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Does a Disbeliever Acknowledge His Disbelief?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org
Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Assalamu alaykum.

 “Allah will neither forgive nor show the right way to those who believed, and then disbelieved, then believed, and again disbelieved, and thenceforth became ever more intense in their disbelief.“ (Qur’an, 4:137)

This person is out of the fold of Islam and can never be forgiven. Does this person know that he is a munafiq and if he doesn’t know, does that mean such a person doesn’t come under this verse, snd so do they still have a chance to be a believer? And what is meant by belief and disbelief?

Answer

Wa ‘alaykum assalam was rahmatullah was barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

Definition of Belief

Belief and disbelief are conscious and deliberate choices. It is impossible to have one or the other without choosing it and deciding to be that way.

Belief is defined as affirming the truth of what the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) conveyed from Allah. This is called ‘tasdiq’ in Arabic.

Imam Laqani said in his famous poem on Creed, “Iman has been explained as affirmation (tasdiq).“ (Laqani, Jawhara al-Tawhid) Scholars also use the word ‘idh’an’ to explain tasdiq, which has the understanding of affirmation and surrender.

The Disbeliever knows the truth and chooses to surrender or accept it is the truth. The hypocrite knows this too, be he feigns surrender. Inwardly, he is a disbeliever.

None of these matters happen unknowingly. Sincere repentance and acceptance of Islam is the way out. Unfortunately, such people are not interested in that usually. That is why they get severe punishment.

Please watch the tafsir of the opening few verses of Sura al Baqara. The matter will be clear for you, insha’Allah.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

 

This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.

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