The Islamic Solution to Heretics

 

Sami Zaatari

 

 

 

Christian apologist and scholar Dr. James White has recently come out with an article on his site called ?A Comparison of Islam and Christianity'.

 

In his short article Dr. White seeks to contrast the difference between Muslims and Christians when it comes to dealing with heretics within both our faiths.

 

Dr. White writes:

I was noticing news reports concerning the rise in violence against Ahmadi Muslims in the news this morning. Evidently, an Islamic scholar, Dr. Aamer Liaqat Hussain, during a television program commemorating the 1974 act by Pakistan's parliament that declared Ahmadis "non-Muslims," argued that the murder of Ahmadis is a "religious duty." This sparked violence and murder, including the shooting of Abdul Manan Siddiqui, an American medical doctor, while he was seeing patients. The violence spawned by "heresy" on the part of orthodox Muslims stands in stark contrast to how believing, Biblical Christians respond to heresy.

RESPONSE

So James White makes a sweeping generalization on ?Orthodox' Muslims based on some events that are happening against Ahmadis in Pakistan? If that's not desperate then I really don't know what is.

It is quite obvious that James White had nothing to write about, so he simply made this short article to once again demonize the religion of Islam, as well as the Muslims. In fact if you click on the link to his article, you will see that James White has also posted a picture of a seemingly young and angry Muslim protestor who is shouting something. Obviously the picture is meant to give the image that Muslims look scary and are out there shouting, and folks this cheap tactic does work very strongly upon Dr. White's audience.

Dr. White continues:

Compare and contrast the Ahmadis with, say, Jehovah's Witnesses. How do we respond to those who deny central aspects of our faith? We surely identify their error. We refuse fellowship with them as well. And we train our people to proclaim the truth to them. We write books, produce pamphlets and tracts, even post YouTube videos refuting their claims. But we do not walk into their homes or offices and shoot them dead on the spot. We do not burn down Kingdom Halls and destroy the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses. But this is exactly what orthodox Islam does when its adherents are excited by the religious rhetoric of their leaders.

RESPONSE

It is really sad to see a scholar such as James White arguing in such cheap ways, especially for a man who always complains about other people distorting the truth.

Notice how quick James White went from Orthodox MUSLIMS to Orthodox Islam! How did that happen?

James White did not give ANY evidence that shows Orthodox Islam saying that heretics should be killed; rather what White did is simply make this up based on a few actions in Pakistan! So James White is judging Islam by its followers, but now notice the lovely inconsistency when he says the same can't be done for Christians, he writes:

It is important to note that as soon as this observation is made, Islamic apologists---rather than condemning the violence against Ahmadis---will instead point to historical events like the Spanish Inquisition. Of course, some of you noted that I specified "Biblical Christians" above, and of course, I reject the Roman system as a Christian system in the first place. But even here the Inquisition did not work like the rampaging fanatics in Pakistan. As wrong and heretical as the inquisitors themselves were, they had rules and guidelines, and what is more (and frankly, what is scary), many of those inquisitor believed they were doing God's will by "aiding" in the repentance of their victims! All of this goes to show the importance of recognizing that God did not give to the Church the sword, but gave to the Church the Gospel, by which men's hearts are changed.

Response

It is important to note that James White is a deceiver, because had he even bothered to go and check what Islamic apologists and scholars say, then he would see that they say the solution to heretics is NOT DEATH. Yet White didn't even bother to go read, or quote any proof to sustain his thesis that Orthodox Islam calls for the death of heretics.

Also notice the lovely double standards, when Christians go and kill heretics, its because they are wrong and not from the Bible! Why doesn't White allow this fairness for Islam? What makes this so much worst is that Dr. White hasn't even given any Islamic evidence to support his theory!!!

So with that said, what is the Islamic solution to heretics? Is it death? Or is it refuting their claims, publishing books and booklets against them, and even making lectures and youtube videos. Well let us consult what the Islamic scholars have to say about this, something Dr. White was too lazy to do, or maybe he did do it but purposely didn't quote them since he knew it would shatter his nonsense.

Here is what Sheikh Salih Al Munajjid Has to say in a detailed discussion on this topic:

This issue may be divided into three topics:

1. Definition of bid'ah      2. Categories of bid'ah          3. Rulings on one who commits bid'ah - does that make him a kaafir or not? 

1.    Definition of bid'ah. 

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ?Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "According to sharee'ah, the definition is ?Worshipping Allaah in ways that Allaah has not prescribed.' If you wish you may say, ?Worshipping Allaah in ways that are not those of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or his rightly guided successors (al-khulafaa' al-raashidoon).'" 

The first definition is taken from the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

"Or have they partners with Allaah (false gods) who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not ordained?" [al-Shooraa 42:21] 

The second definition is taken from the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who said:

"I urge you to adhere to my way (Sunnah) and the way of the rightly-guided successors (al-khulafa' al-raashidoon) who come after me. Hold fast to it and bite onto it with your eyeteeth [i.e., cling firmly to it], and beware of newly-invented matters." 

So everyone who worships Allaah in a manner that Allaah has not prescribed or in a manner that is not in accordance with the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or his rightly-guided successors (al-khulafa' al-raashidoon), is an innovator, whether that innovated worship has to do with the names and attributes of Allaah, or to do with His rulings and laws. 

With regard to ordinary matters of habit and custom, these are not called bid'ah (innovation) in Islam, even though they may be described as such in linguistic terms. But they are not innovations in the religious sense, and these are not the things that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was warning us against. 

And there is no such thing in Islam as bid'ah hasanah (good innovation)." 

(Majmoo' Fataawa Ibn ?Uthaymeen, vol. 2, p. 291) 

2. Categories of bid'ah 

Bid'ah may be divided into two categories: 

(i)        bid'ah which constitutes kufr  

(ii)       bid'ah which does not constitute kufr 

If you ask, what is the definition of bid'ah which constitutes kufr and that which does not constitute kufr? 

The answer is: 

Shaykh Haafiz al-Hukami (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "The kind of bid'ah which constitutes kufr is when one denies a matter on which there is scholarly consensus, which widely-known, and which no Muslim can have any excuse for not knowing, such as denying something that is obligatory, making something obligatory that is not obligatory, or making something haraam halaal, or making something halaal haraam; or believing some notion about Allaah, His Messenger and His Book when they are far above that, whether in terms of denial of affirmation  - because that means disbelieving in the Qur'aan and in the message with which Allaah sent His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). 

Examples include the bid'ah of the Jahamiyyah, who denied the attributes of Allaah; or the notion that the Qur'aan was created; or the notion that some of the attributes of Allaah were created; or the bid'ah of the Qadariyyah  who denied the knowledge and actions of Allaah; or the bid'ah of the Mujassimah who likened Allaah to His creation. etc. 

The second category, bid'ah which does not constitute kufr, is defined as that which does not imply rejection of the Qur'aan or of anything with which Allaah sent His Messengers. 

Examples include the Marwaani bid'ahs (which were denounced by the greatest Sahaabah who did not approve of them, although they did not denounce them as kaafirs or refuse to give them bay'ah because of that), such as delaying some of the prayers until the end of the due times, doing the Eid khutbah before the Eid prayer, delivering the khutbah whilst sitting down on Fridays, etc.

(Ma'aarij al-Qubool, 2/503-504) 

3- The ruling on one who commits bid'ah - is he regarded as a kaafir or not? 

The answer is that it depends. 

If the bid'ah constitutes kufr, then the person is one of the following two types: 

(i)              Either it is known that his intention is to destroy the foundations of Islam and make the Muslims doubt it. Such a person is definitely a kaafir; indeed, he is a stranger to Islam and is one of the enemies of the faith.

(ii)             Or he is deceived and confused; he cannot be denounced as a kaafir until proof is established against him, fair and square. 

If the bid'ah does not constitute kufr, then he should not be denounced as a kaafir. Rather, he remains a Muslim, but he has done a gravely evil action. 

If you ask, how should we deal with those who commit bid'ah? 

The answer is: 

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ?Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "In both cases, we have to call these people - who claim to be Muslim but who commit acts of bid'ah which may constitute kufr or may be less than that - to the truth, by explaining the truth without being hostile or condemning what they are doing. But once we know that they are too arrogant to accept the truth - for Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning), ?And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides Allaah, lest they insult Allaah wrongfully without knowledge.' [al-An'aam 6:108] - if we find out that they are stubborn and arrogant, then we should point out their falsehood, because then pointing out their falsehood becomes an obligation upon us. 

With regard to boycotting them, that depends upon the bid'ah. If it is a bid'ah which constitutes kufr, then it is obligatory to boycott the person who does it. If it is of a lesser degree than that, then it is essential to examine the situation further. If something may be achieved by boycotting the person, then we do it; if no purpose will be served by it, or if it will only make him more disobedient and arrogant, then we should avoid doing that, because whatever serves no purpose, it is better not to do it. And also in principle it is haraam to boycott a believer, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ?It is not permissible for a man to forsake [not speak to] his brother for more than three [days].'" 

(Adapted from Majmoo' Fataawa Ibn ?Uthaymeen, vol. 2, p. 293)

 So as you can see the Islamic solution to Heretics is as follows:

-Show them their errors in a kind and none-hostile way

-If they persist in their errors then it becomes obligatory upon us to point their falsehoods even though it may offend them

-Boycotting them if their deviant belief is very extreme, however so if it is not too extreme then boycotting them should be avoided

Here is another long and detailed discussion concerning how Orthodox Muslims should deal with heretics, from Islam-QA:

So as you can see innovators are not to even be thrown out of mosques! Also the Hadith of Ali that was quoted above soundly refutes and debunks Dr. White's nonsense, I re-quote it again:

This hadith by one of the greatest Muslims completely crushes Dr. White's gross miss-representation of the Islamic position concerning heretics.

There is full of Islamic material available on this topic, which teaches the Muslims on how we should deal with heretics, I strongly advise that both Muslims and the ignorant Dr. White go and check on these sources to get a good understanding.

In conclusion the Islamic position towards heretics is:

-Approach them with no hostility to bring them back to the correct path

-If they are stubborn and persist then point out the falsehoods in their deviant beliefs

-Do not fight them

-Publish material such as books, articles, lectures, tapes, DVD'S, and any other form of communication that will spread the truth against the deviant beliefs

-Avoid them and do not befriend them unless you are teaching them the truth, and pointing out their mistakes

-Do not kick them out of the mosques, and do not boycott them unless their deviancy is very extreme

-Treat them in a way they treat you, if they extend the Salam to you, then you do the same and so on.

And Allah certainly Knows Best!

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