❖ Principles of Takfīr: Requirement of Clear Evidence and Condition of Willful Acceptance
Written by: Imran Ayoob Lahori
◈ Necessity of Clear Evidence Before Declaring Takfīr
Imām al-Shawkānī (رحمه الله) stated:
"Before declaring anyone a disbeliever, there must be evidence clearer than the rising sun."
Reference: السيل الجرار: 587/4
◈ Prophetic Warnings Against False Takfīr
① The Prophet ﷺ said:
من قال لأخيه يا كافر فقد باء به أحدهما
"Whoever says to his brother, ‘O kāfir,’ then it returns to one of them (i.e., if the one addressed is not a kāfir, it falls back upon the speaker)."
Reference: بخاري: 6103
② In another narration:
ومن رمى مؤمنا بكفر فهو كقتله
"Whoever accuses a believer of disbelief, it is as if he has killed him."
Reference: بخاري: 6105
◈ Condition of Willful Acceptance (Sharḥ al-Ṣadr)
For a person to be truly a disbeliever, there must be clear acceptance of kufr with the heart.
Allah says:
وَلَٰكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ [النحل: 106]
"But whoever opens his chest to disbelief—upon them is the wrath of Allah."
