Sunday, December 16, 2012

The Prohibition of Calling a Muslim an Infidel


The Prohibition of Calling a Muslim an Infidel

By Al-Imam An-Nawawi

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;
All the praise and Thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-‘ālameen. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam, is His Messenger


1732. Ibn 'Umar (radiyallāhu’anhu) said: The Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: "When a person calls his brother (in Islam) a disbeliever, one of them will certainly deserve the title. If the addressee is so as he has asserted, the disbelief of the man is confirmed, but if it is untrue, then it will revert to him."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: We learn from this Hadith that to call a Muslim a Kafir is strictly prohibited because if the one who has been called as such does not have the traits which makes him a Kafir, then the one who says it will be held Kafir.

1733. Abu Dharr (radiyallāhu’anhu) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) saying, "If somebody accuses another of disbelief or calls him the enemy of Allah, such an accusation will revert to him (the accuser) if the accused is innocent."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith also tells us that to call without reason any Muslim a Kafir or enemy of Allah is strictly prohibited.

And Allāh Almighty Knows best.

[Via Guided ways from The Prohibition of Calling a Muslim an Infidel, Chapter # 326, Riyad-Us-Saliheen Compiled, and By Al-Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi]