Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah
One of my grandfather’s brother holds atheistic beliefs. His general behavior is very good with everyone however for he criticizes my wife for wearing niqab e.g. he asks her why she is wearing it as it makes her look like a robber etc. All his family members including his wife, sons and their families have good Islamic beliefs and are involved in masjid activities like Sunday school etc. Although they are not very religious but they tried to convince him. He also went to perform his Hajj about 15 years ago after a great push from his wife and his younger brother, but upon his return his comments were not positive for Hajj. My parents also respect him and pray for his hidayah as he is their eldest living relative.
My question here is that in this situation should we keep relationship and contact with him or not?
My wife and her father says that, if someone has such an atheistic beliefs we should not keep any contact with him for the sake of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala and only keep our relationship with him limited to giving him da‘wah. My thinking however that he is still alive so we should not lose hope for his hidayah, may be before his death inshaAllah he will revert to the true Islamic beliefs. I have been trying to give da‘wah to him but so far no success. There is no excuse for not giving him da‘wah however he lives in a different state and we don’t meet him too often (probably oncea year or so). Please provide guidance as to what should we do in this kind of situation?
Walaikumassalam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu
الجواب وباللہ التوفیق
The statements mentioned in your question are considered blasphemous against the commandments of the Islamic Shari‘ah and is a source of committing kufr (disbelief). Performing sincere repentance and astaghfar is mandatory. Have faith in Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala and continue counseling him. If he still does not understand and if by severing contact there is a hope for reformation then there is gunjaish (provision of permissibility) for severing ties. In the light of the ahadith of Rasulullah Sallallaho Alyhi Wasallam, just as we are required to love on the basis of eeman, it is also a requirement to sever contact on the basis of eeman, in fact it is considered the attainment of the height of eeman. Therefore, with the intention of the betterment of beliefs, there is gunjaish for the family members to sever ties with him. Maybe this action will become a source of their hidayat. May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta‘ala protect us from such actions, help us correct our beliefs and give us tawfeeq to perform the desired deeds.
وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَى تَنْفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (الذاریات:55)
فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرَى مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ(الانعام:۶۸)
وهذا دليل على أن مجالسة أهل الكبائر لا تحل(قرطبی:۷/۱۵)
وَذَرِ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَهُمْ لَعِبًا وَلَهْوًا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا(الانعام:۷۰)
أي لا تعلق قلبك بهم فإنهم أهل تعنت وإن كنت مأمورا بوعظهم قال قتادة : هذا منسوخ نسخه { فاقتلوا المشركين حيث وجدتموهم } [ التوبة : 5 ] ومعنى { لعبا ولهوا } أي استهزاء بالدين الذي دعوتهم إليه وقيل : استهزءوا بالدين الذي هم عليه فلم يعملوا به والاستهزاء ليس مسوغا في دين(قرطبی:۷/۱۵))
ما في ’’ الکتاب ‘‘ : {یا أیہا النبي قل لأزواجک وبنٰتک ونساء المؤمنین یدنین علیہن من جلابیبہن} ۔ (الأحزاب : ۵۹)ما في ’’ الدر المختار مع رد المحتار‘‘ : وفي الفتح : من ہزل بلفظ کفر ارتد ، وإن لم یعتقدہ للاستخفاف فہو ککفر العناد ۔ (۶/۲۷۰،کتاب الجہاد، باب المرتد)
عَنْ أَبِى أُمَامَةَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- أَنَّهُ قَالَ « مَنْ أَحَبَّ لِلَّهِ وَأَبْغَضَ لِلَّهِ وَأَعْطَى لِلَّهِ وَمَنَعَ لِلَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَكْمَلَ الإِيمَانَ(سبب ابی داؤد:کتاب السنۃ: باب الدَّلِيلِ عَلَى زِيَادَةِ الإِيمَانِ وَنُقْصَانِهِ،۴۶۸۳)
فقط واللہ اعلم بالصواب