Tuesday, March 25, 2014

A Kaafir upon his death has two rulings:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Question: O Noble Shaikh! You said in one of your monthly meetings regarding a woman that had died: “she has died as a Kaafir, but we will not judge her to be in the fire”. Kindly clarify this issue, Jazaakum Allaahu khairaa?

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله answered: A Kaafir has two rulings: 1) a ruling in this world and 2) a ruling in the Hereafter. If in this world he died on the Kufr that he was upon, then he is as a Kaafir. It should not be said: “Perhaps he may have embraced Islaam when he realized that he is about to leave this world.” We say: “he (died) on what he was upon initially.” [1] We do not wash him, nor do we shroud him, nor do we offer prayer for him, nor do invoke Allaah’s mercy for him or forgiveness, nor do we bury him in the graveyard of the Muslims.

But it is not permissible that we affirm that a particular person is from the people of Jannah except when there is specific (textual) evidence (from the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, like the 10 who were given the glad tidings of being from the people of Paradise). Similarly, we do not affirm an individual is from the denizens of the Hellfire except when there is specific (textual) evidence (like Fir`aoun, Haamaan etc.). Rather we only say in general: Every Kaafir is in Hellfire. Alhamdulillaah, we do not affirm that any individual is in Hellfire. If a person is from the denizens of Hellfire, he will be among them, it doesn’t matter if we say it or not (i.e. our statement will not change his outcome in the Hereafter).

Therefore, the safest path for you is to say: I bear witness that whoever dies upon Kufr then he is in the Hellfire. But you saying so and so either he is a male or a female, then this is not allowed.

[لقاءات مع رجال الحسبة ص 47]
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[1] We are not supposed to assume things in the Deen. We take what we are presented with on the face value. If a Kaafir says the Shahaadah, then we accept it from him, even if it was in the battlefield when he was cornered. Similarly, if a person dies upon Kufr, and there is no one who heard him saying the Shahaadah, then we judge him to be what he was upon in the first place.

2 comments:

  1. barrakaAllaahoe fiek

    is there anyway to do prayer or duá for relatives who has died upon kufr?

    for a person who accepted Islaam, but his family is kaafir. may we do prayer on these relatives when they are still in this live?
    and when they are not here anymore? and what kind of prayer?

    may Allaah bless you with all the Good

    fi amaan Allaah

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    Replies
    1. Assalaam `alaikum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh.

      What is permissible is to supplicate to Allaah for the guidance of a kaafir while he is alive, as how the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed for the guidance of `Umar bin al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه before his embracing Islaam. [al-Tirmidhee (3681) and authenticated by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Saheehah (3225)]

      But it has been prohibited by Allaah to supplicate for their forgiveness once the matter has been made clear that they died upon kufr.

      Allaah تعالى says:

      ﴿مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِىِّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُواْ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُواْ أُوْلِى قُرْبَى مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَـبُ الْجَحِيمِ﴾

      {It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allaah's forgiveness for the Mushrikin, even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire (because they died in a state of disbelief).} [Surah Tawbah (9): 113]

      Narrated Sa`eed bin Al Musaiyab from his father: When the time of the death of Abu Taalib approached, Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم went to him and found Abu Jahl bin Hisham and `Abdullaah bin Abi Umaiyah bin Al-Mughirah by his side. Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم said to Abu Taalib, “O uncle! Say: None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah, a sentence with which I shall be a witness (i.e. argue) for you before Allaah.” Abu Jahl and `Abdullaah bin Abi Umaiyah said, "O Abu Taalib! Are you going to denounce the religion of `Abdul Muttalib?" Allaah's Apostle kept on inviting Abu Taalib to say it (i.e. 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah') while they (Abu Jahl and `Abdullaah) kept on repeating their statement till Abu Taalib said as his last statement that he was on the religion of `Abdul Muttalib and refused to say, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah.' (Then Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “I will keep on asking Allaah's forgiveness for you unless I am forbidden (by Allaah) to do so.” So Allaah revealed (the verse) concerning him (i.e. {It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe that they should invoke (Allaah) for forgiveness for pagans even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of the fire}). [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree]

      Baarak Allaahu feek.

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