✦ Detailed Islamic Ruling on Turning Away from Islam and Denial of Predestination ✦
The term الاعراض عن دین الله تعالیٰ refers to complete withdrawal from the religion of Allah, meaning:
– Making no effort to learn the religion,
– Not acting upon any command of the religion.
This behavior is included among the Nawāqid al-Islām (nullifiers of Islam).
Turning away from Islam does not merely mean being unaware of its detailed matters. Rather, it includes ignorance of the fundamental teachings of the religion that make one a Muslim in the first place. Detailed knowledge is a domain specific to scholars and students of knowledge.
Kufr al-I’raadh occurs when a person outwardly recites the Kalimah but becomes so heedless and disconnected from the religion that:
– He does not acquire knowledge of the religion,
– He does not act upon any command,
– He harbors no inclination or interest in the religion.
Such a person, due to this condition, exits the fold of Islam.
“وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا ۚ إِنَّا مِنَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُنتَقِمُونَ”
(As-Sajdah 22)
“And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord, then turns away from them? Indeed, We shall exact retribution from the criminals.”
Shaykh Abdul-Latif bin Abdur-Rahman (رحمه الله), when asked about this issue, said:
If the foundation of faith is present, then differences in level and strength of faith are possible.
However, if the foundation of Tawheed itself is missing and someone completely turns away from it, then that is Kufr al-I’raadh.
“وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَىٰ”
(Taha 124)
“And whoever turns away from My remembrance, indeed he will have a difficult life, and We will raise him blind on the Day of Judgment.”
Imam Sulaiman (رحمه الله) explained:
– I’raadh does not mean merely abandoning obligatory or recommended acts.
– It means turning away from the core teachings of Islam that admit a person into its fold.
Except for abandoning prayer (which is a separate issue), if someone neglects other obligations, he will be considered a fasiq (open sinner), but not a disbeliever.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) writes:
– Kufr al-I’raadh is when a person turns away with his heart and ears from the words of the Messenger ﷺ,
– He neither affirms nor denies them,
– He neither befriends nor opposes,
– He is not inclined toward the Book and Sunnah brought by the Messenger ﷺ.
(Refer: Madaarij al-Saalikeen)
Upon understanding the nature of I’raadh, it becomes evident that:
– Many people do not even reflect on the basic tenets of Islam,
– They make no effort to learn about Iman in Allah and Tawheed,
– Their hearts and minds are distanced from the Prophet ﷺ.
To claim that they are merely ignorant and not disbelievers is incorrect, because:
– An ignorant person, once he recognizes the truth, tends to accept it.
– But one who persists in idol worship, refuses to listen to the Messenger ﷺ, and opposes the truth, is guilty of Kufr al-I’raadh.
“وَالَّذِیْنَ کَفَرُوْا عَمَّا اُنْذِرُوْا مُعْرِضُوْنَ”
(Al-Ahqaf 3)
“And those who disbelieve turn away from that which they are warned of.”
“إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ”
(Al-Qamar 49)
“Indeed, We have created everything according to a measure.”
The Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah have affirmed belief in Qadar through such verses and authentic Ahadith. This belief entails that:
– Allah knew everything before creating it,
– The destinies of all things were written by Allah.
Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The deniers of Qadar are the Magians of this Ummah. If they fall ill, do not visit them, and if they die, do not attend their funerals.”
(Abu Dawood: 4691 – Shaykh al-Albani graded it Hasan)
Yahya bin Ya’mar reports:
– The first person to object to Qadar was Ma’bad al-Juhani in Basrah.
– When this reached Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه), he said:
“I dissociate myself from them and they from me. Even if someone spends gold equal to Mount Uhud in the way of Allah, it will not be accepted unless he believes in Qadar.”
He then narrated the Hadith of Jibreel:
“Iman is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and in Qadar – both its good and bad.”
(Sahih Muslim – Kitab al-Iman: 8)
Zayd ibn Thabit (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
“If Allah were to punish the inhabitants of the heavens and earth, He would not be unjust. If He has mercy upon them, then His mercy would be better than their deeds. Even if someone possesses gold equal to Mount Uhud and spends it in Allah’s path, it will not be accepted unless he believes in Qadar – its good and bad.”
(Abu Dawood: 4699 – Shaykh al-Albani graded it Sahih)
Belief in Qadar does not mean that man is entirely forced. Rather:
– In certain matters, man is compelled (e.g., birth, ethnicity, language, color, death, illness).
– In matters for which man will be held accountable in the Hereafter, he is responsible and free to choose.
“فَمَن شَاءَ اتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ مَآبًا”
(An-Naba 39)
“So whoever wills, may take a path to his Lord.”
“إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا”
(Ad-Dahr 3)
“We have shown him the way; he may either be grateful or ungrateful.”
“وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّـهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ”
(At-Takwir 29)
“And you cannot will except that Allah, the Lord of the worlds, wills.”
– Pleasure (رضا): Allah wishes that no one disbelieves or enters Hell.
“He does not approve disbelief for His servants. If you are grateful, He is pleased with it for you.”
– Will (مشیت): Everything that occurs in the world happens by Allah’s wisdom and justice. Nothing can happen without His Will.
❖ Compiled by: Tawheed.com – Link to the Full Book
❀ Turning Away from the Religion (Islam)
◈ Meaning and Explanation of
The term الاعراض عن دین الله تعالیٰ refers to complete withdrawal from the religion of Allah, meaning:
– Making no effort to learn the religion,
– Not acting upon any command of the religion.
This behavior is included among the Nawāqid al-Islām (nullifiers of Islam).
Turning away from Islam does not merely mean being unaware of its detailed matters. Rather, it includes ignorance of the fundamental teachings of the religion that make one a Muslim in the first place. Detailed knowledge is a domain specific to scholars and students of knowledge.
❀ The Reality of Kufr al-I’raadh (Disbelief Due to Turning Away)
Kufr al-I’raadh occurs when a person outwardly recites the Kalimah but becomes so heedless and disconnected from the religion that:
– He does not acquire knowledge of the religion,
– He does not act upon any command,
– He harbors no inclination or interest in the religion.
Such a person, due to this condition, exits the fold of Islam.
Qur’anic Evidence:
“وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا ۚ إِنَّا مِنَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُنتَقِمُونَ”
(As-Sajdah 22)
“And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord, then turns away from them? Indeed, We shall exact retribution from the criminals.”
❀ Scholarly Explanation of I’raadh
Shaykh Abdul-Latif bin Abdur-Rahman (رحمه الله), when asked about this issue, said:
If the foundation of faith is present, then differences in level and strength of faith are possible.
However, if the foundation of Tawheed itself is missing and someone completely turns away from it, then that is Kufr al-I’raadh.
Divine Statement:
“وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَىٰ”
(Taha 124)
“And whoever turns away from My remembrance, indeed he will have a difficult life, and We will raise him blind on the Day of Judgment.”
Imam Sulaiman (رحمه الله) explained:
– I’raadh does not mean merely abandoning obligatory or recommended acts.
– It means turning away from the core teachings of Islam that admit a person into its fold.
Except for abandoning prayer (which is a separate issue), if someone neglects other obligations, he will be considered a fasiq (open sinner), but not a disbeliever.
❀ Statement of Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله)
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) writes:
– Kufr al-I’raadh is when a person turns away with his heart and ears from the words of the Messenger ﷺ,
– He neither affirms nor denies them,
– He neither befriends nor opposes,
– He is not inclined toward the Book and Sunnah brought by the Messenger ﷺ.
(Refer: Madaarij al-Saalikeen)
❀ Present-Day Reality and Widespread Heedlessness
Upon understanding the nature of I’raadh, it becomes evident that:
– Many people do not even reflect on the basic tenets of Islam,
– They make no effort to learn about Iman in Allah and Tawheed,
– Their hearts and minds are distanced from the Prophet ﷺ.
To claim that they are merely ignorant and not disbelievers is incorrect, because:
– An ignorant person, once he recognizes the truth, tends to accept it.
– But one who persists in idol worship, refuses to listen to the Messenger ﷺ, and opposes the truth, is guilty of Kufr al-I’raadh.
Qur’anic Evidence:
“وَالَّذِیْنَ کَفَرُوْا عَمَّا اُنْذِرُوْا مُعْرِضُوْنَ”
(Al-Ahqaf 3)
“And those who disbelieve turn away from that which they are warned of.”
❀ Denial of Predestination is Kufr
◈ Belief in Qadar: A Fundamental Pillar of Faith
Qur’anic Evidence:
“إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ”
(Al-Qamar 49)
“Indeed, We have created everything according to a measure.”
The Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah have affirmed belief in Qadar through such verses and authentic Ahadith. This belief entails that:
– Allah knew everything before creating it,
– The destinies of all things were written by Allah.
❀ The Prophet’s ﷺ Warning Against Denying Qadar
Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The deniers of Qadar are the Magians of this Ummah. If they fall ill, do not visit them, and if they die, do not attend their funerals.”
(Abu Dawood: 4691 – Shaykh al-Albani graded it Hasan)
Yahya bin Ya’mar reports:
– The first person to object to Qadar was Ma’bad al-Juhani in Basrah.
– When this reached Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه), he said:
“I dissociate myself from them and they from me. Even if someone spends gold equal to Mount Uhud in the way of Allah, it will not be accepted unless he believes in Qadar.”
He then narrated the Hadith of Jibreel:
“Iman is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and in Qadar – both its good and bad.”
(Sahih Muslim – Kitab al-Iman: 8)
❀ Statement of Zayd ibn Thabit (رضي الله عنه)
Zayd ibn Thabit (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
“If Allah were to punish the inhabitants of the heavens and earth, He would not be unjust. If He has mercy upon them, then His mercy would be better than their deeds. Even if someone possesses gold equal to Mount Uhud and spends it in Allah’s path, it will not be accepted unless he believes in Qadar – its good and bad.”
(Abu Dawood: 4699 – Shaykh al-Albani graded it Sahih)
❀ Meaning of Belief in Qadar
Belief in Qadar does not mean that man is entirely forced. Rather:
– In certain matters, man is compelled (e.g., birth, ethnicity, language, color, death, illness).
– In matters for which man will be held accountable in the Hereafter, he is responsible and free to choose.
Qur’anic Evidence:
“فَمَن شَاءَ اتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ مَآبًا”
(An-Naba 39)
“So whoever wills, may take a path to his Lord.”
“إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا”
(Ad-Dahr 3)
“We have shown him the way; he may either be grateful or ungrateful.”
“وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّـهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ”
(At-Takwir 29)
“And you cannot will except that Allah, the Lord of the worlds, wills.”
❀ Difference Between Allah’s Pleasure and His Will
– Pleasure (رضا): Allah wishes that no one disbelieves or enters Hell.
“He does not approve disbelief for His servants. If you are grateful, He is pleased with it for you.”
– Will (مشیت): Everything that occurs in the world happens by Allah’s wisdom and justice. Nothing can happen without His Will.
