Don't be hasty in Takfeer or Tabdee'

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Question to Sheikh. Saalih Al-Fawzaan: 

“Is it right for a Muslim to call Muslims disbelievers of innovators for anyone that is doing an act of disbelief or innovation?”

"Being hasty in ruling upon people and accusing them of disbelief and accusing them of being innovators or doing an innovation is not permissible, this act of accusing another person of disbelief or innovation is only for those with knowledge (The scholars), those who know what exactly disbelief is and know exactly what innovation is, and know exactly what removes a person from Islam, and all of these situations (of disbelief and innovations) have reasons and rules regarding them that the people of knowledge know, this is something specific only for those with knowledge.

It's not permissible for just any person to rule upon someone (by saying) this person has committed disbelief or innovation or associated with Allah partners, and In actuality the accuser doesn't realize or know the precepts of labeling someone as a disbeliever, or in labeling someone as an innovator, or the precepts in regards to labeling someone as an outward sinner. 

People should hold back their tongues from saying these things, because perhaps he will tell a person who is free of such accusations that he is a disbeliever or an innovator or that he is misguided, or an open sinner while the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, “Whoever say to his brother O’ disbeliever (or O’sinner) and it is not as such, it will return to him” 

His accusation will return back to him and Allahs refuge is sought. So people must hold back their tongues from saying these things, and not accuse people of these things, this is dangerous. These actions require that people go study and know the precepts required for calling someone a disbeliever or an innovator or an open sinner, they shouldn't speak with their ignorance or emotions or by being overly enthusiastic or because of jealously, because it is possible that they would make a mistake and his incorrect ruling would return back to him. 

This issue is very dangerous, and this speech that the person says regarding the accusation of disbelief or innovation or open sin for another Muslim, doesn't go away easily. So if the accusation is true and he deserves it, then it goes to him and becomes true, and if he isn't deserving of it, it comes back to the accuser and becomes true. So upon you all is to prevent your tongues from saying such things."

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6294UjUoLmk

العبرة بعموم اللفظ لا بخصوص السبب

"The Lesson (and the ruling connected to it) is according to the generality of the wording not the specific reason for it's revelation."

-A general rule in Islamic Law mentioned by many scholars including Sh. Uthaymeen.

So that if there is a lesson to be learned from a Islamic text (Qur'an and Sunnah) the lesson is taken and applied generally , even if it had a specific reason for being revealed, and only becomes specific according to the specifics specified by the Islamic text connected to the text itself, regardless of the reason for its revelation.

So for example, the verse:

"And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice."-2:196

It was sent because a companion of the Prophet was facing these circumstances, making it specifically sent because of him, however, the ruling is general in that anyone who falls under the same circumstances can apply the ruling.