Question: Are militant extremist Muslims who label other Muslims as disbelievers still themselves Muslims?
Answer:
Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
Yes, even militant extremist Muslims who label other Muslims as disbelievers and who commit terrorist atrocities in the name of Islam are still Muslims.
A hallmark of moderate Sunni Islam is that we do not excommunicate (label as a disbeliever) those who label us as disbelievers. As long as they do not outright reject the Qur’an and Sunna, then they are believers. They may be bad, they may be ignorant, they may be great sinners, but they are still considered Muslims.
Because of this, if they die, they are still prayed over, and if their families still inherit their wealth.
For more information about how traditional Sunni Islamic views Islamic extremism, please see:
https://seekersguidance.org/articles/general-artices/defending-the-transgressed-mudafi-al-mazlum-by-shaykh-muhammad-afifi-al-akiti/
https://seekersguidance.org/articles/general-artices/modern-extremist/
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/djihad-and-terrorism/can-termed-jihad/
I pray this helps.
[Ustadh] Farid
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years, he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.