Fatwa ID: 09386
Answered by Muftiyah Maryam Badshah
Question:
if a person has been suffering from wiswas of shirk for many months, and then he questions whether he committed shirk or not (very much likely he didn’t), does the rule ” certainty is not afflicted by doubt ” apply to this person?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
“And We burden no soul except [within] its capacity, and with Us is a record which speaks with truth; and they will not be wronged.” Surah al-Mu’minoon (23:62) [1]
Shirk is a term that refers to associating partners with Allah ﷻ through one’s words or deeds. It pertains to a person’s belief in Islam and is a denial of the Oneness of Allah ﷻ, it is a major sin that can result in kufr (disbelief). Kufr (apostasy) occurs when a person verbally denies or mocks the religion willingly. If a person has thoughts of disbelief that they decide are true, or they decide to become a disbeliever, then this person has committed apostasy. Disbelief is not done by mistake, and neither is Islam removed by doubtful situations or obsessive thoughts (waswasah). Actions are based on intentions and the legal maxim “certainty is not removed by doubt” (اليَقِيۡنُ لَا يَزُوۡلُ بِالشَّكِ) would apply in this situation, as the individual cannot recall committing the act of shirk.[2]
“And if there comes to you from Shaytan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allāh. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.” Surah Fussilat (41:36) [3]
Some people from amongst the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ came to him and said: “Verily we perceive in our minds that which every one of us considers it too grave to express.” He ﷺ said: “Do you really perceive it?” They said: “Yes.” Upon this he remarked: “That is the faith manifest.” (Muslim) [4]
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Muftiyah Maryam Badshah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَلَدَيْنَا كِتَابٌ يَنطِقُ بِالْحَقِّ ۚ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
Qur’an (23:62)
[2]
الْمُرْتَدُّ عُرْفًا هُوَ الرَّاجِعُ عَنْ دِينِ الْإِسْلَامِ كَذَا فِي النَّهْرِ الْفَائِقِ وَرُكْنُ الرِّدَّةِ إجْرَاءُ كَلِمَةِ الْكُفْرِ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ بَعْدَ وُجُودِ الْإِيمَانِ وَشَرَائِطُ صِحَّتِهَا الْعَقْلُ … وَمِنْهَا الطَّوْعُ فَلَا تَصِحُّ رِدَّةُ الْمُكْرَهِ عَلَيْهَا…
Al-Fatāwa al-Hindiyyah (Vol.2, pg.253, Dār Al-Fiqr)
قَوْلُهُ وَرُكْنُهَا إجْرَاءُ كَلِمَةِ الْكُفْرِ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ) هَذَا بِالنِّسْبَةِ إلَى الظَّاهِرِ الَّذِي يَحْكُمُ بِهِ الْحَاكِمُ، وَإِلَّا فَقَدْ تَكُونُ بِدُونِهِ كَمَا لَوْ عَرَضَ لَهُ اعْتِقَادٌ بَاطِلٌ أَوْ نَوَى أَنْ يَكْفُرَ بَعْدَ حِينٍ أَفَادَهُ
Raddul Muhtār (Vol.4, pg.221, Dār Al-Fiqr)
لَا يُخْرِجُ الرَّجُلَ مِنْ الْإِيمَانِ إلَّا جُحُودُ مَا أَدْخَلَهُ فِيهِ ثُمَّ مَا تَيَقَّنَ أَنَّهُ رِدَّةٌ يُحْكَمُ بِهَا وَمَا يَشُكُّ أَنَّهُ رِدَّةٌ لَا يُحْكَمُ بِهَا إذْ الْإِسْلَامُ الثَّابِتُ لَا يَزُولُ بِالشَّكِّ مَعَ أَنَّ الْإِسْلَامَ يَعْلُو…
Raddul Muhtār (Vol.4, pg.224, Dār Al-Fiqr)
١ – القَاعِدَة الأولى : [ اَلۡأُمُوۡرُ بِمُقَاصِدِهَا
–
۳ – القَاعِدَة الثَالِثَة – [ اليَقِيۡنُ لَا يَزُوۡلُ بِالشَّكِ
اليَقِيۡن : الۡجَزۡمُ بِوَقُوۡعِ الشَّيۡء أَو عَدۡمِ وَقُوۡعِهِ ، وَيَلِيۡهِ الظَّنُّ الۡغَالِبُ وَهُوَ تَرۡجِيۡحُ أَحَدِ الطَّرۡفَيۡن . وَالشَّكُّ : هُوَ التَّرَدۡدُ فِي وُقُوعِ الشَّيۡءِ وَعَدۡمِ وَقُوۡعِهِ عَلَى السَّوَاءِ .
وَالۡمَعۡنَى : أَنَّ الۡأَمۡرُ الۡمُتَيَقَّنُ بِثَبُوۡتِهِ لَا يَرۡتَفِعُ إِلَّا بِدَلِيۡلٍ قَاطِعٍ ، وَلَا يَحۡكُمُ بِزَوَالِهِ بِمُجَرَّدِ الشَّك ، لِأَنَّ الشِّكَّ أَضۡعَفُ مِنَ الۡيَقِيۡنِ فَلَا يُعَارِضُهُ
Qawaa’id Fiqhiyyah (pg.12 & 15, Darul Tirmizi)
[3]
وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
Qur’an (41:36)
[4]
حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ جَاءَ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلُوهُ إِنَّا نَجِدُ فِي أَنْفُسِنَا مَا يَتَعَاظَمُ أَحَدُنَا أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ بِهِ . قَالَ ” وَقَدْ وَجَدْتُمُوهُ ” . قَالُوا نَعَمْ . قَالَ ” ذَاكَ صَرِيحُ الإِيمَانِ ” .
Sahih Muslim 132a (Bk.1, ch.60, sunnah.com)