Answered by SunniPath Answer Service Team
Wa Alaykum Assalam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu,
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful & Compassionate
From the Discussion Forum of the Absolute Essentials of Islam course offered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani on www.SunniPath.com, where he answered this very question as follows:
“Declaring a Muslim to be a disbeliever is a dangerous matter indeed.
One becomes a disbeliever by denying anything 'necessarily known to be of the religion,' which is defined as being anything that every is expected to know and regarding which there is no doubt.
When someone denies established beliefs or central practices, they are on dangerous grounds. Our duty as Muslims is to follow the example of the Beloved Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), which is encapsulated in his words, "Give glad tidings, and do not turn people away. Make things easy, and do not make them difficult." [Bukhari and Muslim]
Thus, when someone falls into denial of established beliefs or central practices, one should consider what would be the best and most effective way to draw them towards the truth, whether immediately or gradually. This is the way of wisdom.
How does one do this? We should remember that wisdom is only gained from the wise: we should keep the company of scholars, and learn from their example and conduct; seek their guidance and counsel; and act as they would act--for the scholars of Sunni Islam are the inheritors of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
There is a very good answer by Shaykh Amjad Rasheed on Sunni Path on calling to Allah. Search for secrets of success in calling to Allah on www.SunniPath.com
Calling to Allah, through enjoining the good and forbidding the bad and through being of sincere counsel (nasiha) are central to the duties of a believer. Thus, we must learn how to deal with those on the margins, of our friends, family, and acquaintances, and encourage them towards the straight path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
This is our duty. We should be wary of every declaring anyone ostensibly a Muslim a kafir. When one fears genuine harm or fitna through such an individual's conduct, then one should seek the counsel of a reliable scholar.
And Allah knows best.”
Please see the following link as well:
May Allah bless our every moment, ameen.
Wassalam,
SunniPath Fiqh Team
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