“Moderate Muslims” Refuted

“But the Shaykh says …”

How often do we hear the ‘moderate muslims’, or more so, the defenders of the Saudi throne saying “well Shaykh __________ said so and so !”. Annoying huh? You bring them verses and authentic narrations from the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe wa Salaam), yet they tell you their Shaykh said this and that, and will shrug off any daleel you give.

Note: Most of the Shaykhs that Ahl Al-’Irjaa present are noble Shaykhs such as Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-’Uthaymeen, Nasruddin Albani, and others, and we emphasize that we respect these scholars.

Firstly, what is the consequence of obeying your scholar over the Allah?

On the authority of `Adi Ibn Hatim (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu), it is reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe wa Salam) reciting this verse:” They have taken their rabbis and their monks as lords beside Allah and [they take as a lord] Al-Maseeh, `Eesaa, the son of Maryam, yet they were not commanded but to worship One God: None has the right to be worshipped but He - Praise and Glory to Him: [Far is He] from having the partners they associate [with Him]” (Qur’an 9:31)“…and I said to him : “We don’t worship them.” He said: “Do they not forbid what Allah has permitted and do you not then forbid it (to yourselves), and do they not make permissible for you what Allah has forbidden, and do you not then make it permissible (to yourselves)?” I replied: “Certainly!” He said: “That is worshipping them.” (Narrated by At-Tirmithi, who graded it as Hasan)

Obedience is Ibaadah ! So, this is not a matter which we must take lightly. During the time of Ibn Abbas, there was a small dispute regarding the Hajj, which leads us to this Hadith: Ibn `Abbas (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) said: “Stones are about to rain down upon you from the sky: I say to you: “Allah’s Messenger said…” and you reply: “But Abu Bakr and `Umar saidIbn Abbas (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) made that statement, after the people he was talking to said “But Abu Bakr and ‘Umar said …” eventhough Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) gave them a Hadith from the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe wa Salam). And yet, these were two of the greatest companions ! Furthermore,Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal said: “I am amazed at those people who know that a sanad is authentic and yet, in spite of this, they follow the opinion of Sufyan, for Allah, says:” Let those who oppose his [the Messenger's] commandment beware, lest some fitnah befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them” (Qur’an 24:63) Do you know what that fitnah is? That fitnah is Shirk. Maybe the rejection of some of his words would cause one to doubt and deviate in his heart and thereby be destroyed.”In conclusion, we see the importance of obedience being only to Allah (azza wa ‘jal) and his Messenger (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe wa Salam) because obedience is a form of Ibaadah, and the Qur’an, and Sunnah precede the statement of any scholar“That in the opinion of Imam Ahmad it is forbidden to abandon the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger in favour of the saying of any person, no matter how knowledgeable and pious he may be.”[Shaykh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab, Kitab At-Tawheed, Chapter 36]

We also, encourage the reader to get more information on the topic by reading the masterpiece, Kitab At-Tawheed, chapter 36, by Shaykh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab

http://islamicweb.com/beliefs/creed/abdulwahab/KT1-chap-36.htm

Fundamentals of our Aqeedah

It’s actually quite simple, it is La Ilaha Ila Allah, Muhammad Rasool Allaah. We fully embrace this declaration, and carry it’s pillars in our hearts and actions. One might say, “well all muslims embrace La Ilaha Ila Allah, Muhammad Rasool Allaah“, but the question is; what exactly does it mean? And how does on adhere upon it.

Abdullah ibn Amr bin al-Aas (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe wa Salam) said, “When death visited Allah’s prophet Nuh, he said to his son, ‘I shall narrate to you the will. I command you with two things and I forbid you from two things. I command you with La Ilaaha illa Allah. Surely, if the seven heavens and the seven earths were placed placed on a pan of the scale, and La ilaaha illa Allah was placed on the other pan of the scale, they would give in to Laa Illaaha illa Allah. And if the seven heavens and the seven earths were a dark ring, they would be cut by Laa Ilaaha illa Allah and Subhan’Allah wa bi Hamdihi. It is the prayer of every thing and by it everything has its provision. And I forbid you from shirk and from pride.’”

[al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad # 548, al-Bayhaqi in al-Asmaa, al-Albaani in as-Sahihah #134, and others]

Amma Ba’ad (To procced):

La Ilaha Ila Allah, can be divided into two parts:

1. Al-Kufr bil Taghoout (La Ilaha Ila Allah)
2. Al-Imaan Fi Allaah (La Ilaha Ila Allah)

There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities (taghoout) and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower.

‘And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghoout (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Taghoout besides Allâh).” Then of them were some whom Allâh guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth).’.

We will discuss the first pillar:

Al-Kufr bil Taghoout- Rejecting the false dieties (La Ilaha Ila Allah)

Al-Kufr Bil Taghoout means to reject the false dieties,

The False diety is known as a Taghoout, which Shaykh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab (RH) says in his article entitled “The Meaning of Taghoout” that the taghoout is:

” 1) The Devil,

“Did I not command you O children of Aadam, that you should not worship the Devil. Verily, he is a plain enemy to you.” [Surah YaaSeen: 60]

أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ يَا بَنِي آدَمَ أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوا الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

2) Someone who changes the laws of Allah (azza wa ‘jal)

“Have you not seen those (hypocrites) who claim to believe in that which has been revealed to you, and that which was revealed before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Taaghoot, when they have been ordered to reject them? But the Devil wishes to lead them far astray.” [Surah An-Nisaa: 60]

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُواْ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُواْ إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُواْ أَن يَكْفُرُواْ بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلاَلاً بَعِيدًا

3) One who does not rule by the ruling of Allah (azza wa ‘jal), or changes the rulings of Allah (azza wa ‘jal)

“And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, then they are the disbelievers.” [5: 44]

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُواْ لِلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالأَحْبَارُ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُواْ مِن كِتَابِ اللّهِ وَكَانُواْ عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَاء فَلاَ تَخْشَوُاْ النَّاسَ وَاخْشَوْنِ وَلاَ تَشْتَرُواْ بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ

“Have you not seen those (hypocrites) who claim to believe in that which has been revealed to you, and that which was revealed before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Taaghoot, when they have been ordered to reject them? But the Devil wishes to lead them far astray.” [Surah An-Nisaa: 60]

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُواْ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُواْ إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُواْ أَن يَكْفُرُواْ بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلاَلاً بَعِيدًا

4) Someone who claims he can see the Ghaib (unseen)

“He alone is the All-Knower of the Unseen, and He does not disclose His Unseen matters to anyone.” [Surah Al-Jinn: 26-27]

وَهُمْ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ وَيَنْأَوْنَ عَنْهُ وَإِن يُهْلِكُونَ إِلاَّ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ

وَلَوْ تَرَىَ إِذْ وُقِفُواْ عَلَى النَّارِ فَقَالُواْ يَا لَيْتَنَا نُرَدُّ وَلاَ نُكَذِّبَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّنَا وَنَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

“And with Him lie the keys to the Unseen, no one knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and in the sea; not a leaf falls except that He knows about it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry, but that it is written in a Clear Record.” [Surah Al-Ana’aam: 59]

وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لاَ يَعْلَمُهَا إِلاَّ هُوَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلاَّ يَعْلَمُهَا وَلاَ حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الأَرْضِ وَلاَ رَطْبٍ وَلاَ يَابِسٍ إِلاَّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

5) Anyone or anything which can be worshipped other then Allah (swt) and is pleased with it.

“And whoever amongst them says: ‘Verily, I am a God besides Him (Allah)’, then this person’s recompense will be the Hellfire. That is the way we recompense the wrongdoers.” [Surah Al-Anbiyaa: 29]

وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لاَ يَعْلَمُهَا إِلاَّ هُوَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلاَّ يَعْلَمُهَا وَلاَ حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الأَرْضِ وَلاَ رَطْبٍ وَلاَ يَابِسٍ إِلاَّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ”

Important Note: One must remember that the legislation is only for Allah (azza wa ‘jal), and not for any man, Our only legislator is Allah (azza wa ‘jal), therefore how can we vote for a President or Minister who will take the position (of legislator) ? That would be Shirk.

Say (O Muhammad [Sallallahu 'Alaayhe wa Salam]): “The decision [ hukm ] is only for Allah” (Surat al-An’aam: 57)

“They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah)”,‘

Adiyy bin Haatim (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu), who was a Christian but came to Islam, he heard the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe wa Salam) recite this ayah, so ‘Adiyy (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) said: ‘We did not worship them besides Allah’. The Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe wa Salam) replied: ‘Did they not make forbidden what Allah had made permissible, and made permissible what Allah had made forbidden?’ ‘Adiyy (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) replied: ‘Of course’. So he (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe wa Salam) said: ‘So that wasyour worshipping of them’. (Found in Imam Ahmad’s Musnad and the Jaami’ of at-Tirmithi, and he declared it hasan.)

How to reject the Taghoout..

1) I’tiqaad Butlaan Al-Taghout – Believing that the Taghout is falsehood

22:62 That is because Allah - He is the Reality; and those besides Him whom they invoke,- they are but vain Falsehood: verily Allah is He, Most High, Most
Great.

ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ هُوَ الْبَاطِلُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ 2) Ijtinaab Al Taghout – Staying away from the Taghout.

“And verily we have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (alone), and keep distance from Taghout.” Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied [16:36]

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الطَّاغُوتَ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى اللّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الضَّلالَةُ فَسِيرُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ فَانظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ

3) Al Adaawa lil Taghout – To show animosity towards the Taghout.

There is for you an excellent example (to follow) in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: “We are clear of you and of whatever ye worship besides Allah. we have rejected you, and there has arisen, between us and you, enmity and hatred for ever,- unless ye believe in Allah and Him alone”: But not when Abraham said to his father: “I will pray for forgiveness for thee, th

قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ إِذْ قَالُوا لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَاء مِنكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ كَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةُ وَالْبَغْضَاء أَبَدًا حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ إِلَّا قَوْلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ وَمَا أَمْلِكُ لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ

ough I have no power (to get) aught on thy behalf from Allah.” (They prayed): “Our Lord! in Thee do we trust, and to Thee do we turn in repentance: to Thee is (our) Final Goal. [60:40]

4) Al Baghdaa lil Taghout – To show hatred towards the Taghout.

There is for you an excellent example (to follow) in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: “We are clear of you and of whatever ye worship besides Allah. we have rejected you, and there has arisen, between us and you, enmity and hatred for ever,- unless ye believe in Allah and Him alone”: But not when Abraham said to his father: “I will pray for forgiveness for thee, though I have no power (to get) aught on thy behalf from Allah.” (They prayed): “Our Lord! in Thee do we trust, and to Thee do we turn in repentance: to Thee is (our) Final Goal. [60:40]

قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ إِذْ قَالُوا لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَاء مِنكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ كَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةُ وَالْبَغْضَاء أَبَدًا حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ إِلَّا قَوْلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ وَمَا أَمْلِكُ لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ5)

5) Takfeer Al Taghout – To declare takfeer on the Taghout. “…Whosoever declares kufr on (rejects) Taaghout then believes in Allah, he has grasped the most trustworthy knot of Islam (understood the meaning of the Shahaadah).” [2:256]

لاَ إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىَ لاَ انفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

There is for you an excellent example (to follow) in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: “We are clear of you and of whatever ye worship besides Allah. we have rejected you, and there has arisen, between us and you, enmity and hatred for ever,- unless ye believe in Allah and Him alone”: But not when Abraham said to his father: “I will pray for forgiveness for thee, though I have no power (to get) aught on thy behalf from Allah.” (They prayed): “Our Lord! in Thee do we trust, and to Thee do we turn in repentance: to Thee is (our) Final Goal. [60:40]

قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ إِذْ قَالُوا لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَاء مِنكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ كَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةُ وَالْبَغْضَاء أَبَدًا حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ إِلَّا قَوْلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ وَمَا أَمْلِكُ لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ

Important Side Note: Notice how Al-Adawaa to the taghoout and the people of shirk comes before Al-Baghdaa, The Shaykh Hamad ibn ‘Atiq (Rahimuhullah) says: “So his saying ‘…and there has become apparent…’ In other words, it has become clear and apparent. And consider the preceding of ‘…enemity…’ with ‘…hatred…’ because the first is more important that the second. This is because; the person may hate the polytheists (Mushrikin), while not taking them as enemies, So (if this were the case, then) he would not have come with the obligation that was upon him, until he attains both the enmity and the hatred. And it is a must, as well, that the enmity andhatred are both open and apparent and clear. And known that even if the hatred is tied to the heart, then it does not benefit him until its effects are shown and its signs become clear. And that abandonment (of them). Then and that point, the enmity and hatred will become apparent. “ [This reference was taken from Sabil An-Najat Wal-Filak]

 Al-Iman fi Allaah - Believing in Allaah (La ilaha Ila Allaah)

O ur Iman is in three things

1) Al-Iman bil Rububiyyah – To Believe in the Lordship of Allah (azza wa ‘jal)

2) Al-Iman bil Uluhiyyah – To believe that all actions of worship are directed to only Allah (azza wa ‘jal), and he is the only one who deserves such worship

3) Al-Iman bil Asma Wa Sifaat – To believe in all of Allah’s (azza wa ‘jal) names and attributes, and believe that they belong to none but him. Our Iman in these three things should be manifested into heart, tongue, and actions.

Shaykh Muhammad Abdul Wahab defines Iman as: “There is no difference - in opinion - regarding tawheed to be in the heart, and tongue and actions. And if one of these does not exist (akhtala), then this person cannot be a Muslim; and if he knows at-tawheed, and does not act upon it, then he is someone who has the disbelief of obstinacy ( kaafir mu’aanid), like the disbelief of Fir’awn, Iblees and their likes.” - See, Kashf ash-Shubuhaat , page 40.

Imam as-Shafi defines Iman as :“The consensus of the Companions, and the tabi’een, and whoever was after them, and whom so ever we saw [regarding imaan], was: ‘al-Imaan is speech, actions and intention, and one cannot exist ( yatajaza`), except with the others.’” - See, Majmoo’ al-Fatawaa , volume 7/309

In conclusion, I urge the reader to rethink their understanding of Islam, and its core At-Tawheed. Furthermore, I urge the reader to fully embrace the basis of life, la ilaha Ila Allah, and reject the tawagheet of our era despite the hardships it carries. And to show utmost animosity towards the tawagheet, and the people of kufr and shirk. For the full version of ‘Fundamentals of our Aqeedah”

[url]http://www.sendspace.com/file/z49lba[/url]

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“But we cannot judge !”

We often hear the “Moderate Muslims” saying “but who are we to judge? Only Allah (SWT) knows his intention” after we make takfeer on someone. Indeed, it is only Allah (SWT) who knows ones intention, and Allah (SWT) is our ultimate judge, but this arguement (”we cannot judge”) is not a valid arguement to refrain from making takfeer on someone. Based on the following two principles:

• Al-Imaan (Faith) must also be manifested into actions.
• We judge based on what is apparent.

Al-Imaan (Faith) must also be manifested into actions.

Amongst the many deviant ideas, is that our Iman lies only in our hearts, and not in our actions. Our Iman is actually is in our hearts, tongue, and actions. All of which must be present for Iman to be valid. One cannot just have Iman in his heart, and not in actions. For example, lets say someone believes in Allah (azza wa ‘jal), believes that the Qur’an is the word of Allah (azza wa ‘jal), etc…, yet he insults the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe wa Salaam), he has apostated despite having Iman in his heart, and we know this based on the verses:

9:65 If thou dost question them, they declare (with emphasis): “We were only talking idly and in play.” Say: “Was it at Allah, and His Signs, and His Messenger, that ye were mocking?”

وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ قُلْ أَبِاللّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِؤُونَ

9:66 Make ye no excuses: ye have rejected Faith after ye had accepted it. If We pardon some of you, We will punish others amongst you, for that they are in sin

لاَ تَعْتَذِرُواْ قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ إِن نَّعْفُ عَن طَآئِفَةٍ مِّنكُمْ نُعَذِّبْ طَآئِفَةً بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُواْ مُجْرِمِينَ

So there, we saw that eventhough they had Iman in their hearts, it was invalidated by the absence of Iman in their actions.

The concept that Iman is only in our hearts is called ‘Irjaa, and is indeed a disease. We ask that Allah (azza wa ‘jal) frees us from it.

We admit to have posted little evidences but would be more then glad to provide more upon request.

We judge based on what is apparent.

We, as Muslims must judge based on what is apparent, as opposed to making assumptions by saying “we cannot judge because we do not know what is in his heart”, because only Allah (azza wa ‘jal) knows what is in the heart.

Narrated by Nu’aim:”We were with the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe wa Salaam), and a man came. They said he was a kaafir and conspired to take his money, the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe wa Salaam) said: “didn’t he say ‘laa ilaha illa Allah?” they said: “yes, but only out of fear from the sword.” The Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe wa Salaam) said: “do not kill him, I have been ordered to fight people until they say laa ilaha illa Allah, after that there life and wealth is protected.” They said, “O Messenger, he feared our sword.” The Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaayhe wa Salaam) said: “I have been ordered to judge the apparent.” [Nisaa'i 3714]

Sufyan Al Thawree said regarding this Hadeeth: “This is so clear, that the pillars (the sayings and actions) are for people to see and hear (i.e. they are apparent).”

Abu Izz Al Hanafi said: “We have been ordered to judge by the apparent, and Allah (azza wa ‘jal) forbade us to doubt people, and to follow what we do not have knowledge, (Allah [azza wa 'jal] said: ) “O Believers, avoid the doubt … [49: 12] & [isra: 36]” [Aqeedah Tahaqiyyah]

Imam Ahmed said: “The Imaan and the nifaq has its origin in the heart, but what appears is the sayings and actions, is its branch and is evidence about it.”