Things that Nullify One’s Islam#

By Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful One…

Know that the things that nullify one’s Islam (nawaaqidh) are ten things:

The First Nullifier: Shirk in Worship#

The first one is shirk in one’s worship of Allah.

Allah the Most High has said: “Verily Allah does not forgive that partners be ascribed to Him, while He forgives what is less than that for whomever He wants.” [Soorat an-Nisaa’ (4):116]

And He, the Most High, has said: “Verily whoever ascribes a partner to Allah, then Allah has made Paradise haraam (impermissible) for him (i.e. He will never enter it), and his abode is the Fire. And there are no helpers for the oppressors whatsoever.” [Soorat al-Maa’idah (5):72]

And from it (this first naaqidhah) is to slaughter (an animal) for other than Allah, like the one who slaughters for a jinn or for a grave.

The Second Nullifier: Setting Up Intermediaries#

The second one: Whoever sets up intermediaries between himself and Allah, calls on them, asks them for things, and places his trust in them, then he has disbelieved, by way of scholarly consensus.

The Third Nullifier: Not Declaring Polytheists as Disbelievers#

The third one: Whoever does not declare the polytheists to be disbelievers, or he doubts their disbelief or approves of their way, then he has disbelieved.

The Fourth Nullifier: Believing Other Guidance is More Complete#

The fourth one: Whoever believes that guidance other than Muhammad’s (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) is more complete than his, or that the rulings of others are better than his rulings, like the one who prefers the rulings of at-tawaagheet over his rulings, then he is a disbeliever.

The Fifth Nullifier: Hating What the Messenger Came With#

The fifth one: Whoever hates something that the Messenger (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) came with, even if he acts according to it, then he has disbelieved.

The Sixth Nullifier: Mocking the Religion#

The sixth one: Whoever mocks anything from the Religion of the Messenger or Allah’s reward or punishment has disbelieved.

The proof is the Statement of Allah the Most High: “Say: ‘Was it Allah, His Verses, or His Messenger you were mocking? Make no excuse, verily you have disbelieved after your belief.’” [Soorat at-Tawbah (9):65-66]

The Seventh Nullifier: Magic#

The seventh one: Magic, like as-sarf and al-‘atf, whoever practices it or is pleased with it, has disbelieved.

The proof is His Statement: “And they (the two who taught magic) did not teach anyone before first saying, ‘We are merely a tribulation, so do not disbelieve.’” [Soorat al-Baqarah (2):102]

The Eighth Nullifier: Assisting Polytheists Against Muslims#

The eighth one: Trying to give the polytheists victory and assisting them against the Muslims.

And the proof is His Statement: “And whoever of you takes them (the Jews and Christians) as allies, then he is from them. Verily Allah does not guide the oppressive people.” [Soorat al-Maa’idah (5):51]

The Ninth Nullifier: Believing Some Can Go Against the Sharee’ah#

The ninth one: Whoever believes that some people are allowed to go against the Sharee’ah of Muhammad (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace), like how al-Khadhir went against the Sharee’ah of Moosaa, peace be upon him, then he is a disbeliever.

The Tenth Nullifier: Turning Away from the Religion#

The tenth one: Turning away from the Religion of Allah, not learning it and not acting by it.

And the evidence is His Statement: “And who is more oppressive than the one who is reminded with the Verses of his Lord and then he turns away from them? Verily, We will get retribution from the criminals.” [Soorat as-Sajdah (32):22]

Important Note#

And with respect to these things that nullify one’s Islam, there is no difference between the one who did them in jest, the one who did them intentionally, and the one who did them out of fear, except for the one who was forced. And all of them are from the most dangerous affairs and the most common that actually occur. So it is befitting that the Muslim be warned of them and be afraid of falling into them.

We seek refuge in Allah from things that bring about His Anger and His severe punishment. And may Allah raise the rank of the best of His creation, Muhammad, and that of his family and companions, and may He grant them peace.

Key Lessons from This Chapter#

1. The Severity of Shirk: Shirk is the gravest sin and nullifies Islam completely
2. The Danger of Intermediaries: Setting up intermediaries between oneself and Allah is disbelief
3. The Importance of Takfir: Not declaring polytheists as disbelievers is itself disbelief
4. The Perfection of Muhammad’s Message: No other guidance is more complete than his
5. The Necessity of Loving the Religion: Hating any part of what the Prophet came with is disbelief
6. The Sanctity of the Religion: Mocking any part of the religion nullifies Islam
7. The Prohibition of Magic: Practicing or being pleased with magic is disbelief
8. Loyalty to Muslims: Assisting polytheists against Muslims is disbelief
9. The Finality of Muhammad’s Sharee’ah: Believing others can go against it is disbelief
10. The Obligation to Learn and Act: Turning away from learning and acting upon the religion is disbelief

Warning#

These nullifiers are extremely dangerous and very common in our times. Every Muslim must be aware of them and be extremely careful to avoid falling into any of them. The consequences are severe - they nullify one’s Islam and can lead to eternal punishment in the Hellfire.

May Allah protect us from these nullifiers and keep us firm upon the correct belief and practice of Islam.