"Subject: Confirmation That Judaism And Christianity Are Forms Of
Disbelief
Bismillaah ar-RaHmaan ar-RaHeem
InnalHamdalillaah, waS-Salaatu, was-salaamu ~alaa Rasoolillaah
As-salaamu ~alaikum wa raHmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu
This article is, as you see, a confirmation that Judaism and Christianity are
forms of kufr, and is written by Shaikh Ibn Uthaimin, and printed in
8"Answers To Common Questions From New Muslims" by Abu Lauz, as
translated by Jamaal al-Din Zarabozo and published by IANA (1995). I was
given permission to post it on the Internet. Please do distribute it on different
newsgroups and post it on your www sites, in shaa' Allaah, for it is amazing
how many Muslims (and others in particular) are not clear about this
important aspect of our belief.
Jazaakumullaahu khairan, wassalaam, EC
Confirmation that Judaism and
Christianity are Forms of Disbelief
[Answer By Shaikh Ibn Uthaimin]
QUESTION: One of the preachers in one of the mosques in Europe claimed
that it is not allowed to consider Jews and Christians disbelievers. You know
- may Allah preserve you - that most of the people who attend the mosques
in Europe have very little knowledge. We fear that statements like this one
will become widespread. Therefore, we request from you a complete and
clear answer to this question.
ANSWER: I say: The statement that came from that man is misguidance. In
fact, it can be blasphemy. This is because Allah has declared that Jews and
Christians are disbelievers in His Book. Allah has said, "And the Jews say,
'Ezra is the son of Allah,' and the Christians say, 'The Messiah is the son of
Allah.' This is a saying from their mouths. They imitate the saying of the
disbelievers of old. Allah's curse be on them, how they are deluded away
from the truth. They took their rabbis and their monks as lords besides Allah
and [they also took as Lord] the Messiah, son of Mary. But they were
commanded only to worship none but One God. Praise and Glory be to Him,
[far above is He] from having the partners they associate with Him."
[at-Taubah 9:30-31]
That shows that they are polytheists who associate partners with Allah. In
other verses, Allah has made it clear that they are disbelievers:
"Surely in disbelief are they who say that Allah is the Messiah, son of
Mary." [al-Maidah 5:17 and 72]
"Surely, disbelievers are those who said, 'Allah is the third of the three [in a
Trinity]." [al-Maidah 5:73]
"Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the
tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary." [al-Maidah 5:87]
"Those who disbelieve among the People of the Book and the idolaters will
abide in the Fire of Hell." [al-Bayyinah 98:6]
Many verses and hadith express the same meaning. The one who rejects the
idea that the Jews and the Christians who do not believe in Muhammad
[peace be upon him] and deny him are disbelievers is, in fact, denying what
Allah has said. Denying what Allah has said is blasphemy. If anyone has any
doubt concerning them being disbelievers, then he himself is also a
disbeliever.
Glory be to Allah!
How could that man be pleased to say that it is not allowed to say that they
are disbelievers when they themselves say that Allah is one of a Trinity?
Their Creator Himself has declared that they are disbelievers.
How could this man not be pleased to call them disbelievers when they
actually say, "Jesus is the son of God" or "the hand of Allah is tied," and
"Allah is poor and we are rich"?
How could this man not be pleased to call them disbelievers and apply the
word of disbelief to them in general when they describe their Lord in such
ways that are nothing but cursing and abusing Allah?
I call upon that man to repent to Allah and to read Allah's words, "They wish
that you should compromise (in religion out of courtesy) with them, so that
they (too) would compromise with you." [al-Qalam (68):9] He should make
it clear to everyone that they are disbelievers and that they are the inhabitants
of the Hell-fire. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "By the One in
whose hand my soul is, no Jew or Christian of this community hears about
me - that is from the community of people from the time of the Prophet
(peace be upon him) until the Day of Judgement - and then does not follow
me - or he said does not believe in what I brought - except that he is from the
inhabitants of the Hell-fire." [Saheeh Muslim]
The one who made such a statement must repent to his Lord because of this
great falsehood he has stated. He must make a clear announcement that they
are disbelievers and that they are inhabitants of the Hell-fire. He must also
announce that it is obligatory upon them to follow the unlettered Prophet
Muhamad (peace be upon him). he is the one that the Jews and the Christians
know and they know him like they know their own sons. Allah has stated,
"Those who follow the Messenger, the illiterate Prophet whom they find
written about with them in the Torah and the Gospel, he commands what is
right and forbids what is evil. He allows them the good things and forbids for
them disdainful things. He releases them from their heavy burdens and from
the fetters that were upon them. So those who believe in him, honor him,
help him, and follow the light which has been sent down with him, it is they
who will be successful." [al-Araf 7:157]
He is the one of whom Jesus, son of Mary (peace be upon him) gave glad
tidings. Jesus said, as His Lord states in the Quran, "O Israel, I am the
Messenger of Allah for you confirming the Torah (which came) before me,
and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name is
Ahmad [one of the names of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him].
But when he came to them with clear proofs, they said, 'This is clear
magic.'" [as-Saff 61:6]
When the one, Ahmad, who was promised came to them with clear signs,
they said that it was nothing but magic. By this, we can refute those
Christians who say that the one Jesus promised was named Ahmad and not
Muhammad. We say to that that Allah said, "When he came with clear
proofs," and none has come to you after Jesus except Muhammad (peace be
upon him). Muhammad is Ahmad and Allah inspired Jesus to call
Muhammad Ahmad. This ii because Ahmad is a name from the root
meaning, "to praise," and the name itself means, "One who praises Allah
more than others." Therefore, [Muhammad (peace be upon him)] is the most
praiseworthy of Allah among all peoples...
I further say: If anyone claims that there is a religion on earth other than
Islam that is acceptable to Allah, then the person who made that claim is a
disbeliever and there is no doubt about his disbelief. This is because Allah
has said in His Book, "Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will
never be accepted from him and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.
[ali-Imran 3:85]. Allah has also said, "Truly, the religion in the sight of
Allah is Islam" [ali-Imran 3:19]. Another verse states, "This day, I have
perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have
chosen for you Islam as your religion" [al-Maida 5:3]
Based on that - and I repeat it for a third time - the person who made that
statement [mentioned in the question] must repent to Allah, Most High. And
he must also make it clear to all the people that those Jews and Christians are
disbelievers. This is so because the proof has been established against them,
they have received the message but they have refused to believe.
The Jews have been described as those who have earned Allah's wrath. That
is because they knew the truth and chose to go against it. The Christians
have been described as those who have gone astray.. This is because they
sought the truth but were misled from it. Now, all of them have knowledge
of the truth and recognize it. However, they go against it. Therefore, they all
deserve to have the wrath of Allah upon them. I call all those Jews and
Christians to believe in Allah and all of His Messengers. I call upon them to
follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This is what they have
been ordered to do in their own books. Allah states in the Quran, "My Mercy
embraces all things. That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those who are
God-fearing and give zakat, and those who believe in Our revelations. Those
who follow the Messenger, the illiterate Prophet whom they find written
about with them in the Torah and the Gospel, he commands what is right and
forbids what is evil. He allows them the good things and forbids for them
disdainful things. He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the
fetters that were upon them. So those who believe in him, honor him, help
him, and follow the light which ahs been sent down with him, it is they who
will be successful. Say (O Muhammad): O Mankind! Verily, I am sent to all
of you as the Messenger of Allah, to whom belongs the heavens and the
earth. There is no true God but He. It is He who gives life and causes death.
So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered, who believes in Allah
and His Words. And follow him so that you may be guided." [al-Araf
7:156-158].
[By having such faith, those converts from Judaism and Christianity] shall
receive their reward twice. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
said, "There are three people who will receive their rewards twice: A person
from the People of the Book [Jews and Christians] who believed in his
prophet and believed in Muhammad..." [al-Bukhari and Muslim].
I have also found in the law book al-Iqna', in the section on apostasy, where
the author has stated, "One who does not consider as a disbeliever one who
follows a religion other than Islam, such as the Christians, or who has doubt
about their disbelief or who approves of their way himself is a disbeliever."
And he quotes Ibn Taimiya as saying, "[The following is] a disbeliever:
Whoever believes that churches are the houses of Allah in which he He is
worshipped or who thinks that what the Jews and Christians do are valid acts
of worship of Allah and obedience to Him and His Messenger, or loves or
approves of what they do, or aids them in having such places and
establishing their religion, and he does so thinking that is a way of getting
closer to Allah or worshipping Allah." He also stated, "If someone believes
that visiting the Jews and the Christians in their places of worship is an act
that brings him closer to Allah, then he is an apostate."
These statements support what was stated in the text of the answer. This is a
matter concerning which there is no room for doubt. And help is sought only
with Allah.
[This question was responded by Ibn Uthaimin, Fatawa Islamiya, vol. 1, p.
87] [Excerpted from Abu Lauz, "Answers To Common Questions From New
Muslims", translated by Jamaal al-Din Zarabozo. Published by IANA,
1995.]"
islamworld.net
islamworld.net
islamworld.net |
