Title

Have i committed Shirk?

Question

I had a question regarding fatwa # 15638. Well my situation is pretty close but a different one. I used to chat a lot and most of the time it used to lead to fitna by talking to opposite sex. I used to talk to a lot of women and they used to ask my origin  and everything to which I would say India. Well India is a house to a lot of religions, so than obviously out of curiousity they would ask what i am ? Like am I a  Hindu? Sikh? Muslim? Etc. out of shame that as a Muslim I am doing this, I would say Hindu and I am being very true and honest with you. Just because I didn’t want to have other Muslims a bad image out of what I was doing, I would say otherwise.  I am as proud to be a Muslim as anyone can be but I don’t want my religion to have a bad name because of my actions. And now i regret what i used to do and everything, so my questions are.

1.       Have I committed shirk?
2.       Do I have to say the kalimah as if I am converting back?
3.       Have my past good deeds been wiped off?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh

The general ruling regarding the uttering of the words of kufr is that one becomes a kafir by deliberately uttering the words of kufr, whether he intended them in his heart or not. However, if one is compelled to utter the words of kufr under duress or the words of kufr slip out of one’s tongue, then that person will not become a kafir as long as his heart is at peace with Iman.

والحاصل أن من تكلم بكلمة الكفر هازلا أو لاعبا كفر عند الكل ولا اعتبار باعتقاده كما صرح به قاضي خان في فتاويه ومن تكلم بها مخطئا أو مكرها لا يكفر عند الكل ومن تكلم بها عالما عامدا كفر عند الكل

Al Bahr Al Raiq Vol.5 Pg.125 (Maktabah Rasheediyah)

In the situation mentioned in the query, you have pronounced the words of kufr deliberately. Although your intention was to safeguard the name of Muslims, the uttering of the words of kufr will still be regarded as forbidden and a grave sin.

وفي الفتاوى الصغرى الكفر شيء عظيم فلا أجعل المؤمن كافرا متى وجدت رواية أنه لا يكفر ا هـ .

وقال قبله وفي الجامع الأصغر إذا أطلق الرجل كلمة الكفر عمدا لكنه لم يعتقد الكفر قال بعض أصحابنا لا يكفر لأن الكفر يتعلق بالضمير ولم يعقد الضمير على الكفر وقال بعضهم يكفر وهو الصحيح عندي لأنه استخف بدينه ا هـ .

وفي الخلاصة وغيرها إذا كان في المسألة وجوه توجب التكفير ووجه واحد يمنع التكفير فعلى المفتي أن يميل إلى الوجه الذي يمنع التكفير تحسينا للظن بالمسلم

Al Bahr Al Raiq Vol.5 Pg.124 (Maktabah Rasheediyah)

It is mentioned in Fatawa Raheemiyah that if a Muslim utters the words of kufr in a drama or a play, and the soul purpose of the play was the propagation of Islam, the person will be regarded to have done a sinful act and there is a possibility that the person has left the fold of Islam.

Fatawa Raheemiyah Vol.2 Pg.13 (Darul Isha,at)

Therefore, as a matter of precaution it is better to read the Kalimah again and renew your marriage if you are married.

And Allah knows best

Wassalam

Ml. Abu Yahya,
Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa