denial and rejection can
not be of various degrees. This has resulted them in defining all forms of Kufr
being the major kind, without any exception.
Undoubtedly, this is an error in their belief
as it conflicts with the explicit texts of the Sharee’ah which categorizes Kufr into Major and Minor forms and not defining all forms of Kufr being major
that expel a person outside the fold of al-Islaam.
Allaah, the Most High, Said:
“Verily, those
who believe, then disbelieve, then believe (again), and (again) disbelieve, and
go on increasing in disbelief; Allah will not forgive them” [an-Nisaa’ 4:137]
Here we have proof that Kufr can increase.
Allaah, the Most High, Said:
“Verily, those
who disbelieved after their Belief and then went on increasing in their
disbelief” [aal ‘Imraan 3: 90]
Allaah, the Most High, Said:
“The changing of
the Islaamic months is indeed an addition to disbelief they already possess” [at-Tawbah 9: 37]
There is also proof in the fact that Allaah has
deciphered the various degrees of punishment in the Hellfire depending on the
severity of a person’s Kufr, so Aboo Taalib, for example, will have a lesser
form of punishment[1]
compared to the hypocrites who will be in the lowest pits of the blazing fire
(cf. Surah an-Nisaa’ 4: 145):
“Those who disbelieved and hinder (men) from the Path of Allah, for
them We will add torment over the torment” [an-Nahl 16:88]
As a result of this unfounded belief of the
Murji’ah, they have opined that the Kuffaar are not bound by the rules of the
Sharee’ah. This sub-topic stems from two aspects:
Firstly, some of them held the safer opinion
that the Kuffaar are accountable and are obligated to have Emaan. They argued
that al-Emaan is accepting faith within ones heart, and even the Kuffaar are
bound by this command. Despite this stance, the view of the Murji’ah, their methodology and definitions, opposes the school of the Salaf. Thus, what is correct is to
say that the Kuffaar are accountable to believe in al-Islaam and to declare the
testimonies of faith.
The second aspect connected to this is the
issue of the Kuffaar being held to account over the various aspects of the
Sharee’ah in the Hereafter. The Murji’ah put forward that Kufr has no degrees,
all of it is of the same type. With this being the case they argue that the punishment for Kufr does not vary in the Hereafter and that all forms of Kufr
are punished in the same light. They argue that the Kuffaar were not
accountable to follow the various aspects of the Sharee’ah in the Dunyaa alone
and thus not punishable in the Hereafter. This was also discussed by some of
the scholars of Usool al-Fiqh (the Usooleeyeen) but this view is incorrect.
The
one who opposes the Sharee’ah only opposes it with its punishment in the
Hereafter. As for their punishments in the Dunyaa then it differs according to
their type of Kufr. The rulings over them in the Dunyaa is dictated by the
type of Kuffaar that they are guilty of. Some of them are punished for being at
war against Islaam and the Muslims, others fall under the category of being
under treaty and are protected, whilst others are guilty of apostasy and must
be punished. This has been explained in greater detail in a book that I have
authored entitled, at-Tafreeq bayn al-Usool wa al-Furoo’ (The Difference
between the Principles and the Branches of the Religion)[2].
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