Fatwa ID: 02101

Answered by Eunus Ali

Question:

If a Muslim drinks alcohol. And commits suicide. Will heBecome Kaffir ,so. Can. We pray. For.His.Magffiraat and. Do. IssaleSawab. Please provide. Reference.For. This query

Answer:

Imam Tahawi has written in his famous book about the Islamic creed titled Al-Aqidah At-Tahawiyyah (Page 21, Dar IbnHazm):

We do not declare any of the people of the Qibla (Muslims) to be disbelievers because of any wrong action (they have done), as long as they do not consider that action lawful.

Nor do we say that the wrong action of a man who has belief does not have any harmful effect on him. We hope that Allah will pardon the people of right action among the believers and grant them entrance into Paradise through his mercy, but we cannot be sure of this, and we cannot testify that they will be in Paradise.

We ask forgiveness for the people of wrong action among the believers and, although we fear for them, we do not despair (from the mercy of Allah) regarding them.

From the above passage we come to know that by the mere committing of a haram act will not take one out of the fold of Islam, however it is necessary to acknowledge that the action is haram. If the person was to consider that deed to be halal or lawful, then it would take the person out of Islam. For example: if one was to consider the consumption of swine or alcohol to be halal,it will take the person outside the fold of Islam as this would be rejecting a verse of the Quran. (SharhAl-Aqidah At-Tahawiyyah, Page 215, Dar At-Tadmuriyyah)

As for suicide, it is narrated byThabit bin Ad-Dahhak that the Prophet said, "Whoever intentionally swears falsely by a religion other than Islam, then he is what he has said. And whoever commits suicide with piece of iron will be punished with the same piece of iron in the Hell Fire."(SahihBukhari: 1363)

It is the consensus of the Fuqaha (jurist) and the AhlusSunnah that by committing suicide one will not be taken out of the fold of Islam. Nevertheless the act of suicide is forbidden and will make the person sinful. SalatulJanazah will also be performed upon the person. (UmdatulQari,Volume 8, Page 267, Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyah)

In regards to your question, provided that the deceased did not consider the consumption of alcohol or committing suicide to be halal, they will enjoy the same rights as any other Muslim after death.

HenceDua and IsaleThawab can be made for them.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Eunus Ali

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham