Takfir
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- For the Salafist extremist group see Takfir wal-Hijra
- In Shia terminology, "takfir" is the practice of crossing the arms when standing upright during salat (or takattuf, called qabd by Sunnis).
In Islamic law, takfir or takfeer (تكفير) is the practice of declaring unbeliever or kafir (pl. kuffār), an individual or a group previously considered Muslim. The act which precipitates takfir is termed the mukaffir.
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[edit] Conditions
This declaration may be made if the alleged Muslim in question declares himself a kafir, but more typically applies to a judgement that an action or statement by the alleged Muslim indicates his knowing abandonment of Islam. The sentence for apostasy (irtidad), under Sharia law as traditionally interpreted, is execution,alternate amputation,expulsion. For this reason, orthodox Islamic law normally requires extremely stringent evidence for such accusations, in many cases, requiring an Islamic court or a religious leader, an alim, to pronounce a fatwa (legal judgement) of takfir on an individual or group.
What constitutes sufficient justification for takfir is disputed between different schools of religious thought. The orthodox Sunni position is that sins do not in general prove that someone is not a Muslim, but that denials of fundamental religious principles do; thus a murderer, for instance, may still be a Muslim, but someone who denies that murder is a sin must be a kafir, as long as he is aware that murder is a sin in Islam. An extreme case is exemplified by the early Kharijites, some of whom concluded that any Muslim who sinned ceased to be a Muslim, while others concluded that any major sin could cause that. The opposite extreme was taken by the Murjites, who argued that anyone who called themselves Muslim should be considered Muslim. The Mu'tazilites (followed by the Zaydis) advocated what they saw as a middle way, whereby grave sinners were categorized neither as believers nor as kafirs.
Some Muslims consider Takfir (declaring someone a Kafir) to be a prerogative only of either the Prophet -- who does that through Divine revelation -- or that State which represents the collectivity of the Ummah (the whole Muslim community).[1]
Extremist movements that have been ready to practice takfir - the earliest medieval Kharijites and modern groups such as Takfir wal-Hijra and the GIA, who regard virtually all self-styled Muslims as kafirs whose blood may legitimately be shed - have been condemned by more mainstream Muslims.
[edit] History
One of the earliest examples of takfir was practiced by the first Caliph, Abu Bakr. In response to the refusal of certain Arab tribes to pay the alms-tax (zakat), he declared that "By God, I will fight anyone who differentiates between the prayer and the zakat." It also should be mentioned that Abu Bakr said these words at the time when people were trying to add new practices to Islam. In order to prevent this he laid down very strict rules and ordered people to follow the original Sharia, which was compiled at the time. Abu Bakr asserted: 'Revelation has been discontinued, the Shari'ah has been completed: will the religion be curtailed while I am alive.’ And then he added, "I will fight these tribes even if they refuse to give a halter. Poor-due (zakat) is a levy on wealth and, by God, I will fight him who differentiates between the prayer and poor-due."[2]
In the wars between the Umayyad Caliphate and the Kharijites, the latter's practice of takfir became the justification for their indiscriminate attacks on civilian Muslims; the more moderate Sunni view of takfir developed partly in response to this conflict.
In more recent times, takfir has been used against the Ahmadiyya who describe themselves as Muslims but are considered by mainstream Muslims and Islamic scholars to be non-Muslims due to their rejection of the fundamental Islamic belief that Muhammad was the Seal of the Prophets. In this case, however, Muslim jurists have brought forth reasoning from Islamic Shariah to declare the two groups Kaffir, whereas takfir practiced by extremists is not justified by Shariah law, but rather by personal beliefs. Takfir has also been used on Shias, whos beliefs are questioned by many mainstream Sunni Muslims. This has sometimes been used to legitimize physical attacks on such groups[3]. In the case of groups such as the GIA (as mentioned above), it has been used to legitimize attacks on any Muslim who is not actively fighting against their governments.
An example of takfir that has featured prominently in Western media is the case of Salman Rushdie, who was forced into hiding after Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa officially declaring him to be a kafir who should be executed.
[edit] In the Qur'an and Hadith
The verse
[004:115] And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad [Peace Be Upon Him]) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers' way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell – what an evil destination!
This verse is interpreted as indicating that before practising takfir, one must first provide guidance to the person in question, explaining that what they are doing is wrong.
The Qur'an emphasises that accusations of unbelief are not to be made lightly:
[004:094] O you who believe! When you go (to fight) in the Cause of God, verify (the truth), and say not to anyone who greets you (by embracing Islam): "You are not a believer"; seeking the perishable goods of the worldly life. There are much more profits and booties with God. Even as he is now, so were you yourselves before till God conferred on you His Favours (i.e. guided you to Islam), therefore, be cautious in discrimination. God is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do.
while Muhammad is recorded in a hadith as saying that:
If a man (in a battle) is attacking a kafir with a spear, and it has reached his throat, and at that moment he says ‘There is no god but God’, the Muslim must immediately withdraw his spear.[4]
This is taken as emphasizing that the state of being kafir is rejection of Islam itself, and that a return to Islam is sufficient to end the status. (See repentance.)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ As if Iftikhar, Murder, Manslaughter and Terrorism -- All in the Name of Allah, Renaissance - Monthly Journal, March & April 1997, Vol. 7 Nos. 3-4, Al-Mawrid.[1]
[edit] External links
- The Amman Message (Declaration forbidding takfir (declarations of apostasy) between Muslims unanimously agreed upon by 200 of the world's leading Islamic scholars 'Ulama from 50 countries.)
- The Clear Proofs in Refuting the Doubts of the People of Takfeer and Bombing!
- Extremism in Takfir
- The Ideology of Terrorism and Violence in Saudi Arabia: Origins, Reasons and Solution
- Religious denunciations and Takfir: Isn't there enough to go around? (by Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq)
- Maudoodi's article on takfir (by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi)
- Takfeer according to Imam Ibn Uthaimeen
- Be Careful who you call non-Muslim
- Islamic theology and Takfir Article exploring the classical view of takfir
- An Introduction to Takfeer
- Preventative factors from Takfeer
- Hermeneutics of takfir
