Fatwa ID: 08583
Written by Maulana Sakib Shadman
Question:
If someone is committing a sin and I don’t hate the sin nor support the sin of that person. Also if I don’t hate the person & not avoid him but don’t talk to him properly. Will I be a disbeliever?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
As Muslims, we should always strive to be in the company of pious Muslims.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) said: “A man is upon the religion of his friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends.” (Tirmidhi Hadith 2378)
However if you associate with a sinful person and do not hate him/her, it will not render you to be a disbeliever. But for the sake of your own spirituality, it is better not to keep close companionship with a person who persistantly sins without making Tawbah (repentance to Allah Ta’ala). Furthermore, please consider the following Hadith;
Abu sa’id al-Khudri said: I head the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: If any one you sees something objectionable, he should change it with his hand if he can change it with his hand. But if he cannot (do so), he should do it with his tongue, and if he cannot (do so with) his tongue he should do it in his heart, that being the weakest form of faith. (Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 4340)
Thus it is part of a Muslim ‘s faith that he should at the very least consider a sin to be something evil which requires rectification. A person who does not hate a sin definitely has a deficiency in their Iman. However that person would not be declared as being a disbeliever. i.e. It definitely does not constitute Kufr (disbelief) if one does not deny sin and disobedience with one’s hand, tongue or heart. However it does indicate that his heart is spiritually dead.
Ibn Masud (RA) was asked, “who is the dead person from amongst the living?” His response was; “whoever does not enjoin good nor forbid evil, he is dead from amongst the living”. Thus if one cannot deny a sin even from one’s heart, he must rectify himself so that his spiritual heart may be revived and he may taste the sweetness of Iman. One may revive their dead heart through;
- Sincere repentance and heartfelt supplication to Allah Ta’ala.
- Praying Salat with full presence of the heart (khushu’)
- Constant Dhikr and remembrance of Allah Ta’ala
- Keeping the company of the pious.
- Refrain from sinning as much as possible.
- Donate to Charity and be compassionate to the orphans.
According to Aqidah Tahawiyah; “We shall not declare a person from Ahul-Qiblah (a person who prays towards the same Qiblah as us. i.e. towards the Ka’bah) to be a disbeliever unless disbelief has emerged from them.”
In other words, unless you commit any act which contradicts your faith in Allah Ta’ala and his perfect Deen, you will not be considered a disbeliever. By asking your question, you have taken the first step and acknowledged that you should hate a person’s sin and not support it. InshaAllah this is the first step towards positive change.
References:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنِي مُوسَى بْنُ وَرْدَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى دِينِ خَلِيلِهِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَحَدُكُمْ مَنْ يُخَالِلُ ” . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ .
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2378
Chapter 45: The Hadith: “A Man Is Upon The Religion Of His Friend.”, Book 36: Chapters On Zuhd
https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2378
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، وَهَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ رَجَاءٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، وَعَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ طَارِقِ بْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ” مَنْ رَأَى مُنْكَرًا فَاسْتَطَاعَ أَنْ يُغَيِّرَهُ بِيَدِهِ فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ ” . وَقَطَعَ هَنَّادٌ بَقِيَّةَ الْحَدِيثِ – وَفَّاهُ ابْنُ الْعَلاَءِ – ” فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ بِلِسَانِهِ فَبِقَلْبِهِ وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الإِيمَانِ ” .
Sunan Abu Dawud 4340
Chapter 1603: Command And Prohibition, Book 39: Battles (Kitab Al-Malahim)
https://sunnah.com/abudawud:4340
[لَا نَشْهَدُ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقِبْلَةِ بِالْكُفْرِ مَا لَمْ يَظْهَرْ مِنْهُ ذَلِكَ]
ص539 – كتاب شرح العقيدة الطحاوية ط الرسالة – لا نشهد على أحد من أهل القبلة بالكفر ما لم يظهر منه ذلك – المكتبة الشاملة
قيل لابن مسعود -رضي الله عنه-: من ميت الأحياء؟ فقال: الذي لا يعرف معروفاً ولا ينكر منكراً
فالذي لا يأمر بالمعروف ولا ينكر المنكر بأدنى درجاته فهو ميت القلب.
ص236 – كتاب الموسوعة العقدية – المبحث الرابع التغيير بالقلب أهميته وحقيقته وفوائده – المكتبة الشاملة
https://www.whyislam.org/the-secret-to-a-tranquil-soul/
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Maulana Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
