Fatwa ID: 06194

 

Answered by: Maulana Burhaan Rahman

 

Question:

 

Were these two verses surah Al An’aam 6:68 and surah al Nisa 4:140 commanded to Prophet Muhammad SAW? Or to General Muslims? Or the command from ALLAH is for both the Prophet SAW and to General public. And what exactly does the threat you will be like mean? Does it mean you will share the sin and not become a kafir or does it mean by continuing sitting there you will also become a Kafir?

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

1) The translation of Surah An’aam verse 68 is as follows:

 

“When you see those who are blaspheming (criticizing) our signs, turn away from them until they begin to talk about other things; and if Satan ever causes you to forget, do not re-enter the company of those who are blaspheming our signs”.

 

This is when you feel compelled to respond to the nonsense of those people that make fun of Allah’s signs (e.g. angels, rivers in paradise, reward etc.) and those who play dumb about Islam.

 

It’s mentioned in Tafseer Ibn Kathir:

 

والمراد بهذا كل فرد ، فرد من آحاد الأمة ، ألا يجلس مع المكذبين الذين يحرفون آيات الله ويضعونها على غير مواضعها

 

What is meant by this is that every individual, every individual of the ummah, should not sit with the liars who distort the verses of God (signs, beliefs Muslims have etc.) and place them in other than their places.

 

This verse is advice for all Muslims (Prophet and general public)

 

 

2) A very similar verse with a similar meaning; the translation of Surah Nisaa’s verse 140 is as follows:

 

“And He has revealed to you in the Book that when you hear Allah’s verses being ridiculed and disbelieved, you should not sit with them unless they engage in another conversation. In such a situation, you’d be similar to them. All hypocrites and disbelievers will undoubtedly be gathered in Jahannam by Allah.”

 

In the verse when in mentions, “you’d be similar to them”, it doesn’t mean you’ll become a Kafir. It mentions in Tafseer Ibn Kathir regarding this part:

 

في المأثم ، كما جاء في الحديث : ” من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فلا يجلس على مائدة يدار عليها الخمر” .والذي أحيل عليه في هذه الآية من النهي في ذلك

 

(You’d be similar to them)…“Regarding sin, as it came in the hadith: ‘Whoever believes in God and the Last Day, let him not sit at a table where alcohol is served.’ What is referred to him in this verse is the prohibition on that.”

 

This shows that do not waste time with those that have their intentions in ridiculing Islam and ridiculing the prophet and Allah’s commands etc. or you shall be like them in terms of detriment (loss of time and energy) and sin.

 

Again this verse is advice for all Muslims (prophet and general public).

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Burhaan Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham