Tajdeed

Issue of Takfir: Two types of Kufr (covering the truth) – What does it mean to commit Kufr Ni’ma (blessings of God)?

Bismillah

It was narrated to me from Muḥammad b. Manṣūr, he said: It was narrated to me from

Aḥmad b. ʿĪsā, from al-Ḥusayn, from Abī Khālid, from Zayd, from his forefathers, from ʿAlī

(upon him be peace), he said: A man said to him: O Amīr al-Muʾminīn, have you seen our

people, are they Mushriks? (intending the people of the Qiblah) He said: No by Allāh, they are

not Mushriks. For, if they were Mushriks it would not have been Halal for us to marry them, eat

their slaughterings, inherit them, reside under them, nor would the Ḥudūd be applied to them.

However, they have done Kufr to the blessings of Allāh, and deeds are not like the Kufr of Shirk.

al-Nāṣir al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī (upon him be peace) said: Shirk against the justice of Allāh, not the

Shirk of obeying the devil with Allāh.

Reference: ‘Al-Bisat’ by Imam Nasir al-Utroush – Translated by Muhammad al-Sharifi

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It is evident that takfir or excommunicating Muslims have been a major issue in the past, during the early days of Islam, and similarly it is still an ongoing issue today.

Kufr in Imaan:

The Zaydi school is strict, hence cautious in matters pertaining to takfir. As a result, they refrain from takfiring/excommunicating other Muslims who disagree with them on key theological issues.

One understanding is that although the Zaydi Usul (principles and foundations) are the correct answers in the major points of Islam, other Muslims have still sincerely aimed to reach to God, his Will and the Truth and their aim was not disobedience.

On the contrary, they have been sincere in tying to adhere to the authentic teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. This is especially important since all Muslims agree on the most established essentials, such as affirming the Oneness of God (Tawhid), believing in the Day of Judgement, obeying the Prophets and Messengers of God, knowing that there are metaphysical beings such as Angels who connect with mankind to transmit Divine information (i.e. Revelation/wahy) and affirming the sent Revelations or Divine scriptures like the Qur’an and striving to understand and abide by its Divine teachings and principles. So , how can one do takfir of people like this?

Kufr Ni’ma:

Nevertheless, a Muslim who commits major sin, a Muslim who disobeys God consistently and comfortably despite the clear and explicit injunctions of God in the Qur’an and Sunnah, then this individual had undoubtedly committed a type of Kufr and this kufr is referred to as Kufr Ni’ma, which is to cover or be ungrateful to the blessings, bounties and law of God Almighty.

The Zaydiyya, the Mu’tazila and the Ibadiyya concur that this type of Muslim is definitely in an intermediate state of fisq (disobedience and grave sin). This type of Muslim is neither a Mu’min (true believer) when sinning but they are also not a kafir (someone who is outside the fold of Islam due to affirming the essentials tenets of Islam).

Instead, He/she is in an intermediate state which is deserving of punishment on Judgement Day due to God Almighty threatening the disobedient, criminal and grave sinner who rebels against the clear, coherent and established commands of God Almighty.

Despite, sinning consistently without repentance or regretfulness is a type of kufr, it is not the same level of kufr as kufr in matters pertaining to shirk and faith/belief.

As a result, Muslims cannot takfir or use the derogatory word of kafir for these type of Muslims. Rather, what is appropriate is to use the word fasiq (disobedient sinner) and fajir (wicked person).

Otherwise, the laws and rulings which are restricted to Muslims will not apply to the disobedient Muslims. This way, they will be unjustly treated as complete disbelievers or Non-Muslims, which is clearly not the case.

Moreover, what if the Disobedient Muslim who is in fisq repents completely on one weakness he/she had regarding a major sin according to the Shari’a, this would complicate the matter even more.

One moment they would be a Muslim according to the law and another moment a non-Muslim and vice versa. It is obvious that this will be incoherent, inconsistent and impractical!

By Abul Hasan al-Gabikani al-Shadi al-Shaddadi al-Hadhabani -al-Kurdi