20th April 2015
Question:
What is the ruling regarding an individual who believes that Sayyidunā Abu Bakr radhiyallahu anhu (God forbid) became an apostate after the demise of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam does Such a person remain a Muslim?
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
To accuse Sayyiduna Abu Bakr As-Sideeq radhiyallahu anhu of apostasy after the demise of the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam is a clear infringement of the fundamentals of the Islamic creed. When the Noble Qur’an refers to him as the Prophet’s companion (during the incident of the cave) then accusing him of apostasy is a clear rejection of the verse. This is a clear rejection of his status of sahabiyyat which is tantamount to disbelief.[1] He, therefore, falls outside the fold of Islām and must renew his faith and make sincere tawbah.
[Allāh Knows Best]
[1] Imām Razi, Mafateehul Ghaib, vol 16, p. 51 commentary of the verse [9:40)
وَالْوَجْهُ السَّادِسُ: أَنَّهُ تَعَالَى وَصَفَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ بِكَوْنِهِ صَاحِبًا لِلرَّسُولِ وَذَلِكَ يَدُلُّ عَلَى كَمَالِ الْفَضْلِ. قَالَ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ الْبَجَلِيُّ: مَنْ أَنْكَرَ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ صَاحِبَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ كَافِرًا، لِأَنَّ الْأُمَّةَ مُجْمِعَةٌ عَلَى أَنَّ الْمُرَادَ مِنْ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصاحِبِهِ هُوَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَذَلِكَ يَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَصَفَهُ بِكَوْنِهِ صَاحِبًا لَهُ