The Things that Nullify One's Faith

The Things that Nullify One's Faith

Brothers and sisters! You must be aware that there are things that nullify your Islam. We will mention here the ten most common ones. Please be mindful of them.

The First: Associating partners with Allah (shirk). Allah, the Most High says:
{إِنَّهُ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ}
"Truly, whoever associates partner with Allah, Allah will forbid him the Garden, and his abode will be the Fire, and the wrongdoers will have no helpers" [Surah al-Maa`idah (5):72].

Invoking the dead, asking their help, or offering vows and sacrifices to them are all forms of shirk.

The Second: Setting up intermediaries between oneself and Allah, making supplication to them, asking their intercession with Allah, and placing one's trust in them is an act of unbelief (kufr).

The Third: Anyone who does not consider polytheists (mushrikeen) to be unbelievers, who has doubts concerning their unbelief, or considers their ways to be correct, is himself an unbeliever (kaafir).

The Fourth: Anyone who believes that some guidance other than the Prophet's guidance is more perfect or a judgement other than the Prophet's judgement is better has become an unbeliever. This applies to those who prefer the rule of the taaghoot over the Prophet's rule. Some examples are:
(a) To believe that systems and laws made by human beings are better than the Sharee'ah (legislative system) of Islam, for example:
i) That the Islamic system is not suitable for application in the twenty-first century.

ii) That the Islamic system is the cause of backwardness of Muslims.

iii) Or that Islam is only a relationship between a man and His Lord and does not have any relations with other aspects of life.

(b) To say that the implementation of the commands of Allah in regards to the fixed punishments (Hu-dood) prescribed by Allah, such as cutting off the hand of a thief or stoning an adulterer, is not suitable in this day and age.

(c) To believe that it is permissible to rule by a law other than what Allah has revealed in Islamic transactions, matters of criminal justice or other affairs, even if he does not believe that such rulings are superior to the Sharee'ah. This is because by doing so he would be declaring as permissible something which Allah made impermissible. Anyone who regards as permissible something that Allah has made impermissible, such as adultery, drinking alcohol, usury, and similar things whose prohibition is common knowledge; such a person has become an unbeliever according to the consensus of all Muslims.

The Fifth: Anyone who hates anything that the Messenger (peace be upon him) has declared to be lawful has nullified his Islam, even if he were to abide by it and act upon it. Allah says:
{ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَرِهُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ}
"This is because they disliked what Allah has re-vealed, so their deeds are brought to nothing." [Surah Muhammad (47):9]

The Sixth: Anyone who mocks Allah, His Book, His Messenger (peace be upon him) or any other aspect of Allah's religion has indeed become an unbeliever. Allah says:
{قُلْ أَبِاللهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ * لاَ تَعْتَذِرُواْ قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ}
"Say: Is it Allah, His Signs and His Messenger that you are mocking. Make no excuse: you have disbe-lieved after your (profession of) faith." [Surah at-Tawbah (9):65-66]

The Seventh: The practice of magic, which includes the act of separating between a husband and wife by turning his love for her into hatred, or tempting a person to do things he dislikes through devilish arts. Anyone who engages in such acts or is pleased with it is outside the circle of Islam. Allah, the Most High says:
{وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولاَ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلاَ تَكْفُرْ}
"The two angels (Haaroot and Maaroot) did not teach anyone (magic) without warning them: 'In-deed, we are a trial, therefore, do not disbelieve.' " [Surah al-Baqarah (2):102]

The Eighth: Supporting and aiding the polytheists against the Muslims. Allah says:
{وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ}
"He among you who supports them becomes one of them. Truly, Allah does not guide the people who do wrong." [Surah al-Maa`idah (5):51].

The Ninth: Anyone who believes that some people are permitted to deviate from the Sharee'ah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is an unbeliever, due to the saying of Allah :
{وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ}
"Anyone who seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he will be among the losers." [Surah Aali 'Imraan (3):85].

The Tenth: To turn away from the religion of Allah, or those aspects which are necessary in order to remain within its fold, neither learning its precepts nor acting upon it. Allah says:
{وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا عَمَّا أُنذِرُوا مُعْرِضُونَ}
"But those who disbelieve turn away from that of which they are warned." [Surah al-Ahqaaf (46):3].
It makes no difference whether such violations are committed jokingly, seriously, or out of fear, except if they are done under a state of compulsion.
We seek refuge in Allah from those deeds that entail His wrath and severe punishment.

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Taaghoot: Here it means any other person or system which is obeyed other than Islam. (Editor)

from A Guide to Hajj, 'Umrah and Visiting the Prophet's Mosque Booklet
Muhammad Bin Saleh Al-Othaimeen

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