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Takfeer: Difference between revisions
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{{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=3|Content=2|Language=1|References=2}} | {{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=3|Content=2|Language=1|References=2}} | ||
Takfeer (تكفير) is an Islamic term for excommunication. Even if a Muslim insists that he believes in Islam, he can be declared a non-Muslim by other Muslims. When he is declared a non-Muslim, he is considered an apostate. The punishment for apostasy in Islam is the death penalty. | Takfeer (تكفير) is an Islamic term for excommunication. Even if a Muslim insists that he believes in Islam, he can be declared a non-Muslim by other Muslims according to the doctrine of takfeer. When he is declared a non-Muslim, he is considered an apostate. The punishment for apostasy in Islam is the death penalty. Good Muslims shouldn't kill each other, however with takfeer, it's practically possible (although in the view of the killer they're killing non-Muslim apostates). | ||
==The word== | ==The word== | ||
The word is from the root كفر (k-f-r), just like the word kaafir (كافر). Arabic has 10 basic verb forms. The word kaafir is from the form I and the word takfeer is from the form II. The form II is usually causative of form I. So takfeer means "cause to be a kafir" or "make him a kafir". | The word is from the root كفر (k-f-r), just like the word kaafir (كافر). Arabic has 10 basic verb forms. The word kaafir is from the form I (known in Arab grammar as wazn fa'ala وزن فعل) and the word takfeer is from the form II (called wazn fa''ala in Arabic وزن فعّل). The form II is usually causative of form I. So takfeer means "cause to be a kafir" or "make him a kafir" id est "to declare someone a kafir." | ||
==In the Quran== | ==In the Quran== | ||
The word takfeer itself doesn't appear in the Quran <ref>http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=kfr</ref>, but there are many verses which declare | The word takfeer itself doesn't appear in the Quran <ref>http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=kfr</ref>, but there are many verses which declare others to be kafirs. | ||
For example Christians are declared kafirs: | For example Christians are declared kafirs: | ||
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Christians consider themselves believers, but the Quran | Christians consider themselves believers, but the Quran declares them as kafirs. | ||
A more general takfeer can be found at the end of this verse: | A more general takfeer can be found at the end of this verse: | ||
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Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah ] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price. '''And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers (الكافرون).''' | Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah ] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price. '''And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers (الكافرون).''' | ||
}} | }} | ||
This seems to indicate that those who do not hew to the Qur'an, or whatever tradition the writer of this verse obeyed, is a disbeliever. Once again Allah declares some people to be unbelievers. | |||
==The death penalty== | ==The death penalty== | ||
If someone goes from being a Muslim to a kafir by means of takfeer, this would mean that they have left the Islamic religion, and the prescribed penalty for this is death: | |||
{{Quote|{{Al Tirmidhi||3|15|1458}}| | {{Quote|{{Al Tirmidhi||3|15|1458}}| | ||
Narrated 'Ikrimah: | Narrated 'Ikrimah: | ||
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* | * Due to this hadith burning people alive, not killing them but just this specific method of execution, is usually regarded as wrong in both the Sunni andShi'ite traditions since this is the punishment Allah reserves for the disbelievers in hell, however here it is the caliph Ali who burned them alive here. This is interesting since he is considered one of the "rightly guided caliphs" by Sunni Muslims and the one true successor to Muhammad by Shi'ites. | ||
==Takfeer without reason== | ==Takfeer without reason== | ||
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It's from the chapter "Whoever calls his brother a Kafir '''without any grounds'''". So | It's from the chapter "Whoever calls his brother a Kafir '''without any grounds'''". So this hadith only applies to baseless takfeer, not the concept in general. | ||
==Ten nullifiers of Islam== | ==Ten nullifiers of Islam== | ||
The concept of ten nullifiers of Islam was declared by Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhaab. The list is based on primary Islamic sources. According to islamqa.info there is a consensus of scholars on this issue, so | The concept of ten nullifiers of Islam was declared by Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhaab. The list is based on primary Islamic sources. According to islamqa.info there is a consensus of scholars on this issue, so this is not a doctrine peculiar to Wahhabis: | ||
{{Quote|[https://islamqa.info/en/answers/227935/is-there-scholarly-consensus-on-all-ten-things-which-nullify-islam-that-were-mentioned-by-imam-muhammad-ibn-abd-al-wahhaab islamqa.info: Is there scholarly consensus on all ten things which nullify Islam that were mentioned by Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab?]| | {{Quote|[https://islamqa.info/en/answers/227935/is-there-scholarly-consensus-on-all-ten-things-which-nullify-islam-that-were-mentioned-by-imam-muhammad-ibn-abd-al-wahhaab islamqa.info: Is there scholarly consensus on all ten things which nullify Islam that were mentioned by Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab?]| | ||
The things that nullify Islam are ten; they were mentioned by Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab, and '''there is scholarly consensus on all of them except one''', namely sihr (magic, witchcraft), which is subject to further discussion, but with regard to some forms of it, the scholars are unanimously agreed that it nullifies Islam, as we shall see below. | The things that nullify Islam are ten; they were mentioned by Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab, and '''there is scholarly consensus on all of them except one''', namely sihr (magic, witchcraft), which is subject to further discussion, but with regard to some forms of it, the scholars are unanimously agreed that it nullifies Islam, as we shall see below. | ||