Sins of the Tongue - Calling Self Disbeliever in an Argument.

When I was having an argument with one of my relatives, I uttered the
words, "I am a kafir (disbeliever)" and I slapped myself on the face.
Please note that I regret what happened and I need direction
andguidance. What is the religious ruling in this case? Do I have to
offer any expiation?
Praise be to Allah
Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji'oon (Verily toAllah we belong and
unto Him is our return). We ask Allah to keep us safe and sound in
this world and in the Hereafter, and we ask Him for a good end and to
cause us to die in faith.
You should realize that you have fallen into the worst and most
abhorrent of sins, which is the sin of kufr (disbelief) and apostasy,
Allah forbid.
The words which you say that you said are a clear statement of kufr
and apostasy. The scholars said: when a person utters the words of
kufr, he is judged to be an apostate (if he knew the meaning of the
words) and he need not be asked about his intention, as Allah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"If you ask them (about this), they declare: 'We were only talking
idly and joking.' Say: 'Was it at Allah, and His Ayaat (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His
Messenger that you were mocking?" [9:65]
Allah stated that they disbelieved after having believed, even though
they said, "We spoke thewords without believingthem, we were only
talking idly and joking."
Ibn Nujaym said: Whoever speaks the words of kufr, jokingly or
otherwise, is a kafir according to all the scholars, and it doesn't
matter what his real belief is. End quote. Al-Bahr al-Raa'iq. See also
Nawaaqid al-Eemaan al-Qawliyyah wa'l-'Amaliyyah.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said:
If he utters words that put him beyond the paleof Islam, such as
saying that he is a Jew or a Christian or Magian or that he has
nothing to do with Islam, or with the Quran or the Prophet(peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him), thenhe is a kafir and an apostate,
and we take him at his word. End quote. Al-Sharh al-Mumti'
Apostasy is an extremely serious matter. The scholars differed
concerning one who apostatizes then repents:will any of the reward for
his previous deeds remain, or is it all erasedbecause of his apostasy?
Shaykh al-Fawzaan was asked the following question:
What is the ruling on one who apostatizes from Islam then returns to
it? Should he repeat his previous deeds in accordance with the pillars
of Islam, such as Hajj, fasting and prayer, or is it sufficient for
him to repent and return to Islam?
He replied:
The correct scholarly view is that if the apostate returns to Islamand
enters Islam anew, repenting to Allah, then he does not need to repeat
the deeds that hedid before apostatizing, because Allah has stipulated
that in order for deeds to be cancelledout by apostasy, the person has
to die as an apostate.
Allah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"And whosoever of you turns back from his religion and dies as a
disbeliever, then his deeds will be lost in this life and in the
Hereafter, and they will be the dwellers of the Fire. Theywill abide
therein forever" [2:217]
So in order for deeds to be lost, it is stipulated that a person
persist in apostasy until he dies in that state. The verse indicates
that if a personrepents then the deeds that he did before apostatizing
are still valid and will be rewarded in sha Allah. End quote.
Al-Muntaqa min Fataawaal-Fawzaan
With regard to slapping the face, this is a deed ofJaahiliyyah
(pre-Islamic age of ignorance) whichthe Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him) warned against. It is narrated that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) disavowed himself of the
one who does that, as he said: "Heis not one of us who slaps his
cheeks, rends his garment and calls outwith the cry of the
Jaahiliyyah." [al-Bukhaari].This indicates that slapping the cheeks is
a major sin.
As you regret what you did, we hope that Allah will accept your
repentance. You have to utter the Shahaadatayn (twin declaration of
faith) in order to re-enter Islam after going out of it. You haveto do
good deeds and guard your tongue, for aperson may say a word that
angers Allah but he regards it as insignificant, then he will be
thrown into the Fire and will continue falling down into it for
seventy years.
With regard to expiation, there is no expiation for what you have done
apart from repentance, regret and resolve not to do it again.
We ask Allah to accept your repentance and to enable you to adhere to
His religion.
And Allah knows best. - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
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