(Prepared by Dr. Saleh as-Saleh, this essay is based on Shaykh Muhammad At-Tameemi’s Classification)
Know that Allaah has made it very clear that mankind must follow Islaam, hold fast to it and dissociate from whatever contradicts it. The declaration that "There is no God but Allaah" not only negates all false deities and confirms worship only to Allaah, it also requires the complete dissociation from any form of worship to any false deity; Allaah (subhanahuhu wa ta’ala) says:
"There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taaghut (false deities) and believes in Allaah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break.” (Qur'an 2: 256)
Furthermore, to declare that Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) is the Messenger and slave of Allaah requires the belief that Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) is trusted by Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) to deliver the Message of Islaam, and that Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) is to be followed and obeyed because Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) decreed in the Qur’an:
"And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it. And whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it) and fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is severe in punishment." (Qur'an 59: 7)
All the ways and methods that are needed by the Muslim to fulfill this declaration of Tawheed are explained in the Qur'an and by the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam). Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and His Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) warned that there are ways that lead to Shirk, Kufr and rejection of Faith. The Muslim must be very knowledgeable about Tawheed so that he does not indulge in practices and concepts that contradict the essence of Islaam. The most dangerous and widely existing ways that breach Tawheed are:
ONE: Shirk in the worship of Allah: to associate something and/or anyone in the worship of Allaah:
"Verily Allaah forgives not setting up rivals in worship with Him, but He forgives whom He pleases other sins than that." (Qur’an 4: 116)
"Verily, whosoever sets up rivals in worship with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Al Jannah for him, and the Fire will be his abode." (Qur’an 5: 72)
TWO: Setting up intermediaries between a person and Allaah is Kufr (disbelief): Calling upon them and seeking their intercession and depending upon them. Those who do this are taking "associates" with Allaah and this is Shirk.
Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:
"Then set not up rivals unto Allaah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshiped). (Qur'an 2: 22)
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) was asked: 'Which sin is the Gravest? He said: "That you set up rivals unto Allaah (despite the fact) that He has created you.” Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:
"And call not on other than Allaah, any that will neither profit you, nor hurt you but if (in case) you did so, you shall certainly be one of the unjust people (those who commit Shirk)". (Qur’an 10:106)
THREE: Believing that the Mushrikeen (those who commit Shirk) are not Kuffar or doubting their Kufr or defending and justifying the beliefs of the Kuffar, is Kufr.
Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:
"And if any amongst you who take them (wholeheartedly) as friends, then surely he is one of them”.
(Qur'an 5: 51)
This is one of the greatest contradictions to Tawheed. Here it is important to caution that many Muslims are reluctant (and feel ashamed) to say the word "Kufr" to describe a disbeliever or to point out their acts of Shirk. Some even look at the Kuffar with great deal of admiration, fear and obedience. Those have an inferiority complex that leads them to become blind followers and defenders of the Kuffar and their ways. They are at grave danger since this may “melt” their identity.
The Muslim's position about these matters must be dissociation from Kufr and Shirk, and that Love must be the Love for Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), His Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) and the believers:
"Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Awliyaa' (supporters, helpers, etc.) instead of believers, and whoever does that will never be helped by Allaah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allaah warns you against Himself (His punishment), and to Allaah is the final return." (Qur’an 3: 28)
FOUR: The belief that guidance by someone other than the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) is better or that ruling by other than the rule of Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) is better, then this is Kufr. The rule of Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) is the rule of Allaah:
"But no, by your Lord, they can have no true Faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept (them) fully with submission."
(Qur'an 4: 65)
Some examples of this are:
(a) The belief that systems and laws made by human beings are better than, or equal to the Sharee'ah of Islaam; or that Islamic system is not suitable for the contemporary times, and that Islaam is the cause of backwardness of the Muslims.
(b) The belief that enforcing the punishments prescribed by Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), such as cutting of the hand of the thief or the stoning of an adulterer, is not suitable for this day and age.
FIVE: Hating any command or anything of the Prophet's (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) Message despite practicing it is Kufr.
Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:
"That is because they hate that which Allaah has sent down, so He has made their deeds fruitless." (Qur'an 47: 9)
SIX: Mocking any part of Islaam or any of Allaah's Names and Attributes is Kufr.
Allaah, the Most High, says:
"Was it at Allaah, and His signs, and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuse, you have disbelieved (became Kuffar) after you had believed” (Qur'an 9: 65-66)
SEVEN: Involvement in Magic: Considering it permissible to practice and spread ways that may (i) sway man from the good things he likes (e.g., using magic to sow discord between a man and his wife) or (ii) reduce man to do what he dislikes or is bad for him. These ways of magic are Satanic.
Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:
"Solomon did not disbelieve but the devils disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Harut and Marut, but neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said: We are only for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning the magic from us)."(Qur'an 2: 102)
Today, we see many people seek help from the so called fortune-tellers. They believe that these tellers know what will happen. This is Kufr. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) warned that:
"Whoever goes to a priest (soothsayer or a fortuneteller), and believes him in what he says has committed Kufr and denied what was revealed to Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam)”
EIGHT: Standing by the Mushrikeen, supporting them and helping them against the Muslims (so that they will be the prevalent ones) is Kufr.
Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:
"And he amongst you who take them as friends (WHOLEHEARTEDLY), then surely he is one of them." (Qur'an 5: 51)
NINE: Believing that some "special" people don't have to follow the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) is Kufr because this negates the second part of the declaration of Tawheed 'Muhammad is the slave and Messenger of Allaah,” since this constitutes desiring a "religion" other than Islaam.
Allaah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:
"And whoever desires a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." (Qur’an 3: 85)
TEN: Completely turning away from the religion of Allaah, not learning it and practicing it, is Kufr.
"And who does wrong than the one to whom are recited the Aayat (proofs, evidences, verses, revelations, etc.) of his Lord, then he turns aside therefrom? Verily, We shall exact retribution from the Mujrimin (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners etc.)" (Qur’an 32: 22)
Allah also says: "But those who disbelieve turn away from that about which they are warned." (Qur’an 46:3).
Finally, it must be pointed out that there is no difference (in accountability) between the one who seriously commits any of the above acts or the one who claims to be just "joking", "playing" or "mocking"! The only exception is when someone commits any of these acts under compulsion; even then his heart must be filled with faith and Tawheed of Allaah.
Another serious matter is the issue of declaring someone Kufr (rulers or ruled). This is to be left to the reliable scholars who follow the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah, not to innovators and the politically and emotionally driven people. We must fear Allah in this matter which had caused and is still causing deviation in the Ummah at large.
We seek refuge in Allaah from such deeds and we ask Him to make the truth clear to us all.
