Question

Is it kufr to deny Something that is haram and claim it to be halal. For example Lying is a major sin and is haram but if a person claims it to be halal is he a kafir? Also is it kufr to deny Something that is halal and claim it to be haram? And what if something is not shirk/kufr and a person falsely claims it to be kufr is he a kafir?

Answer

Religious knowledge is of different categories. There are those which are definitive facts of the religion and known to all without any doubt. For example, salat is compulsory, or consuming pork is unlawful (haram). If a person denies something from this category of knowledge then they will no longer be considered a Muslim. Hence if a person says that salat is not compulsory or that consuming pork in normal circumstances is lawful then they will no longer be considered a Muslim and will need to renew their faith. The same would apply to calling something an act of disbelief (kufr) when it is definitively known not to be. For example, if a person says performing salat is kufr then that would be denying something known definitively and would thus lead the person out of the fold of Islam. The same would apply to lying, which in some circumstances is certainly unlawful, such as lying about Allah the Almighty. Hence, if one was to state that lying about Allah the Almighty is not unlawful then this could lead them out of the fold of Islam as they are denying the following verse in the Qur’an:

And who is more unjust than one who invents about Allah a lie or denies His verses? Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed. 6:21

Having said this, determining whether someone has committed kufr by uttering statements such as the ones you state in your question is not straightforward. It would very much depend on what the intention and reason why the person uttered such a statement. For instance, if they said eating pork is halal in certain circumstances and they meant in a state of dire need, or they said lying is permissible and they meant in a state of one’s life being threatened, then this person would not be deemed a kafir for uttering such a statement. Obviously, a person must refrain from making such generic statements and repent to Allah. Calling a believer a kafir is a grave matter and should not be taken lightly. Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, “If someone accuses another of sin or accuses him of disbelief (kufr), such an accusation will revert to him (i.e. the accuser) if his companion (the accused) is innocent.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6045)

الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (4/ 221) – باب المرتد هو لغة الراجع مطلقا وشرعا (الراجع عن دين الإسلام وركنها إجراء كلمة الكفر على اللسان بعد الإيمان) وهو تصديق محمد – صلى الله عليه وسلم – في جميع ما جاء به عن الله تعالى مما علم مجيئه ضرورة وهل هو فقط أو هو مع الإقرار؟ قولان وأكثر الحنفية على الثاني والمحققون على الأول والإقرار شرط.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ يَعْمَرَ، أَنَّ أَبَا الأَسْوَدِ الدِّيلِيَّ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ لاَ يَرْمِي رَجُلٌ رَجُلاً بِالْفُسُوقِ، وَلاَ يَرْمِيهِ بِالْكُفْرِ، إِلاَّ ارْتَدَّتْ عَلَيْهِ، إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ صَاحِبُهُ كَذَلِكَ ‏”‏‏.‏

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel