Author: Shaykh Abdul Rahman Abdul Khaliq
From the book, “The Clear Distinction Between Iman & Kufr”
© Dar Ihyaa at-Turaath
Iman must be taken as a whole. It is a total truth that cannot be separated from its parts. Dividing Iman into different categories is only to help study it. To shun and reject any of these parts, however, means that Kufr in all other parts exists. To prove the above, we mention what Allah said, translated it means:
{Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous torment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.} [Al-Baqarah 2:85].
{…أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ الْكِتَابِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ فَمَا جَزَاءُ مَن يَفْعَلُ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْيٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ أَشَدِّ الْعَذَابِ ۗ وَمَا اللَّـهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ} البقرة: 85
And, {Verily, those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers and wish to make distinction between Allah and His Messengers (by believing in Allah and disbelieving in His Messengers) saying, “We believe in some but reject others,” and wish to adopt a way in between. (150) They are in truth disbelievers. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating torment.} [An-Nisa’ 4:150-151].
{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّـهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يُفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَ اللَّـهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَّخِذُوا بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا ﴿١٥٠﴾ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ حَقًّا ۚ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا} النساء: 150-151
These are clear Nusus (texts) from the Quran. They prove that Iman and implementation cannot be separated from each other. The above Ayat, although directed at the Jews, must be taken as general. Whatever Allah blames others for doing, must be known to Muslims that the same blame will be directed at them, if they commit them. The first Nass (text), [2:85], is about a type of actions. The second, [4:150-151], is about a type of belief.
The first Ayah explains what the Jews used to do in Madinah. Some of them were allies of one Arab tribe, Al-Aws, while other Jews were allies of Al-Khazraj, another Arab tribe of Madinah. Whenever war started between these two camps, Jews on either side would kill other Jews on the opposing camp. Jews would kill Jews and occupy their houses. When the war ends, leaders of Jews on both camps would meet to exchange prisoners and treat the injured. Therefore, Allah said, what translated means:
{And (remember) when We took your covenant (saying): Shed not the blood of your people, nor turn out your own people from their dwellings. Then, (this) you ratified and (to this) you bear witness. (84) After this, it is you who kill one another and drive out a party of you from their homes, assist (their enemies) against them, in sin and transgression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, although their expulsion was forbidden to you. Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous torment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.} [Al-Baqarah 2:84-85].
{وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ لَا تَسْفِكُونَ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَلَا تُخْرِجُونَ أَنفُسَكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَشْهَدُونَ ﴿٨٤﴾ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ هَـٰؤُلَاءِ تَقْتُلُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتُخْرِجُونَ فَرِيقًا مِّنكُم مِّن دِيَارِهِمْ تَظَاهَرُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِالْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَإِن يَأْتُوكُمْ أُسَارَىٰ تُفَادُوهُمْ وَهُوَ مُحَرَّمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ إِخْرَاجُهُمْ ۚ أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ الْكِتَابِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ فَمَا جَزَاءُ مَن يَفْعَلُ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْيٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ أَشَدِّ الْعَذَابِ ۗ وَمَا اللَّـهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ} البقرة: 84-85
The second text is also about the Jews. Jews accepted the prophecy of Moses and rejected the prophecy of Jesus and Mohammad. This is discrimination between Allah’s Messengers.
The purpose behind mentioning these two examples is to show that Iman must be taken as a whole. This rule will be further explained with the introduction of examples as to what negates belief.
Iman is nullified when a part of it is disputed. This is because rejection of a part of belief is in reality rejection of the whole belief. Whenever one believes that Allah is the All-Knower, the All-Wise, then, he has believed. However, whenever one thinks that any action or order of Allah’s is unwise, then, he has negated his previous belief. Also, whoever believes in all Prophets except one Prophet negates his belief. In reality, such a person does not believe in any Prophet. Allah is the One who sent all Prophets. To discriminate against one Messenger is rejection of the wisdom of He Who sent all Prophets, Allah, all praise be to Him. Likewise, disbelieving in angels is like relating falsehood to Allah, a clear Kufr.
To regard Haram (impermissible) as Halal (permissible) is Kufr. It is equal to saying to Allah, “I do not accept this Commandment form you, nor approve the wisdom behind it. It should be Halal”. This will negate the previous Iman, if there was previous Iman. This is similar to whoever refuses to obey Allah out of arrogance, as if saying to Him: “I will not obey you or implement your Law. Your Commandment is not out of knowledge or wisdom.” This type of Kufr is what Satan had. His arrogance led him to reject Allah’s order, claiming that there is neither wisdom nor knowledge behind it. This is the reason why such rejection and disobedience are Kufr. It is not disobeying Allah anymore, rather, it is refuting Allah’s Commandments, believing that they did not proceed out of wisdom or knowledge. This will negate and destroy all previous Iman and obedience.
