مسألة فيمن يكفِّر غيره من المسلمين
والكفر الذي يعذر صاحبه بالجهل والذي لا يعذر
A Question Regarding Those Who Declare Takfîr upon Other Muslims and the Types of Kufr that its Possessor Is Excused and Is Not Excused
Shaykh Abâ Butayn Rahimahullâh1
[Question]In the name of Allâh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Question: What is the meaning of the statement Shaykh Taqiyy'ud Dîn Rahimahullâh made in his refutation to Ibn'ul Bakrî,
"For this reason, the People of Knowledge and the Sunnah do not declare Takfîr upon those who oppose them, even if the opposing party declares Takfîr upon them. This is because Kufr is a ruling pertaining to the Sharî'ah. People do not have the right to punish with its similar (in revenge). Just like if someone lies about you or fornicates with your spouse, it is not your right to lie about him and fornicate with his spouse, because fornication and lying is Harâm due to the right of Allâhu Taâlâ. Similarly, Takfîr is the right of Allâhu Taâlâ, so we do not declare Takfîr upon anyone except for those whom Allâhu Taâlâ and His Rasûl Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam declared Takfîr upon.
In addition, declaring Takfîr upon a Mu'ayyan (specific) person and the permission of killing him are dependent on the reaching of the Nabawî Hujjah that those who oppose it become disbelievers. Otherwise, not all those whom are ignorant of something from the religion become disbelievers (...)"
Until his statement,
"(...) This is why I used to say to the Jahmiyyah who were composed of the Hulûliyyah and those who rejected Allâhu Taâlâ being above the Throne [when their trials occurred]2: If I were to consent with you (in such beliefs), I would have become a Kâfir, since I know that your statement is Kufr. However, in my presence, Takfîr is not declared upon you as you are ignorant..."
Until the end of his statement.3
Issue us a Fatwâ. What does it mean to establish the Hujjah? May Allâh reward you with His favors and kindness!
1- Majmû'at'ur Rasâ'il wa'l Masâ'il'in Najdiyyah, 5/509-523; ad-Durar'us Saniyyah, 10/360-375. Mas'alatun fî Man Yukaffiru Ghayrahu min'al Muslimîn, published by Dâru Atlas al-Khadhrâ. We used the version of Dâru Atlas al-Khadhrâ as the primary manuscript during our translation.
2- This additional phrase is found in al-Istighâthah.
3- Ibnu Taymiyyah, al-Istighâthah fi'r Raddi ala'l Bakrî, Dâr'ul Minhâj, p. 252-253.