الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على أشرف الأنبياء والمرسلين، نبينا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين أما بعد
Shaikh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) was asked:
Does the undertaking of sins affect the declaration of Tawheed? Committing certain sins – especially the major sins; does that effect this pillar from the pillars of Islaam?
The Shaikh responded:
“Committing major sins such as fornication and drinking alcohol and killing someone without due right and consuming usury and backbiting and tale-carrying and other than them from the major sins have an effect upon the Tawheed of Allaah as well as in having Eemaan in Allaah – and so they weaken it. Thus he becomes weak in Eemaan; however he is not to be declared as a disbeliever contrary to the Khawaarij. For the Khawaarij render such a person as a disbeliever and so make him a permanent inhabitant of The Fire if he dies upon that and does not repent. So whoever steals or is disobedient to ones parents or consumes usury – they make such a person a disbeliever – even if he does not hold the permissibility of that (i.e. does not make the undertaking of that sin as permissible for himself) and this is a great error from the Khawaarij.
For Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah say: he is not a disbeliever; rather he is a sinner and deficient in Eemaan, however he is not to be declared a disbeliever due to major disbelief. Instead there will be deficiency and weakness in his Eemaan, for this reason Allaah has legislated in the case of fornication a prescribed punishment, if the fornicator was a virgin then he is to be lashed a hundred times and banished for a year”
The Shaikh went on to say:
“The Mu’tazilah say: that he is in a station between two stations, however he will remain forever in The Fire if he dies upon it. So they have opposed Ahlus Sunnah in the issue of the eternal remainder of the people of sinfulness in The Fire; and they have agreed with the Khawaarij in that. The Khawaarij say: he is a disbeliever and will eternally remain in The Fire, these people say: he will remain eternally in The Fire but we do not call him a disbeliever – meaning in terms of major disbelief. Both groups have strayed away from the path.
That which is correct is the statement of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah that he is not a disbeliever – meaning in terms of major disbelief, however he is a sinner and is thus weak and deficient in Eemaan and in great danger from disbelief – but he is not a disbeliever for as long as he does not make this sin permissible. Rather he committed it whilst knowing that it is a sin, however Shaitaan incited him upon it as did desires as well as the soul that inclines to evils. This is the saying of the people of the truth, he will therefore be under the will of Allaah if he dies upon that. If He wills He will forgive him and if He wills He will punish him in accordance to his sinfulness to Him – The Glorified and Most High – due to the saying of Allaah, The Mighty and Majestic:
{إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ}
((Indeed, Allaah does not forgive Shirk [association in worship] being made with Him, but He forgives what is other than that for whom He wishes)) (An-Nisaa: 48)
Then after that which Allaah had Ruled with regarding him comes to pass upon the sinner by way of entry into The Fire; Allaah will exit him and (enter him) into Paradise – this is the saying of the people of the truth. This is also what has been reported through multiple sources from the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) – contrary to the Khawaarij and the Mu’tazilah as has preceded. As for the one who dies upon major shirk; then Allaah will not forgive him – ever; and Paradise is forbidden for him – and we seek refuge with Allaah from that. He will eternally remain in The Fire due to the aayah previously stated as well as other than it from the aayaat which prove that the disbelievers will eternally remain in The Fire; and we seek refuge with Allaah from their condition.”
Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah) said under the heading:
The Third Principle: Refraining from Declaring Anyone from The Muslims As a Disbeliever Except Upon The Undertaking of an Annulment From The Things Which Nullify Islaam
“From the principles of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah is that they do not declare anyone from the Muslims to be a disbeliever except if that person undertakes something from the things which nullify a persons Islaam. As for undertaking something from the major sins which are other than shirk and upon which no proof indicates the disbelief of the one who commits it – such as leaving off the prayer out of laziness; then they do not make the ruling over the one who commits it – meaning: the major sin of disbelief. Rather they make the ruling of fisq (sinful wickedness) and a deficiency in Eemaan over him, therefore if he does not repent from it then he is under the will (of Allaah) – if He wills He will forgive him and if He wills He will punish him – however he will not remain forever in the Hell-Fire. He, The Most High said:
{إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ}
((Indeed, Allaah does not forgive Shirk [association in worship] being made with Him, but He forgives what is other than that for whom He wishes)) (An-Nisaa: 48)
So the madhab of Ahlus Sunnah in that regard is the middle-ground between the Khawaarij who declare the one who commits a major sin as a disbeliever – even if it be less than disbelief. Likewise they are between the Murji-ah who declare that he is a believer – of complete and perfect Eemaan and they say: sins do no harm along with Eemaan – just as disbelief is of no benefit along with obedience.”
(Taken from: Speech of Shaikh Ibn Baaz: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/152. Speech of Shaikh Al-Fawzaan from: Min Usool ‘Aqeedah Ahlus Sunnah Wal-Jamaa’ah p.14)
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