⫷ Islam Nullifiers, Rulings, and the Legal Punishment for Apostasy ⫸
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❖ Understanding the Nullifiers of Islam
In Islam, the nullifiers of Islam (نواقض اسلام) refer to those words, actions, or beliefs that expel a person from the fold of Islam. The scholars hold a unanimous and decisive stance that the perpetrator of such acts becomes an apostate (مرتد)—whether committed in jest or seriousness, except for someone who is coerced under compulsion.
◈ Major Acts That Nullify Islam
Here are some of the key nullifiers of Islam:
① Insulting Allah, His Messengers, or Angels
– Whoever insults Allah, any of His messengers, or His angels, is a disbeliever (کافر).
② Denial of Any Prophet or Finality of Prophethood
– Denying any Prophet or Messenger is disbelief.
– Believing in the arrival of any new prophet after Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is also disbelief.
③ Denial of Obligatory Acts in the Shari’ah
– Denial of obligations such as Salah (prayer), Zakat, fasting, Hajj, obedience to parents, or Jihad is tantamount to disbelief.
④ Considering Forbidden Acts as Permissible
– One who considers forbidden acts such as fornication, alcohol consumption, theft, magic, or murder to be lawful, is a disbeliever.
⑤ Disrespecting the Qur’an
– Whoever throws the Qur’an in a filthy place, tramples it underfoot, or shows disrespect, is a disbeliever.
⑥ Denial of Articles of Faith
– Denying belief in Allah, His angels, messengers, divine books, or the Hereafter results in disbelief.
⑦ Denial of the Attributes of Allah
– Denying any of the attributes of Allah, such as ٱلْحَيُّ، ٱلْعَلِيمُ، ٱلسَّمِيعُ، ٱلْبَصِيرُ، ٱلرَّحِيمُ, constitutes disbelief and apostasy.
✔ Ruling is the Same Whether in Jest or Seriousness
These matters pertain to the fundamentals of the religion. Whether a person commits them seriously or in jest, he exits the fold of Islam.
However, a person under severe coercion, who outwardly expresses disbelief to save his life but remains content with faith in his heart, is not a disbeliever.
Qur’anic Evidence:
“مَن كَفَرَ بِاللَّـهِ مِن بَعْدِ إِيمَانِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَـٰكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ” (An-Nahl 106)
“ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ اسْتَحَبُّوا الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى الْآخِرَةِ وَأَنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ” (An-Nahl 107)
These verses address those who prefer worldly life over the Hereafter, thus choosing disbelief due to worldly attachments.
❖ Choosing the World Over Religion is Disbelief
Anyone who abandons the laws of Islam merely to retain worldly wealth, status, or respect, is also considered a disbeliever.
✿ Incident of Tabuk and Disbelief in Jest
During the Battle of Tabuk, some hypocrites made derogatory remarks about the Companions رضي الله عنهم in jest. In response, Allah revealed:
“لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ” (At-Tawbah 66)
“Do not make excuses; you have disbelieved after your belief.”
This verse makes it clear that words of disbelief uttered in jest also expel a person from Islam.
❖ Sayings of Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab رحمه الله
– Tawheed must be affirmed by heart, tongue, and actions.
– One who affirms it only verbally or internally but denies it through actions, is a rebellious disbeliever, like Iblis or Pharaoh.
– Those who say: “We believe in the truth but cannot act upon it due to societal constraints” are also disbelievers.
Qur’anic Evidence:
“اشْتَرَوْا بِآيَاتِ اللَّـهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا” (At-Tawbah 9)
“They sold Allah’s verses for a small price.”
❖ Hypocrisy and the Fate of a Hypocrite
– One who does not believe in Tawheed in the heart, even if he acts upon it outwardly, is a hypocrite—worse than disbelievers.
“إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ” (An-Nisa 148)
“Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of Hell.”
❖ Worldly Fear and Greed: A Mark of Hypocrisy
– Failing to practice the truth due to fear of loss or societal disgrace is a sign of hypocrisy.
– Many people acknowledge the truth verbally, but lack internal conviction, hence fail to act upon it.
✦ Reflection on Two Key Verses
① At-Tawbah 65
“لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ”
“Do not make excuses; you have disbelieved after your belief.”
▶ This was revealed regarding hypocrites who mocked the Companions. Their jest was considered disbelief.
② An-Nahl 106–107
▶ Allah does not accept excuses of those who prefer worldly gains over religion, even if it is due to family or material love.
❖ Two Types of Coercion
1. Apparent Compulsion
– One who is forced by threat or physical coercion, while the heart remains firm on faith, is excused.
2. Internal Hesitation (Worldly Interests)
– Abandoning religion for wealth, fame, or comfort is not excusable.
⚖ The Shari’ah Ruling on the Apostate
◈ Incident with ʿAli رضي الله عنه
Ikrimah رحمه الله narrates: Some apostates were brought before ʿAli رضي الله عنه, and he burned them alive.
Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما said:
“I would not have done that because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
‘Do not punish anyone with the punishment of Allah.’
But I would have killed them, for the Prophet ﷺ said:
‘Whoever changes his religion, kill him.’
(Bukhari: Kitab Istitabah al-Murtaddin: 6922)
❖ Three Justifications for Shedding Blood
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The blood of a person who testifies ‘La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah’ is not lawful except in three cases:”
① Retaliation for intentional murder
② Married adulterer
③ Apostate (One who leaves Islam)
(Bukhari 6878, Muslim 1676)
❖ Incident During Abu Bakr’s Caliphate
– Some people refused to pay Zakat despite offering Salah and fasting.
– Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه declared war against them and said:
“By Allah! I will fight the one who separates between Salah and Zakat.”
(Bukhari: 1400, Muslim: 20)
❖ Who Can Carry Out the Execution of an Apostate?
– The right to execute an apostate or implement retaliatory punishment lies solely with the Muslim ruler or his appointed authority.
– If any common Muslim undertakes this without permission, it will lead to chaos rather than reform.
