THE FIRST NULLIFIER
Know that the Nullifiers of Islaam are ten.
First: Shirk (associating partners) in the worship of Allaah. Allaah says:
“Verily, Allaah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him in
worship (i.e. Shirk), but He forgives what is less than that to whom He
wills.” [Surah An-Nisaa: 116]
And He says: “Verily, the one who mixes partners in worship with Allaah
(Shirk), then Paradise has been made forbidden for him and his final
abode will be the Hellfire. And the wrongdoers will not have any helpers
(in Hell).” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 72]
What falls into this is performing sacrifices to someone other than Allaah,
such as the person who offers a sacrifice to the Jinn or to a grave.
◄ explanation ►
All praise be to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds, and may the peace and blessings be on the
most noble of Prophets and Messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and on his family
and all of his Companions. To Proceed:
These are the ten Nullifiers of Islaam, which the Imaam and the Mujaddid, Shaikh
Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) has mentioned. They are the things
that invalidate Islaam. They have been called “Nullifiers” because if a person
commits any one of them, his Islaam and Religion become cancelled, and he goes
from being a Muslim and a believer to being from among those who commit Shirk and
worship idols. We ask Allaah for His Safety and Protection.
These Nullifiers and Invalidators cancel out one’s Religion, Tawheed and Eemaan, just
as the nullifiers of Purity cancels out one’s state of purity. So if a person has just
performed wudoo (ablution) and is in a state of purity, then he breaks his wudoo by
urinating, defecating or passing wind, his state of (ritual) purity has been nullified and
invalidated. And he goes on to being in a state of (ritual) impurity after having been in
a state of purity. Such is the case with the Muslim, the believer and the one who
affirms Tawheed (Muwahhid) – if he commits any of these Nullifiers of Islaam, his
Islaam and Religion becomes invalidated and he becomes an idol worshiper, from
amongst the idol worshippers, after having been from amongst the Muslims. And if he
dies while in this condition, he will then become from the inhabitants of the Hellfire.
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If a person meets his Lord whilst possessing these forms of Shirk (mixing partners with
Allaah), Allaah will not forgive him, as Allaah says:
“Verily, Allaah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him in worship
(i.e. Shirk), but He forgives what is less than that to whom He wills.” [Surah An-
Nisaa: 116]
Shirk causes all of one’s good deeds to be cancelled out as well. Allaah says:
“And had they mixed partners in worship with Allaah (i.e. committed Shirk), they
would have cancelled out (all the good of) what they used to do.” [Surah Al-
An’aam: 88]
And He says:
“And We will turn to what they used to perform of deeds and turn them into
particles of dust floating in the air.” [Surah Al-Furqaan: 23]
Paradise is forbidden for the one who commits Shirk, as Allaah says:
“Verily, the one who mixes partners in worship with Allaah (Shirk), then Paradise
has been made forbidden for him and his final abode will be the Hellfire. And
the wrongdoers will not have any helpers (in Hell).” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 72]
Therefore, Shirk wipes out all of one’s good deeds and it takes the one who commits it
out of the fold of Islaam. It leads one to abide in the Hellfire forever, and makes
Paradise forbidden for the one who meets Allaah with it. We ask Allaah to guard and
protect us. These are the Nullifiers. The first of them is Shirk, mixing partners in the
worship of Allaah. So whoever mixes partners with Allaah in any of the various forms
of worship, then he has nullified his Islaam and Religion. Examples of this, is such as
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when someone supplicates or calls unto other than Allaah or when someone sacrifices
an animal to other than Allaah.
This is the example the author has given, saying: “What falls into this is performing
sacrifices to someone other than Allaah, such as the person who offers a
sacrifice to the Jinn or to a grave” or to the Messenger or to one of the angels and
so on. More examples are such as when someone makes an oath to other than
Allaah, or bows and prostrates to other than Allaah, or when someone makes Tawaaf
(circumambulation) around other than the House of Allaah, seeking nearness to Allaah
by doing that, or any other form of Shirk. So if someone amongst the created beings
commits Shirk in his worship of Allaah, his Islaam and Religion become nullified. This
is the first Nullifier. We ask Allaah to save and protect us from it.
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THE SECOND NULLIFIER
Second: Whoever places intermediaries between himself and Allaah, calling
unto them and asking intercession from them, and seeking reliance in them,
has committed disbelief according to the unanimous agreement (Ijmaa’).
◄ explanation ►
This Second Nullifier is a form of Shirk. Shirk is a general term, but this act is more
specific, which is why the author has mentioned it here, even though it falls under the
meaning of the First Nullifier. Nevertheless it is specific, such as when a person
places the intermediary of (Prophet) Muhammad between himself and Allaah and calls
unto him, saying: “O Muhammad, Assist me!” or “O Muhammad, intercede for me
before my Lord!” So he places Muhammad (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) as an
intermediary between himself and Allaah. Or he places one of the angels or a walee
(close friend of Allaah) or a Jinn or a grave (as an intermediary) or he supplicates to
the sun or the moon, thus making them intermediaries between himself and Allaah.
So he supplicates to these things until they become intermediaries between himself
and Allaah; or he sacrifices an animal to them or makes an oath to them or calls to
them, so that there can be an intermediary between himself and Allaah. But yet all the
while he claims that this brings him closer to Allaah, as Allaah says:
“And those who take supporters besides Allaah, they say: ‘We don’t worship
them except for the purpose of bringing us closer to Allaah.’” [Surah Az-Zumar:
3]
But Allaah declares them disbelievers and liars because of this statement (of theirs).
“Verily, Allaah will judge between them concerning what they used to differ in.
Surely, Allaah does not guide he who is a liar, and a hardened disbeliever.”
[Surah Az-Zumar: 3] So they are liars because of this statement (of theirs) and they
are disbelievers because of this action.
Allaah says:
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“And they worship besides Allaah that which can neither harm them nor benefit
them, and they say: ‘These are our intercessors before Allaah.’” [Surah Yoonus:
18] So whoever places intermediaries between himself and Allaah that he supplicates
to or offers sacrifices to or makes oaths to or seeks reliance in, then he is indeed a
disbeliever, according to the unanimous agreement of the Muslims. We ask Allaah to
guard and protect us.
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THE THIRD NULLIFIER
Third: Whoever does not hold the polytheists to be disbelievers, or has doubts
about their disbelief or considers their ways and beliefs to be correct, has
committed disbelief.
◄ explanation ►
What this Nullifier means is: that one does not believe that the polytheists are upon
disbelief. The term “polytheists” is general and includes all of the various types of
disbelievers. Therefore, every disbeliever is a polytheist. So whoever does not hold a
disbeliever to be as such, then he himself is a disbeliever, just like him. Whoever does
not consider the Jews or the Christians or the Magians (Majoos) or the idol
worshippers or the hypocrites or the Communists to be disbelievers then he himself is
a disbeliever. The same goes for one who has doubt about their disbelief, such as
one who says: “I’m not sure, it is possible that the Jews may be upon truth.” Or he
may say: “It’s alright for humans to practice the Judaic faith or the Christian faith or the
Islamic faith – they are all heavenly religions” as some people (today) do, calling to the
coming together of the three religions. Whoever holds this belief is a disbeliever. One
must believe that the Jews are disbelievers and that they are upon a false religion.
And he must free himself from them and their Religion and hate and make enmity with
them for the sake of Allaah. Likewise, with the Christians, one must hold that they are
disbelievers. And the same goes with the idol worshippers, the Majoos and all the
other different types of disbelievers.
Likewise, one commits disbelief if he doubts whether they are disbelievers, such as
when someone says: “I don’t know if the Jews are disbelievers or not, they may be
upon truth.” This person has committed disbelief. One must have determination and
firmly hold that they are upon disbelief.
Similar to this is when one holds their ways and beliefs to be correct, such as by
saying: “They are upon a correct religion” or “a true religion.” Such a person becomes
a disbeliever just like them.
The reason for this is because anyone that doesn’t hold the polytheists to be
disbelievers, he hasn’t disbelieved in the Taaghoot (false gods/religions). And there
can be no Tawheed (Belief in One God) except with two things: (1) Believing in Allaah,
and (2) Disbelieving in the Taaghoot (false deities/religions). So whoever doesn’t hold
the polytheists and the Jews and the Christians to be disbelievers, he hasn’t rejected
the false deities/religions (i.e. Taaghoot). So his Tawheed is not valid and he has no
Eemaan. Therefore two things are required for Tawheed: (1) Rejection of the
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Taaghoot and (2) Belief in Allaah. This is found in the Statement of Tawheed: Laa
Ilaaha IllaaAllaah (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah). Laa Ilaaha
(There is no deity worthy of worship): This is a Rejection of the Taaghoot. IllaaAllaah
{Except Allaah}: This is Belief in Allaah. This is since Laa Ilaaha IllaaAllaah negates
all of the different forms of worship done for other than Allaah
Disbelieving in the Taaghoot means rejecting and negating worship that is performed
to other than Allaah, absolving oneself from it and from its people and showing enmity
to them. This is what Disbelieving in the Taaghoot means. So enmity towards the
polytheists and hatred for them for the sake of Allaah is required. Allaah says about
Ibraaheem:
“You indeed have a good example in Ibraaheem and those with him, when they
said to their people: ‘Verily we are free from you and whatever you worship
besides Allaah. We have rejected you and there has appeared hostility and
hatred between us and you forever until you believe in Allaah alone.’” [Surah Al-
Mumtahanah: 4]
This is the Haneefiyyah (upright religion), the religion of Ibraaheem – that you worship
Allaah sincerely making the religion solely for Him and that you absolve yourself from
worshipping anything besides Allaah, rejecting it and hating it, whilst loathing and
having enmity for its people.
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THE FOURTH NULLIFIER
Fourth: Whoever believes that some guidance other than that of the Prophet’s
(sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is more complete than his guidance and that
someone else’s judgement is better than his judgement, such as the one who
prefers the judgement of the Tawaagheet (pl. of Taaghoot; false
deities/religions) over his judgement, then he is a disbeliever.
◄ explanation ►
Whoever believes that there is some guidance better than the guidance of the
Prophet, such as by saying: “The way of the philosophers, the Sabians and the Sufis is
better than the way of Muhammad” or “There is guidance in this way” or “It is like the
guidance of the Prophet.” Such a person that says this is a disbeliever. This is
because there is no guidance that is better than the guidance of Allaah’s Messenger,
since he does not speak from his desire rather it is only revelation that has been sent
down to him. So whoever says that there is a guidance better than the guidance of the
Messenger of Allaah or similar to it, such as by him practicing or seeking a way
towards Allaah through the philosophical or Sabian or Sufi way, then such a person is
a disbeliever, an apostate.
Likewise, when someone believes that there is a judgement that is better than the
judgement of the Prophet, such as when one believes that ruling by man made laws is
better than ruling by the Sharee’ah (Divine Legislation), this person is an apostate
according to the unanimous agreement of the Muslims. The same goes for if one
believes that ruling by man made laws is similar to ruling by the Sharee’ah, as he also
commits disbelief. Similarly, if he believes that ruling by the Sharee’ah is better than
ruling by man made laws, however it is permissible to rule by man made laws, such as
by him saying: “People have free choice – it is permissible for one to rule by man
made laws and it is permissible for him to rule by the Sharee’ah, however the
Sharee’ah is better”, then such a person has committed disbelief according to the
consensus of the Muslims. People do not have free choice in this matter. And this
person has rejected something that is known from the Religion by necessity.
So ruling by the Sharee’ah is an obligation upon everyone. But yet this person is
saying: “It is not obligatory, it is permissible for people to rule by man-made laws.”
Such a person is a disbeliever, even if he says: “The Divine Laws (Sharee’ah) are
better.”
So based on this, if someone rules by man-made laws and believes that they are
better than ruling by the Sharee’ah, he has disbelieved. And if he rules by man-made
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laws and believes that they are equal to ruling by the Sharee’ah, he has disbelieved.
And if he rules by man-made laws but yet believes that ruling by the Sharee’ah is
better than ruling by man-made laws, however it is permissible to rule by man-made
laws, he too has disbelieved. So in all three cases, this person has committed
disbelief.
There is a fourth situation, which is when one rules by man-made laws or by a manmade
law in one issue or in one judicial affair, but yet he believes that judging by the
Sharee’ah is obligatory and that it is not permissible to judge by man-made laws and
that it is not permissible to rule by other than what Allaah has revealed, and he
believes that he is doing wrong and that he deserves to be punished. However his
inner whims, desires and devil have overtaken him and so he rules by other than what
Allaah has revealed. He rules by other than what Allaah has revealed on an individual
so that he can benefit the person he is judging or cause him harm. So he benefits the
one he is judging because he is his friend or his relative or his neighbor. Or he causes
harm to the one he is judging because he is an enemy to him, but yet he knows that
ruling by what Allaah has revealed is an obligation and that he has committed a sin.
Such a person has committed minor disbelief and he does not leave from the fold of
Islaam.
Therefore, ruling by other than what Allaah has revealed occurs in four situations.
Three of these cases result in a person committing major disbelief and the fourth one
results in a person committing minor disbelief.
Issue: The Ruling on removing all of the Sharee’ah and Ruling by Man-Made
laws.
If a person establishes all of the man-made laws and removes the Sharee’ah in its
entirety, changing it completely around, this is considered changing the Religion. A
group amongst the scholars have taken the view that such a person that does this has
disbelieved because he has changed the Religion of Allaah. This is the verdict that
was given by Shaikh Muhammad bin Ibraaheem, may Allaah have mercy on him, the
former Muftee of the lands of Saudi Arabia. He said: “This is changing the Religion
completely around – it is not in one issue only but rather it is changing all of the laws.
So it means removing the Sharee’ah in its entirety and replacing it with man-made
laws in every small or large affair.” Furthermore, our teacher, Shaikh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez
bin Baaz, may Allaah grant him success, held the view that even though he changes
the Religion, he must believe that it is permissible to rule by man-made laws so that
the proof can be established against him. So therefore this is the fifth situation, which
is when someone changes the Religion.
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There is also a sixth situation, which is when the religious judge expends his efforts
and strives hard to gain knowledge of a religious ruling, but he errs and rules by other
than what Allaah has revealed. This is an error. So this person is not a disbeliever
nor is he a sinner. Rather, he is a Mujtahid who has one reward based on the
statement of the Prophet: “When the judge issues a verdict, making Ijtihaad
(exerting himself) and is correct, he gets two rewards. And if he makes Ijtihaad
and errs he gets one reward.”
So this error of his is pardonable and he gets one reward for his Ijtihaad. And if he
exerts his efforts and attains the truth, then he gets two rewards – one reward for the
Ijtihaad and one reward for attaining the truth.
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THE FIFTH NULLIFIER
Fifth: Whoever hates something that the Messenger came with, even though
he may act on it, has disbelieved.
◄ explanation ►
This is such as when someone hates the prayer. So he disbelieves even though he
may pray. Or it is when he dislikes it. The proof for this is Allaah’s statement:
“That is because they disliked what Allaah sent down, so He nullified their
deeds.” [Surah Muhammad: 9]
So if he hates something that the Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) brought,
such as from the obligatory matters or from the reward or from the punishment, such
as him hating that the penal laws by inflicted on the fornicator or the thief, or he
dislikes that, then this person has disbelieved. This is because he has hated and
disliked that which Allaah has revealed.
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THE SIXTH NULLIFIER
Sixth: Whoever mocks or ridicules any part of the Messenger’s Religion or its
rewards or punishments has committed an act of disbelief. The proof for this
is Allaah’s statement: “Say: ‘Was it Allaah and His verses and His
Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuses, you have
disbelieved after having had faith.” [Surah At-Tawbah: 65-66]
◄ explanation ►
This is such as the one who mocks the prayer or Zakaat or those who pray, making
fun of them because of the fact that they pray not due to their personalities. Or he
mocks those performing Hajj and ridicules them. Or he mocks those making Tawaaf
because of the act they do not because of them personally. Or he makes fun of the
rewards of Paradise, such as when it is said to him that Allaah will enter the Muwahhid
(one who affirms Tawheed) into Paradise, and Paradise has such and such joys in it,
so he jokes and ridicules it, or he mocks the Hellfire. This person commits disbelief
based on Allaah’s saying:
“Say: ‘Was it Allaah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?
Make no excuses, you have disbelieved after having had faith.’” [Surah At-
Tawbah: 65-66]
This ayah (verse) was revealed with regard to a group of people that had mocked and
ridiculed the Prophet during the battle expedition of Tabook. They said: “We have not
seen anyone more eager to fill their stomachs nor more lying with their tongues nor
more cowardly in the battlefield than the likes of these companions of ours.” They
meant by this the Messenger and his Companions. So this (above) ayah was
revealed regarding them.
Likewise, if someone reviles Allaah or reviles the Messenger or he reviles Islaam, he
commits disbelief.
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THE SEVENTH NULLIFIER
Seventh: Sorcery, which includes magic spells that cause a person to hate
something he seeks after (sarf) or love something he doesn’t seek after (‘atf).
So whoever performs it or is pleased with it being done, has committed
disbelief. The proof for this is Allaah’s statement: “And neither of these two
(angels) would teach anyone until they had first said to them: ‘We are
only a trial (for the people), so do not commit disbelief.’” [Surah Al-
Baqarah: 102]
◄ explanation ►
This is because the sorcerer, whose magic comes by way of the devils, no doubt must
implement some acts of Shirk towards the devil Jinn for the Jinn to then assist him. So
the serving of one another becomes mutual between the Jinn and the human sorcerer,
and there is a tie between the two of them. The Jinn does not serve the sorcerer
unless he commits Shirk (ascribes partners) with Allaah, so he commits some forms of
Shirk, such as supplicating to it (i.e. the Jinn) instead of Allaah, and offering a
sacrificial animal to it. Or the devil may command him to trample upon the mus-haf
with his feet or to urinate on the mus-haf or to stain it with some impurity.
So when the sorcerer commits disbelief, the devil serves him by informing him of some
hidden affair or it steals some things for him, or it responds to him when he commands
it to strike some human being and so on. So whoever performs sorcery or is pleased
with it, commits disbelief. This is since the one who is pleased with it is just like the
one who does it. Allaah says:
“And neither of these two (angels) would teach anyone until they had first said
to them: ‘We are only a trial (for the people), so do not commit disbelief.’” [Surah
Al-Baqarah: 102]
This is the type of sorcery of which the one who practices it makes contact with the
devils. As for the type of sorcery, which the one who practices it does not come in
contact with the devils, such as a sorcerer that doesn’t contact the devils but yet he
gives the people some medicines and intoxicants and gives them to drink things that
cause harm to them, taking their money unjustly, this person if he deems it lawful, has
committed disbelief.
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And if he makes taking the wealth of the people unjustly and harming them permissible
then he has committed disbelief. But if he doesn’t deem it to be permissible, then he
has committed one of the major sins because he has not made contact with the devils.
But as for the sorcerer who does make contact with the devils, then he has committed
an act of disbelief, because (in this case) the sorcerer will continue to commit disbelief.
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THE EIGHTH NULLIFIER
Eighth: Supporting and assisting the polytheists against the Muslims. The
proof for this is Allaah’s statement:
“And whoever amongst you takes them (i.e. the disbelievers) as allies and
protectors then he is indeed from among them. Verily, Allaah does not
guide a wrong-doing people.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 51]
◄ explanation ►
If one assists the polytheists against the Muslims this means that he has allied with the
polytheists and loves them. So his allying with them is apostasy because this
indicates his love for them. So if he assists the polytheists against the Muslims with
money, weapons or by giving his opinion, this is proof that he loves them and loving
them is apostasy. So having love (for them) is the foundation for seeking allegiance
(with them). And what stems from this is supporting and aiding them with one’s views
or money or weapons. So when one assists the polytheists against the Muslims, this
means that he has preferred the polytheists over the Muslims. But as for if he assists
a polytheist against another polytheist, then this does not fall under this discussion.1
1 Publisher’s Note: There is a beneficial treatise regarding this subject written by Imaam Sulaymaan bin
‘Abdillaah Aali Shaikh (d. 1233H) may Allaah have mercy on him, the grandson of Imaam Muhammad bin
‘Abdil-Wahhaab. The treatise is titled “The Ruling on Allying with the People of Shirk” and will appear on Al-
Ibaanah.Com as a downloadable e-book in the future, by the Will of Allaah.
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THE NINTH NULLIFIER
Ninth: Whoever believes that it is permitted for some people to be free of
(implementing) the Sharee’ah (revealed laws) of Muhammad (i.e. Islaam), just
as it was permitted for Al-Khidr to be free from the Sharee’ah of Moosaa, then
he is a disbeliever.
◄ explanation ►
Meaning: He believes that it is permissible for him to be free from practicing the
Sharee’ah of Muhammad and that he can worship Allaah with something other than
the Sharee’ah that the Messenger came with. And he believes that he will reach
Allaah and be from the inhabitants of Paradise even if he doesn’t abide by the
Sharee’ah of Muhammad, as some of the philosophers have stated.
So he worships Allaah through the path of philosophy or the path of Sabianism or the
path of Sufism, thinking that he can reach Allaah through the path of Muhammad or
through some other path, and he says: “They are all the same.” This person is a
disbeliever because there is no path by which one can proceed towards Allaah except
through the path of the Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
It is not permissible for anyone to be free of implementing the prophet’s Sharee’ah
(law system) because it is all encompassing for both the Jinn and mankind, and it is
the last of all Sharaa’i (pl. of Sharee’ah; laws).
As for Al-Khidr being free form the Sharee’ah of Moosaa, then there is no proof in this
because the Sharee’ah of Moosaa was not all encompassing like that of Muhammad’s
(i.e it was for the Tribe of Israa’eel only). And also because Al-Khidr was a prophet
himself whom revelation was sent to, according to the most correct opinion. But if we
were to take the other opinion, which is that he wasn’t a prophet, then still he wasn’t
from the Tribe of Israa’eel and Moosaa wasn’t sent to him as a messenger. He was
only sent to the Tribe of Israa’eel. Therefore, since Al-Khidr wasn’t from them, the
Sharee’ah of Moosaa didn’t apply to him.
However, the correct view is that he was a prophet and that revelation was sent down
to him. This is why Moosaa went to learn from him. Allaah said (quoting Al-Khidr):
“And I did not do these things of my own accord.” [Surah Al-Kahf: 82]
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This is proof that he was a prophet that had revelation revealed to him. It would not be
possible for him to kill the youth or to set the ship on fire or to rebuild the wall due to
inspiration, it would not be possible for him to do all of this except due to revelation. 2
To summarize: whoever believes that it is permitted for someone to be free from the
Sharee’ah of Muhammad just as it was permissible for Al-Khidr to be free from the
Sharee’ah of Moosaa, then he is a disbeliever due to there being a difference between
the Sharee’ah of Muhammad, which was sent to everyone and the Sharee’ah of
Moosaa, which was sent specifically to the Tribe of Israa’eel. So it is permissible for
someone that is not from the Tribe of Israa’eel to be free from the Sharee’ah of
Moosaa. But as for the Sharee’ah of Muhammad, it is not permissible for anyone to
be free from it.
2 Translator’s Note: The story of Moosaa’s meeting with Al-Khidr can be found in the Qur’aan (Surah Al-Kahf:
60-82). For a detailed account of the events that took place between Moosaa and Khidr and an explanation of why
the latter did the above-mentioned actions of fixing the wall, destroying the ship and killing the boy, refer to
Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree (Eng.: vol. 6, no. 249).
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THE TENTH NULLIFIER
Tenth: Turning away from Allaah’s Religion, not learning it or implementing it
(is an act of disbelief). The proof for this is Allaah’s saying:
“And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the ayaat
(signs/verses) of his Lord, then turns away from them. Verily, We shall
extract retribution from the criminals.” [Surah As-Sajdah: 22]
There is no difference, with regard to (committing any of) these nullifiers,
between the one who jokes, the one who is serious or the one who does so out
of fear. However, the one who commits them due to being coerced (is
excused). All of these (ten) matters are from the gravest in danger and from
those that most often occur. So the Muslim must beware of them and fear
from these acts befalling him. We seek refuge in Allaah from those things that
bring about His Anger and painful Punishment. May the peace and blessing
be on the best of His creatures, Muhammad (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
◄ explanation ►
The author states that there is no difference, with regard to these ten nullifiers,
between the one who does them intentionally or jokingly or out of fear – such a person
commits disbelief. For example, someone commits one of these acts and then says:
“I’m joking”, he still commits disbelief due to it, even if he was only playing around. Or
he may do it intentionally and earnestly, in which case he commits disbelief. Or he
may do it out of fear, in which case he also commits disbelief. No one is excused
except for the one who is coerced, and he is the one who whose coercion is critical,
such as when someone places a sword to his neck and tells him: “Disbelieve, for if you
don’t we will kill you.” This person does not commit disbelief, but his heart is required
to remain firm with Faith. But in the case that his heart settles upon disbelief, then he
disbelieves.
So there are four cases:
The First Case: when the person does it intentionally
The Second Case: when the person does it jokingly or to make others laugh
The Third Case: when the person does it out of fear
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The Fourth Case: when the person does it out of coercion whilst his heart settles upon
disbelief.
In these four cases, the person commits disbelief.
The Fifth Case: when the person does it out of coercion whilst his heart is settled upon
Eemaan (Faith). This person does not commit disbelief due to Allaah’s statement:
“Whoever disbelieved in Allaah after having believed, except he who is forced
thereto and whose heart is at rest with Faith, but as for those who open their
breasts to disbelief, upon them is the Wrath of Allaah and theirs will be a grave
torment.” [Surah An-Nahl: 106]
And Allaah knows best. May the peace and blessings be on our prophet Muhammad,
his family and Companions.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AFTER THE LESSON:
Question: What is the ruling on holding and attending conferences that call to the
unification of the religions?
Answer: If these people believe that these religions are true or that its adherents are
upon truth, then this is disbelief and apostasy, and we seek refuge in Allaah. Whoever
calls to the unification of the religions because he holds that they are correct or
because they are true, then this person is a disbeliever because he doesn’t reject the
Taaghoot (false deities/religions). The person that calls to the unification of the
religions does not reject the Taghoot. He is calling the Muslims to be close to the
religions of the Jews and the Christians, or to be like them or to agree with them or
that they are upon the truth. This person has not disbelieved in the Taaghoot – this is
apostasy. This person has committed one of the things that negates Islaam.
Question: With respect to the rule on Takfeer, whoever does not hold the polytheists
to be disbelievers, such as Ibn Sinaa (Avicenna), a person comes along and says: “I
do not hold Ibn Seenaa to be a disbeliever, he is a Muslim to me.” Does this person
commit disbelief?
Answer: If he is confused about him and is not aware of his condition, he does not
commit disbelief until his (Ibn Seenaa’s) affair is first made clear to him. However, the
one who knows that he is a disbeliever and that he is a heretic but yet does not deem
him to be a disbeliever, this person falls under this Nullifier of Islaam. But this matter
has not been made clear to some people, so the one who is not aware of his condition,
his affair should be clarified to him.
Question: [Continuing] But if he rejects and says: “I am not required to do this.”
Answer: He is required to do this. This means that he has fallen into one of these
Nullifiers of Islaam: “Whoever does not consider the polytheists to be
disbelievers, or has doubts about their disbelief or considers their ways and
beliefs to be correct, then he has committed disbelief.”
You are required to hold the polytheists as disbelievers, make enmity with them and
hates them for the sake of Allaah. Allaah has made this required upon you. Allaah
has made Tawheed a requirement upon you. And there is no Tawheed unless one
holds the polytheists to be disbelievers. Whoever does not hold the polytheists to be
disbelievers or has doubts about their disbelief or holds their ways and beliefs to be
correct, this person is a disbeliever just like them, because he does not reject the
Taaghoot. Whoever does not disbelieve and reject the Taaghoot does not believe in
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Allaah. His Faith in Allaah and Tawheed is not correct unless there are two things: (1)
Rejecting the false deities/religions, and (2) Having faith in Allaah. Rejecting the false
deities/religion (Taaghoot) is what Allaah began with first in Laa Ilaaha IllaaAllaah
[There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah]. Laa Ilaaha [There is no deity
worthy of worship] is a rejection of the false deities/religions.
Question: What about the ruling on someone who doesn’t hold a person to be a
disbeliever because there is a difference of opinion concerning whether he is a
disbeliever or not?
Answer: This person that is declared a disbeliever must be someone that rejects
doing something that is known from the Religion by necessity as an obligation or
something that is known from the Religion by necessity as a prohibition. So (for
example) whoever rejects the obligation of prayer has committed disbelief because it
is unanimously agreed that the prayer is obligatory. There is no one that can say that
the prayer is not obligatory. The same goes for someone that rejects the forbiddance
of fornication or interest, because they are matters that have been agreed on by the
Muslims that they are forbidden. However, those matters in which there is a difference
of opinion or in which there is confusion over, if one rejects them, he does not commit
disbelief.
So if he rejects the prohibition of smoking, for example, he doesn’t commit disbelief
since there is obscurity regarding that issue. This is because some people outside of
this country (i.e. Saudi Arabia) issue legal rulings that it is permissible to smoke, even
though this is an erroneous and mistaken view. So this person does not commit
disbelief.
The same goes for a person that rejects the fact that wudoo (ablution) is required for
someone that eats camel meat – he doesn’t disbelieve, because there is a difference
of opinion regarding this issue.
Question: Is a Muslim excused due to ignorance?
Answer: A human being is not excused due to ignorance if he is able to uplift this
ignorance from himself and find someone he could ask. And also (he is not excused)
with regard to a matter that is known from the Religion by necessity. And the likes of it
must not be obscure – (such as when) a man deals with interest amongst the Muslims.
So when it is said to him that this is Haraam (forbidden) he says: “I don’t know, I’m
ignorant.” This is not acceptable because this is a matter that is clear to everyone.
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However if he were to be in a community that deals with interest, and its example is
obscure and hidden from him. And say no one there accepts Islaam for example, so
he lives in America and the people there deal with interest, so he thinks that it is lawful,
this person perhaps (he will be excused) due to ignorance. So when this person
becomes a Muslim and continues to deal with interest, and says: “I don’t know, I’m
ignorant” – yes, this person its possible that the likes of this person is excused due to
ignorance. Meaning, if the ignorance is with regard to some matter that is precise and
obscure – he is excused. As for with regard to the matters that are clear in which
there are no obscurities – he is not excused. In the obscure matters that one can be
ignorant about, i.e. such as the case with this individual, its possible that this person is
excused due to ignorance.
This is like the story that has been reported in the two Saheeh Collections about the
man that ordered his family (when he died) to burn his body and disperse his ashes in
the sea and in the land, saying: “If Allaah is able to get hold of me, He will indeed
punish Me with a severe Torment.” He did this out of ignorance. And what caused
him to do this was his fear of Allaah, so Allaah forgave him and had mercy on him. 3
He did not do it deliberately, thinking that he will not fall under Allaah’s Decree and
Judgement in this situation. He neither rejected the resurrection nor did he deny
Allaah’s Ability, however he did deny the completeness of the details of Allaah’s Ability
because this was the extent of his knowledge. He did not deny this out of arrogance
and stubbornness rather he was ignorant and the thing that caused him to do it was
his fear of Allaah. So this is an example of an obscure matter, as it relates to him.
As for the clear matters, then what is not acceptable is when: A man lives amongst the
Muslims yet he doesn’t pray. So when he is advised, he says: “I don’t know if the
prayer is obligatory, I’m ignorant.” This person is not paid attention to. And likewise if
he says: “I don’t know if alcohol is forbidden” or “if fornication is forbidden.” This
person is not listened to in this regard since these are clear matters.
Question: What do we say about the one that doesn’t differentiate between major and
minor disbelief in the issue of ruling by other than what Allaah has revealed?
Answer: How can he not differentiate? Allaah differentiates. The (religious) texts
provide evidence for the difference between the two because this person is a sinner.
The person that issues a ruling on one of the many issues, he is a sinner he has not
rejected ruling by the Sharee’ah. He holds it to be obligatory, however giving into his
desires and the devil has overtaken him.
3 Refer to this hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim (Eng. Book 37, no. 6638)
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Question: Is it upon everyone to unrestrictedly apply these rulings (i.e. regarding the
issue of Ruling by other than what Allaah has revealed) or should this affair be refered
back to its people (i.e. the scholars)?
Answer: These matters should be returned back to the scholars for they are ones who
will study them and reflect on them. The common folk and the students should refer to
the scholars in this regard and it is not for them to issue rulings in these matters
because they have not completed the time span of their studies. As for the common
folk, then they are not qualified for this. And as for the students (of knowledge), then
they too must reference the scholars and not issue rulings, making takfeer based on
vain desires. Perhaps a person may get little knowledge, memorizing the Qur’aan and
such, then he starts to issue rulings making takfeer of people. This is not for him – he
must return it back to the scholars. This is because he may think something to be
disbelief when in fact it is not and this is due to his minimal knowledge, little insight and
hastiness in issuing rulings.
Question: What if one of the Muslim rulers supports something sinful due to some
reason or due to a specific reason, then some people come and rule that his
supporting these things means that he deems them to be permissible?
Answer: This is not correct. Did he extract this belief of him deeming it to be
permissible from his heart? Did he tell you that he deems it to be permissible?
Supporting something can occur due to several reasons – even the sinners support
one another but yet this does not mean that they are disbelievers. Furthermore, these
things that they defend and support could have a mixture of lawful and unlawful things
in them.
Question: Is the committal of disbelief limited to denying (the truth; i.e. takdheeb) and
holding a firm belief (in falsehood; i.e. ‘Itiqaad)?
Answer: Disbelief is not just restricted to denial. Disbelief occurs due to denial when
someone denies Allaah or rejects the Messenger. Or if someone rejects something
that is known from the Religion by necessity, he also commits disbelief. It can also
occur due to an action, as is the case when someone prostrates to an idol, even if he
doesn’t believe in it. If someone tramples over the mus-haf with his feet whilst doing
so intentionally, he commits disbelief. Or if he stains the mus-haf with impurities or
with urine intentionally, he commits disbelief. Likewise, disbelief may occur through
speech. For example, if someone reviles Allah or reviles the Messenger or curses the
Religion of Islaam or mocks and ridicules Allaah and His Messenger, he commits
disbelief based on such speech. Disbelief also may occur due to doubt. If someone
has doubt in Allaah or about His angels or he doubts the revealed Books or
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Messengers or he has doubts about Paradise and the Hellfire. For example, he says:
“I don’t know if there is a Paradise or not” or “…if there is a Hellfire or not?” He
commits disbelief due to this doubt and uncertainty.
Disbelief may also occur due to abandonment, say for example if someone turns away
from the Religion, not learning it or worshipping Allaah. He commits disbelief due to
this abandonment. As for the views of the Murji’ah that disbelief only occurs due to
takdheeb (denial/rejection) then this is false.
Question: Lets say a person has a dispute so he takes his matter to the judicial courts
and the (religious) judge there gives a ruling on an issue. However, this person hates
the ruling this judge gave on that issue. What is the verdict on this?
Answer: If he doesn’t hate it because it’s the judgement of Allaah, then this person
hates it due to some reason that is related to the worldly affairs. Therefore, he doesn’t
hate it because it is Allaah’s judgement. So this person doesn’t fall into disbelief.
However, he is required to submit to the judgement of Allaah and His Messenger so
long as he knows that this is a religious ruling. He must be pleased with it even
though this ruling may be against him, as is stated in the hadeeth: “Whoever has
someone swear to Allaah in his presence, then let him be pleased with it, and
whoever is not pleased with it, then he is not from Allaah.” So one must be
pleased with the judgement of the Messenger.
If he knows that this is the legal ruling he is obligated to be content with it. Allaah
says:
“But no by your Lord they can have no Faith until they make you (O Muhammad)
judge in all disputes between them, and find no resistance in themselves against
your decisions, and accept them with full submission.” [Surah An-Nisaa: 65]
And if he hates this judgement because it is the judgement of Allaah and His
Messenger and instead loves and adores the judgement of man-made laws, this is
apostasy, and all refuge is sought in Allaah. This person has preferred the judgement
of the Taaghoot over the judgement of Allaah and His Messenger.
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But in the case where he hates the judgement of the Taaghoot (false deities/religions)
but he is not pleased with the religious ruling because he has been offended or lost
money or something similar to that from the worldly-related reasons, not because he
hates the judgement of Allaah and His Messenger, this person does not fall into
disbelief.
Question: What do you say about someone who says that Allaah’s statement: “Say:
‘Was it Allaah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make
no excuses, you have disbelieved after having had faith” [Surah At-Tawbah: 65-
66] was revealed with regard to the hypocrites and that His saying: “after having had
faith” means the outer Eemaan (i.e. not what’s in the heart)?
Answer: This is contrary to what is apparent from the ayah (verse). This
misinterpretation requires a proof for it, since there occurs in the ayah: “Make no
excuses, you have disbelieved after having had faith.”
Question: [Continuing] So does that mean that it was revealed with regard to the
Companions?
Answer: Yes, it was revealed concerning a group of them during the battle of Tabook.
The hypocrites were of different levels. Some of them did not have any Eemaan,
some of them had Eemaan but it was weak, and some of them had Eemaan but it left
them and vanished. So they were of different types.
Question: What is the ruling on going to sorcerers?
Answer: It is not permissible to go to sorcerers or to fortune-tellers or to astrologers,
nor is it permissible to ask them. There has been a severe threat reported in the texts
concerning asking them. The Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever
goes to a diviner and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted
for forty days.” As for someone who goes to a soothsayer and believes in what he
tells him, he has disbelieved in what has been revealed to Muhammad (sallAllaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam). A fortune-teller (Kaahin) is someone who gets a vision from the
Jinn by which he is informed about some of the affairs of the Unseen (Ghayb) that will
occur in the future. This person is called a Kaahin (fortune-teller). A sorcerer (Saahir)
is someone that makes contact with the devils and he commits disbelief by way of
making potions and brews, tying knots and making spells and incantations. An
astrologer (Munajjim) is someone that claims knowledge of the Unseen based on his
looking at the stars, and he claims that they have an effect on the things that occur on
earth. An ‘arraaf (diviner) is someone that claims to have knowledge of affairs by first
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