The claim that testifying that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah removes even Shirk committed afterwards
Question:
“My father always tells me that it is sufficient to only offer Salah (Prayer) and Sawm (Fasting) regularly, and just memorize {Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "He is Allâh, (the) One.} i.e. Surah Al-Ikhlas and Surah Al-Nas which he recites in every Salah. According to him, there is no harm if he, out of ignorance, commits an act of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) or Kufr (disbelief), as long as he testifies that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. What is Your Eminence's opinion in this regard? Is this a sound understanding of Islam, given that he might commit one of the nullifiers of Islam or an act of Kufr, such as turning to other laws that contradict the Shari`ah i.e. laws of Taghut (false gods) or associating others with Allah?”
Answer:
“It was authentically narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, “I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, so if they say it, then they save their lives and property from me except legally, and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah.”[1] Turning to other than Allah believing that their laws are better or equivalent to that of Allah, is Kufr and a nullifier that invalidates the Shahadatayn (two testimonies of Faith). Likewise, considering anyone an equal or a partner with Allah, or calling upon them believing they can ward off calamities or bring benefit, all this is Kufr that takes one out of the fold of Islam. The mere uttering of the Shahadatayn will be of no avail for whoever persists in committing acts and deeds of disbelief and Shirk, because one must also disbelieve in whatever is worshiped beside Allah. The Prophet's other Hadith explained this: “Anyone who professes that there is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allah and denies everything which the people worship beside Allah, his property and blood become inviolable, all their affairs rest with Allah.”[2] It is therefore, incumbent upon you to explain the truth to your father, may Allah guide him to righteousness.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullaah bin Baaz
Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaq al-'Afeefee
Shaykh 'Abdullah al-Ghudayyaan
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwa no. 13402
[1] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on faith, no. 25; and Muslim, Sahih, Book on faith, no. 22.
[2] Ahmad, vol. 3, p. 472, and vol. 6, pp. 394 and 395; Muslim, vol. 1, p. 53, no. 23, and the wording is his; ibn Abu Shaybah, vol. 10, p. 123, and vol. 1, p. 375; Ibn Hibban, vol. 1, p. 395, no. 171; Ibn Mandah, Book on faith, vol. 1, p. 175, no. 34; and Al-Tabarany, vol. 8, pp. 318 and 319, nos. 8190, and 8192-8194.
“My father always tells me that it is sufficient to only offer Salah (Prayer) and Sawm (Fasting) regularly, and just memorize {Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "He is Allâh, (the) One.} i.e. Surah Al-Ikhlas and Surah Al-Nas which he recites in every Salah. According to him, there is no harm if he, out of ignorance, commits an act of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) or Kufr (disbelief), as long as he testifies that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. What is Your Eminence's opinion in this regard? Is this a sound understanding of Islam, given that he might commit one of the nullifiers of Islam or an act of Kufr, such as turning to other laws that contradict the Shari`ah i.e. laws of Taghut (false gods) or associating others with Allah?”
Answer:
“It was authentically narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, “I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, so if they say it, then they save their lives and property from me except legally, and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah.”[1] Turning to other than Allah believing that their laws are better or equivalent to that of Allah, is Kufr and a nullifier that invalidates the Shahadatayn (two testimonies of Faith). Likewise, considering anyone an equal or a partner with Allah, or calling upon them believing they can ward off calamities or bring benefit, all this is Kufr that takes one out of the fold of Islam. The mere uttering of the Shahadatayn will be of no avail for whoever persists in committing acts and deeds of disbelief and Shirk, because one must also disbelieve in whatever is worshiped beside Allah. The Prophet's other Hadith explained this: “Anyone who professes that there is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allah and denies everything which the people worship beside Allah, his property and blood become inviolable, all their affairs rest with Allah.”[2] It is therefore, incumbent upon you to explain the truth to your father, may Allah guide him to righteousness.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullaah bin Baaz
Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaq al-'Afeefee
Shaykh 'Abdullah al-Ghudayyaan
Source: www.alifta.net - Fatwa no. 13402
[1] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on faith, no. 25; and Muslim, Sahih, Book on faith, no. 22.
[2] Ahmad, vol. 3, p. 472, and vol. 6, pp. 394 and 395; Muslim, vol. 1, p. 53, no. 23, and the wording is his; ibn Abu Shaybah, vol. 10, p. 123, and vol. 1, p. 375; Ibn Hibban, vol. 1, p. 395, no. 171; Ibn Mandah, Book on faith, vol. 1, p. 175, no. 34; and Al-Tabarany, vol. 8, pp. 318 and 319, nos. 8190, and 8192-8194.