Did the Salaf declare a particular individual a disbeliever?


Question:

Is it allowed to declare a particular individual a disbeliever and did the Salaf in the past declare a particular individual a disbeliever?

Answer:

Takfir of a particular individual who commits what would necessitate kufr (disbelief) due to it – by either going against clear proofs or making something haram into something halal, then there is nothing wrong in making takfir of him – but with the condition, as has preceded that he commits what would necessitate kufr due to it, otherwise it is as the Prophet ﷺ said as is found in the ‘Sahih (authentic)’ “Whoever says to his brother ‘O kafir’, if it is as he says then so, otherwise it returns back to him.”

As for cursing a particular individual like the one who sinned from amongst the Muslims, then that which is correct is that it is impermissible, because the Prophet ﷺ said to ‘Umar in the incident when he said to Nu’ayman as is found in Sahih Al-Bukhari: “May Allah disgrace you, how many times have you been bought out?” So the Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not aid the Satan upon your brother”.

So the like of the takfir on a particular individual who commits what would necessitate kufr due to it – then Imam Ash-Shafi’i (may Allah Ta’ala have mercy on him) said concerning Hafs Al-Fard: “He is a kafir due to the fact that he says: the Qur’an is created”.

Muftis
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