Comments on: Al-Ghazali and Ibn Taymiyyah on Fanaticism

By: mustafa jama

mustafa jama — Wed, 27 May 2015 17:17:29 +0000

In reply to Shiva. U cant call a person of the Qibla kafir unless u see open kufur or shirk on them...that's how understand it..Islam

By: Shiva

Shiva — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 07:43:40 +0000

I don’t really understand how this makes sense, because Ibn Taymiyyah was known for cursing people who had different interpretations of Islam than he did. He especially cursed many Sufis and Shias, and he openly used harshness against them. So how is this person the same one who says that he would not call the person of the qiblah an infidel? The people he openly cursed were people of the qiblah.

By: Daily Hadith Online

Daily Hadith Online — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:16:59 +0000

In reply to Veronica.

What I was told was that declaring a Muslim a disbeliever as a means to punish them is the job of the Qadi (judge) only. Takfir for apostasy becomes equivalent to the crime of treason. However, the vast majority of Muslims should not judge another Muslim’s faith, even if they are probably hypocrites.

The problem is certain trends of “scholars” make takfir on Muslim for comparatively small issues that are matters of difference of opinion. I guess the best thing is to tell the common Muslims not to concern themselves with it and to never make takfir, ever. Allah knows best.

By: Mohammed Khan

Mohammed Khan — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 21:33:34 +0000

Asalaam Alaikum Shaykh Suhaib,

It may be worth writing an article (or series) on the fiqh perspective of kufr, (Its different types, implications, and what a Qadi would do to actually declare someone to have left Islam.)

Shaykh Abu Ja’far al-Hanbali explains some of these things in his excellent blog article [link removed]

By: Veronica

Veronica — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:36:04 +0000

In reply to Andrew.

I was wondering the same thing in terms of Ibn Tamiyyah. I’m not sure if that was our Dear Sheikh trying to reconcile his fatwa with what he felt at the current time of his last statement. Maybe Imam Suhaib you can elaborate a bit more on this for us.

Also, the fact that you point out labeling actions as Kufr rather than the individual himself…..I wonder about this as well. I also have a hard time with a lot of leaders who are from so called “Muslim Nations”, but yet there actions are worse than that of a disbeliever. Yet, we know that not every wrong action makes a person a disbeliever.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:38:05 +0000

Very good, brother. How can this statement of Ibn Tamiyyah be reconciled with his fatwa against the Mongols? Also, with the mutual takfir that occured between the Saudi tribe and the Ottoman sharifs? Isn’t there a point where we have to put our foot down and say such-and-such deeds are Kufr? Do we declare the deeds to be Kufr but not the people if they face the Qiblah? Reconciling these points has troubled me lately.

Jazak Allah Khayr.

By: Ibrahim

Ibrahim — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:45:02 +0000

Jazak Allah khair Imam Suhaib. Thanks for sharing with us pertinent reminders from those who we hold dear.

Wasalam,
Ibrahim

By: abu jenaan

abu jenaan — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:34:21 +0000

As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah
Jazak Allah khairan akhi Shibli Zaman. To accuse me of being part of some forum of which I know nothing about shows that in your discourse you base your comments and opinions on dhan as opposed to what’s actually being discussed. I know nothing of the forum you’re referring to, nor have I participated in anything that has been written there nor have I even read it for that matter. Another person’s bad character is not an excuse to display bad character nor does it remove you from the sin of backbiting nor does it do anything to correct those brothers who have fallen into expletive laden diatribes.
Also, I wasn’t trying to drag anyone into a debate. I made a point regarding an issue which is surrounded by misinformation (illustrated by the commentary) and is an issue that is of primary relevance to both the West and the East. Jazak Allah khairan wa ahsan Allahu ilayk wa booreka feek!!

By: Shibli Zaman

Shibli Zaman — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:13:06 +0000

Ya Akhi al-Karim Aba Jeenan (وفقكم الله), when I see someone describe a very qualified Shaykh as a “fat [expletive] who needs to get his fat head out of his fat [expletive]”, then I am in no way, shape or form failing in conduct when I say such individuals are “beasts” or “foul mouthed street kids or that they consider themselves to be chosen by Allah”.

Do you disagree with this?

Please, my brother, do not lecture me on etiquette when you, yourself, should admit you are from one of those forums I am talking about.

Please spare us the excuses and attempts to draw others into a speculative dogmatically loaded debate about Iman and Kufr. Jazakumullahu khayran. was-salam.

By: abu jenaan

abu jenaan — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:02:27 +0000

Dear Akh Shibli Zaman,
The post had to do with the misunderstanding people have about ‘refutations’ and the people who seem to carry this out. Also, the misunderstanding (read the other posts) that many have regarding the position of Ibn Taymiya due to what some explain as being his position (i.e. the initial post by akah Suhaib) and the general issue of takfeer. In terms of manners and etiquette, to compare your brothers to beasts or foul mouthed street kids or that they consider themselves to be chosen by Allah (which is an accusation you could never prove, i.e. baseless commentary on your part) is not leading by example, nor is it an example of the beautiful character of the Prophet (peace be upon him) or his companions when dealing with people who may have mistaken. Maybe if you advised yourself and led by example, you could be a catalyst in rectifying the ‘character’ problems you addressed in your post.