Question:
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. The [best] outcome is for the righteous, and there is no enmity except against the wrongdoers. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his companions.
To proceed:
This question is directed to the Honorable Sheikh. In America, O Sheikh, we have a group called “The Nation of Islam“ which claims to be part of Islam. However, they hold the following beliefs:
- They believe that Allah dwells within every Black individual in general, and that He was specifically incarnated in a man named Fard Muhammad. Furthermore, they believe that white people are “devils.”
- They believe that prophethood did not end with Muhammad (peace be upon him), but rather that the “Seal of the Prophets” is Elijah Muhammad. They also claim he is the Messiah and the awaited Mahdi.
- They deny the physical Resurrection, viewing it metaphorically as a transition from ignorance to knowledge, along with other clear acts of apostasy.
The questions are as follows:
- First: Is this sect considered a disbelieving, apostate group?
- Second: What is the ruling regarding the laypeople (the general followers) of this group?
- Third: Are such people excused by ignorance, given that they live in environments far removed from scholars?
- Fourth: What is your advice to those who hesitate or refrain from declaring them to be disbelievers?
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, whom Allah (the Mighty and Majestic) sent as a mercy to the worlds and appointed as the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers—there is no prophet nor messenger after him. May the best of prayers and peace be upon him.
Regarding what has been mentioned about their characteristics in these questions: These people are not Muslims. One must ask: did they ever embrace Islam before this and then commit apostasy, such that we would call them “apostates”? It does not appear that they ever truly entered Islam. Rather, this is a form of Hululiyyah (Incarnationism); however, they claim Allah dwells in Black people and that white people are “devils.” This is merely a form of spite directed at white people.
In reality, a Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. The requirements for Islam are that one testifies that “There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” — and that there is no prophet after him and to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and Divine Decree (al-Qadr), both the good and the bad of it. Whoever does not believe in these things is neither a Muslim nor a believer.
As for those who follow what has been described in these questions: This person is neither a Muslim, nor a Christian, nor a Jew.
Indeed, after the mission of Muhammad ﷺ, no Jew or Christian will have their deeds accepted unless they believe in Muhammad and enter the true religion of Allah. Their destination is the Fire, for the Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no Jew or Christian [who hears of me] and does not believe in me and follow what I have brought (Islam), except that he will be among the inhabitants of the Fire.” (Sahih Muslim [Book of Faith] no. 153)
I do not believe that any Muslim who understands Islam could hesitate regarding the kufr (disbelief of these people. There is no doubt concerning their disbelief.
Furthermore, the laypeople are not excused. The Prophet ﷺ did not excuse the Arab polytheists—those who died before his mission or those who remained alive until he was sent and fought them. He did not excuse anyone by saying, “He is excused because he is ignorant.” When a man asked the Prophet ﷺ, “Where is my father?” he replied, “Your father is in the Fire,” and added, “My father and your father are in the Fire.” (Sahih Muslim [Book of Faith] no. 203)
Allah Ta’ala says: “It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allâh’s Forgiveness for the Mushrikûn (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh), even though they be of kin…“ (at-Tawbah :113)
Therefore, no Muslim has the right to seek forgiveness for anyone who dies in a state of disbelief.
As for these people [The Nation of Islam], there is no doubt regarding their disbelief, and there is no doubt regarding the disbelief of anyone who knows their reality and then refuses to declare them disbelievers. In truth, there are no “religions” in the world today [that are valid].
[Allah says] “Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.” (Aal ‘Imran :19)
And [Allah says:] “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him” (Aal ‘Imran :85)
For this reason, we should not say “the religions, the religions” [as if they are equal]. No; there are no valid religions in the world now. Anyone who practices a religion other than Islam is practicing falsehood. There is no difference between a Jew, a Christian, a Magian, or an idolater —those who know nothing of Magianism but simply worship a grave or worship deities of their own invention. All of that is disbelief beyond any doubt.
Nevertheless, those who are able to advise them should do so. Allah (the Mighty and Majestic) does not dwell within any of His creation, nor does His creation dwell within Him. These people have distorted the concept of “Hulul” (Incarnation) from the concept of “Unity of Existence” (Wahdat al-Wujud). The “Unity of Existence” claim is that man is Allah and Allah is man—or even more extreme—that animals and other things are also Allah. Those who believe in Incarnation or Unity of Existence essentially claim that existence is a single entity; that there is no “Allah and servant,” but rather everything is one and the same. This is clear and manifest delusion. No one is saved except those who follow the path of Muhammad ﷺ and his Companions. May Allah bless you all.
Allah says: “Invite (mankind, O Muhammad (ﷺ)) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur’ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better.” (an-Nahl: 125)
And [Allah says]: “Say (O Muhammad (ﷺ)): ‘This is my way; I invite unto Allâh (i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allâh i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism with sure knowledge).’“ (Yusuf :108)
Therefore, whoever dedicates himself to calling others should be gentle with them. He should make it clear that he is only calling them out of a sincere desire to save them from punishment.
The Prophet ﷺ said to Ali during the Battle of Khaybar: “For Allah to guide a single man through you is better for you than possessing red camels.” (Sahih al-Bukhari [Book on Jihad] 2942)
Red camels were the most precious form of wealth among the Arabs. This Sahih (authentic) Hadith means that guiding just one person is better than possessing the most valuable worldly riches. We ask Allah to guide those who appear to be Muslims first and foremost, and then to make Muslims a cause for the guidance of all humanity.
We should also be certain of what the Prophet ﷺ said: “No time shall come upon you except that the time following it will be worse, until you meet your Lord.” (Sahih al-Bukhari [Book on Trials] no. 7068)
Worship is only valid if it aligns with what Muhammad ﷺ prescribed. No one should invent acts of worship, claiming “This is good,” or “This is a birthday celebration,” or the like.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever performs a deed that is not in accordance with our matter [religion], it is rejected.” (Sahih Muslim 1718, Sunan Ibn Majah [Book on Sunnah] no. 14)
Questioner:
Just to confirm, Sheikh, is it impermissible to doubt their disbelief?
Sheikh:
SubhanAllah! No sane person would doubt their disbelief. Even the pagan Arabs in the Pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah), despite being polytheists, never claimed that Allah dwells within a human being.
Questioner:
So, it is correct that they are all original disbelievers and never entered Islam at all?
Sheikh:
They did not enter Islam to be called apostates. An apostate is one who was a Muslim and then left. That falls under a different chapter of law, as the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever changes his religion, kill him,” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6922) and: “The blood of a Muslim is not permissible except in three cases: the married adulterer, a life for a life, and the one who abandons his religion and separates from the Jama’ah (Muslim community).” (Sahih Muslim [Book on Oaths] no. 1676)