Did I turn apostate?
| Fatwa #883 | Category: Aqaaid (Beliefs) | Country: India | Date: 11th September 2023 |
| Fatwa #883 | Date: 11th September 2023 |
| Category: Aqaaid (Beliefs) | |
| Country: India | |
Question
Salaam
I was doing an interest based transaction and when it completed successfully, my mother shouted ‘Thank you so much Allah Ta’ala’. I know that interest is haraam and it is not permissible to thank Allah after sinning. So did I turn kafir due to her words? I didn’t think that she might react in this way. I have repented seriously from such transactions.
Please note that my mother is already out of the folds of Islam due to acts like sajdah to grave etc.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
There is quite a handful to unpack from your query. We shall attempt to answer a few different aspects individually.
- Dealing in Interest
As you must be well aware, it is not permissible for a Muslim to enter into any interest-based transaction. Both the Holy Quran and Hadith contain multiple stern warnings against this abhorrent sin. Consider the following,
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ. فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ [البقرة: 278، 279]
Translation: “O Believers, Fear Allah and abandon whatever remains of interest/usury if you are true believers. If you do not desist, then (be warned) of a declaration of war from Allah and His messenger.”
عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ: لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ آكِلَ الرِّبَا، وَمُؤْكِلَهُ، وَكَاتِبَهُ، وَشَاهِدَيْهِ، وَقَالَ: هُمْ سَوَاءٌ
Translation: “Jabir Radhiyallahu Anhu says, Rasulullah Sallallahi Alaihi Wasallam cursed the one who consumes interest, the one gives interest, the one who writes down an interest contract, and the two witnesses to said contract. And said, they are all equal (in sin). (Muslim)
It is pleasing to note that you have since repented from this sin. We make dua Allah protect you and your family in the future.
- Does thanking Allah after such a transaction take one out of the fold of Islam?
In principle, (in this specific context) one does not exit the fold of Islam unless he/she actually believes that something Haram is actually Halal or vice versa.[1] Committing a sin whilst acknowledging it to be a sin, though is a violation of the commands of Allah, will still not render one out of the fold of Islam. Therefore, this detestable act, though sinful, will not be one of Kufr provided you and your mother did not believe interest to be Halal.
- Labelling others as kaafir
It is unsuitable of a Muslim to label other people as kaafir due to actions they may have committed. We must try our level best to make interpretations as only Almighty Allah is the Supreme Judge.
If what you have said is true, that your mother prostates to graves, then too the only time takfeer is possible is if she believes that the person inside the grave is worthy of worship.[2] Insha-Allah, we hope this is not the case.
Since this is not the case, then though this act is despicable, you should not label her a kaafir. Infact, you now have the responsibility of advising her to seek the truth and understand the filth of the act that is prostration to anything besides Allah. You must have worry and concern over her salvation in the hereafter instead of giving up on her so easily.
We make dua Almighty Allah gives you and your family guidance.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Bilal Pandor
Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad IV Patel
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia
حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح شرح نور الإيضاح (ص: 6) [1]
واعلم أن المستحل لا يكفر إلا إذا كان المحرم حراما لعينه وثبتت حرمته بدليل قطعي وإلا فلا, صرح به في الدرر عن الفتاوي في آخر كتاب الخطر
شرح العقائد النسفية ص86
والاستحلال كفر لما فيه من التكذيب المنافي التصديق
البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق ومنحة الخالق وتكملة الطوري (5/ 132)
ولا بقوله لحرام هذا حلال من غير أن يعتقده فلا يكفر السوقي بقوله هذا حلال للحرام ترويجا لشرائه والأصل أن من اعتقد الحرام حلالا فإن كان حراما لغيره كمال الغير لا يكفر
وإن كان لعينه فإن كان دليله قطعيا كفر وإلا فلا وقيل التفصيل في العالم أما الجاهل فلا يفرق بين الحلال والحرام لعينه ولغيره وإنما الفرق في حقه إنما كان قطعيا كفر به وإلا فلا فيكفر إذا قال الخمر ليس بحرام
قبر کو بوسے دينا