Some Causes that Lead to Apostasy from the Religion of Islam
Knowing the meaning of our testimony of faith is necessary but not
sufficient. One should also know the causes that may lead a person to
revoke this testimony. In other words, one should know the causes that
lead to apostasy from the religion of Islaam. Among the more prevalent
causes of apostasy in our times:
To Associate Others with Allaah or "Shirk"
The first cause of apostasy is to commit shirk. Allaah said:
| |
"Allaah forgives not that
partners should be set up with Him in worship, but He forgives
anything else to whomsoever He pleases, and whoever sets up
partner with Allaah in worship, he has indeed forged a mighty
sin." [4:48] |
|
And He said:
| |
" Verily, whosoever
associates with Allaah anything, for him Allaah has forbidden
Paradise, and the Fire will be his abode; and the wrongdoers shall
have no helpers." [5:72] |
|
There are four types of Shirk:
- Shirk through one's prayers (See 29:65)
- Shirk through one's intent in his acts of worship (See 11:15-16)
- Shirk through one's obedience (See 9:31)
- Shirk through one's love (See 2:165)
The fourth type of shirk is explained by Allaah's statement:
| |
"Say (to them O Muhammad,
sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam): 'If your fathers, your sons, your
brothers, your wives, your kindred, your possessions that you have
gained, commerce you fear may slacken, and dwellings you love, if
these are dearer to you than Allaah and His Messenger (Muhammad),
and to struggle in His Way, then wait until Allaah brings about
His Command (Punishment). And Allaah guides not the wrong-doing
people.'" [9:24] |
|
To Deny the Finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (sallallaahu `alayhi
wa sallam)
The second cause of apostasy is denial of finality of Prophethood with the
Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam. Whoever claims Prophethood
or believes the claim of a false prophet has left the fold of Islaam. For
example, in our times, those who believe the claims of prophethood of
Ghulam Ahmad, Elijah Poole, or Rashad Khalifa have left the fold of Islaam
To Deny the Binding Nature of the Sunnah
The third cause of apostasy is denial of the Sunnah. For example, those
who claim that Islaam is only the Qur'an have left the fold of Islaam.
To Judge by Other than the Sharia
The fourth cause of apostasy is to judge by other than the sharia that
Allaah sent down to the Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam.
For example those who believe that the systems and laws devised by men are
better than the sharia, or that it is permissible to judge by other than
the sharia even if one does not believe that judgement to be better than
that of the sharia, or that Islaam should be restricted to the private
relationship between an individual and His Lord without entering into the
other aspects of life.
Mocking Islaam
The fifth cause of apostasy is to ridicule or make fun of any aspect of
Islaam, its rewards or punishments. Allaah said:
| |
"And if you (O Muhammad)
question them, they (the hypocrites) will say: "We were only
talking idly and jesting." Say (to them O Muhammad),
"What, then were you mocking Allaah and His Signs and His
Messenger. Make no excuse you have disbelieved after you have
believed." [9:65-55] |
|
The sixth cause of apostasy is to hate any aspect of Islaam.
Allaah said:
| |
"That is because they have
been averse to what Allaah has sent down, so He has made their
deeds to fail." [47:9] |
|
To Perform or to be Pleased with Sorcery
The seventh cause of apostasy is to perform sorcery or to be pleased with
the performance of sorcery like bringing a man and a woman to love or hate
one another. Allaah said:
| |
"The devils disbelieved,
they teach people sorcery." [2:102] |
|
To Believe that One May Obtain Salvation by Following Other than the
Sharia of the Prophet
The eighth cause of apostasy is to believe that one may obtain salvation
by following other than the religion of Islaam or by refusing to call the
infidels, like the Jews and Christians, infidels, or to doubt their
unbelief, or to say their religion is still correct.
Allaah said:
| |
" The true religion with
Allaah is Islaam." [3:19]
" Whoever desires a religion other than Islaam, it shall
not be accepted of him and in the Hereafter he shall be among the
losers." [3:85]
" And they say, 'Be Jews or Christians then you shall be
guided.' Say: 'Nay, rather the religion of Abraham, a man of pure
faith, and he was not of idolaters.' "[2:135]
|
|
The Prophet has said:
| |
"By Him in Whose Hand
Muhammad's soul is, anyone of this community, Jew or Christian,
who hears of me and then dies without believing in me, will be
among the inhabitants of the Hellfire." [Muslim] |
To Turn Away from Islaam by Neither Learning nor Acting Upon its
Teachings
The ninth cause of apostasy is to turn away from the religion of Islaam by
neither learning it or acting upon it.
| |
" And who does greater evil
than he who is reminded of the signs of His Lord, then turns away
from them? We shall take vengeance upon the criminals."
[32:22] |
|
May Allaah keep us upon the testimony "There is
no god (worthy of worship) but Allaah and Muhammad is the Messenger of
Allaah" in this world and reward us full for it in the Hereafter.
| |
" Allaah confirms those who
believe with the firm word (la ilaha ill Allaah), in the present
life and in the Hereafter; and Allaah leads astray the evil-doers.
And Allaah does what He will. " [14:27] |