Confirmation That Judaism And Christianity Are Forms Of Disbelief

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-`Uthaymeen
From: "Answers to Common Questions From New Muslims"
Collected by Ali Abu Lauz
Question: One of the preachers in one of the mosques in Europe claimed
that it is not allowed to consider Jews and Christians disbelievers.
You know - may Allah preserve you - that most of the people who attend
the mosques in Europe have very little knowledge. We fear that
statements like this one will become widespread. Therefore, we request
from you a complete and clear answer to this question.
Answer: I say: The statement thatcame from that man is misguidance. In
fact, it can be blasphemy. This is because Allah has declared that
Jews and Christians are disbelievers (kuffaar) in His Book. Allah has
said, "And the Jews say, 'Ezra is the son of Allah,' and the
Christians say, 'The Messiah is theson of Allah.' This is a saying
from their mouths. They imitate the saying of the disbelievers of old.
Allah's curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth.
They took their rabbis and their monks as lords besides Allah and
[they also took as Lord]the Messiah, son of Mary. But they were
commanded only to worship none but One God. Praise and Glory be to
Him, [far above is He] from having the partners they associate with
Him." [at-Taubah 9:30-31] That shows that they are polytheists who
associate partners with Allah. In other verses, Allah has made it
clear that they are disbelievers:
"Surely in disbelief are they who say that Allah is the Messiah, son
of Mary." [al-Maidah 5:17 and 72]
"Surely, disbelievers are those who said, 'Allah is the third of the
three [in a Trinity]." [al-Maidah 5:73]
"Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the
tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary." [al-Maidah 5:87]
"Those who disbelieve among the People of the Book and the idolaters
will abide in the Fire of Hell." [al-Bayyinah 98:6]
Many verses and hadith express the same meaning. The one who rejects
the idea that the Jews andthe Christians who do not believein Muhammad
[peace be upon him] and deny him are disbelievers is, in fact, denying
what Allah has said. Denying what Allah has said is blasphemy.If
anyone has any doubt concerning them being disbelievers, then he
himself is also a disbeliever.
Glory be to Allah!
How could that man be pleased to say that it is not allowed to say
that they are disbelievers when they themselves say that Allah is one
of a Trinity? Their Creator Himself has declared that they are
disbelievers.
How could this man not be pleased to call them disbelievers when they
actually say, "Jesus is the son of God" or "the hand of Allah is
tied," and "Allah is poor and we are rich"?
How could this man not be pleased to call them disbelievers and apply
the word of disbelief (kufr) to them in general when they describe
their Lord in such ways that are nothing but cursing and abusing
Allah?
I call upon that man to repent to Allah and to read Allah's
words,"They wish that you should compromise (in religion out of
courtesy) with them, so that they(too) would compromise with you."
[al-Qalam (68):9] He should make it clear to everyone that they are
disbelievers and that they are the inhabitants of the Hell-fire. The
Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "By the One in whose hand my soul
is, no Jew orChristian of this community hearsabout me - that is from
the community of people from the time of the Prophet (peace be upon
him) until the Day of Judgment - and then does not follow me - or he
said does not believe in what I brought - except that he is from the
inhabitants of the Hell-fire." [Saheeh Muslim]
The one who made such a statement must repent to his Lord because of
this great falsehood he has stated. He mustmake a clear announcement
that they are disbelievers and that they are inhabitants of the
Hell-fire. He must also announce that it is obligatory upon them
tofollow the unlettered Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).he is the
one that the Jews and the Christians know and they know him like they
know their own sons. Allah has stated,"Those who follow the Messenger,
the illiterate Prophet whom they find written about with them in the
Torah and the Gospel, he commands what is right and forbids what is
evil. He allows them the good things andforbids for them disdainful
things. He releases them from their heavy burdens and from thefetters
that were upon them. So those who believe in him, honor him, help him,
and follow the light which has been sent down with him, it is they who
will be successful." [al-Araf 7:157]
He is the one of whom Jesus, son of Mary (peace be upon him) gaveglad
tidings. Jesus said, as His Lord states in the Quran, "O Israel, I am
the Messenger of Allah for you confirming the Torah (which came)
before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me,
whose name is Ahmad [one of the names of the Prophet Muhammad peace be
upon him]. But when he came to them with clear proofs, they said,
'This is clear magic.'" [as-Saff 61:6]
When the one, Ahmad, who was promised came to them with clear signs,
they said that it was nothing but magic. By this, we can refute those
Christians who say that the one Jesus promised was named Ahmad and not
Muhammad. We say to that that Allah said, "When he came with clear
proofs," and none has cometo you after Jesus except Muhammad (peace be
upon him).Muhammad is Ahmad and Allah inspired Jesus to call Muhammad
Ahmad. This is because Ahmad is a name from the root meaning,"to
praise," and the name itself means, "One who praises Allah more than
others." Therefore, [Muhammad (peace be upon him)] is the most
praiseworthy ofAllah among all peoples...
I further say: If anyone claims that there is a religion on earth
other than Islam that is acceptable to Allah, then the person who made
that claim is a disbeliever and there is no doubt about his disbelief.
This is because Allah has said in His Book, "Whoever seeks a religion
other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him and in the
Hereafter he will be one of the losers. [ali-Imran 3:85]. Allah has
also said, "Truly, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam"
[ali-Imran 3:19]. Another verse states, "This day, I have
perfectedyour religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have
chosen for you Islam as your religion" [al-Maida 5:3]
Based on that - and I repeat it fora third time - the person who made
that statement [mentionedin the question] must repent to Allah, Most
High. And he must also make it clear to all the people that those Jews
and Christians are disbelievers. This is so because the proof has been
established against them, they have received the message but they have
refused to believe.
The Jews have been described as those who have earned Allah's wrath.
That is because they knewthe truth and chose to go againstit. The
Christians have been described as those who have gone astray. This is
because they sought the truth but were misledfrom it. Now, all of them
have knowledge of the truth and recognize it. However, they go against
it. Therefore, they all deserve to have the wrath of Allah upon them.
I call all those Jews and Christians to believe in Allah and all of
His Messengers. I call upon them to follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him). This is what they havebeen ordered to do in their own
books. Allah states in the Quran,"My Mercy embraces all things. That
(Mercy) I shall ordain for those who are God-fearing and give zakat,
and those who believein Our revelations. Those who follow the
Messenger, the illiterate Prophet whom they findwritten about with
them in the Torah and the Gospel, he commands what is right and
forbids what is evil. He allows them the good things and forbids for
them disdainful things. He releases them from their heavy burdens and
from thefetters that were upon them. So those who believe in him,
honor him, help him, and follow the light which has been sent down
with him, it is they who will be successful. Say (O Muhammad): O
Mankind! Verily, I am sent to all of you as the Messenger of Allah, to
whom belongs the heavens and the earth. There is no true God but He.
It is He who gives lifeand causes death. So believe in Allah and His
Messenger, the unlettered, who believes in Allah and His Words. And
follow him sothat you may be guided." [al-Araf 7:156-158].
[By having such faith, those converts from Judaism and Christianity]
shall receive their reward twice. The Messenger of Allah (peace be
upon him) said,"There are three people who will receive their rewards
twice: A person from the People of the Book [Jews and Christians] who
believed in his prophet and believed in Muhammad..." [al-Bukhari and
Muslim].
I have also found in the law bookal-Iqna`, in the section on apostasy,
where the author has stated, "One who does not consider as a
disbeliever one whofollows a religion other than Islam, such as the
Christians, or who has doubt about their disbelief or who approves of
their way himself is a disbeliever." And he quotes Ibn Taimiya as
saying, "[The following is] a disbeliever: Whoever believes that
churches are the houses of Allah in which he He is worshipped or who
thinks that what the Jews and Christians do are valid acts of worship
of Allah and obedience to Him and His Messenger, or loves or approves
of what they do, or aids them in having such places and establishing
their religion, and he does so thinking that is a way of getting
closer to Allah or worshipping Allah." He also stated, "If someone
believes that visiting the Jews and the Christians in their places of
worship is an act that brings himcloser to Allah, then he is an
apostate."
These statements support what was stated in the text of the answer.
This is a matter concerning which there is no room for doubt. And help
is sought only with Allah.
This question was responded by Ibn Uthaimin, Fatawa Islamiya, vol. 1, p. 87

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