❖ Uttering Words of Disbelief Under Compulsion and Clarification on Takfīr
Written by: Imran Ayoob Lahori
◈ Not a Kāfir If Forced to Utter Words of Disbelief
Allah ﷻ says:
مَن كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ إِيمَانِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالْإِيمَانِ [النحل: 106]
"Whoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief—except for one who is compelled while his heart is secure in faith—(he is not a disbeliever even if he utters words of kufr)."
◈ Important Clarification
There are narrations where the Prophet ﷺ described certain actions as kufr. For example:
① لا ترجعوا بعدى كفارا يضرب بعضكم رقاب بعض
"Do not return to being disbelievers after me, striking the necks of one another."
Reference: بخاري: 6785
② سباب المسلم فسوق و قتاله كفر
"Abusing a Muslim is sinful, and fighting him is disbelief."
Reference: بخاري: 6044
The meaning is that such actions lead to kufr or are acts resembling kufr. It does not mean that the one who commits them automatically leaves Islam.
Furthermore, it is never permissible to declare someone kāfir unless there is sharḥ al-ṣadr—full and willing acceptance of disbelief in the heart. Only then can the charge of kufr be justly applied.
Reference: السيل الجرار: 579/4
◈ Additional Note
One who merely quotes the words of a disbeliever is not ruled as kāfir, for Allah Himself has quoted the sayings of tyrants and Pharaohs in many places of the Qur’ān.
Reference: الروضة الندية: 626/2
