Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Badat

Question:

Before starting farḍ, sunnah or witr ṣalāh, a Muslim verbally says the below words and statements, with the meaning and full intention and belief in the mind and heart that he will actually become a kāfir (disbeliever) if he breaks or breaks and restarts his ṣalat:

“I reject Allāh if I break my ṣalāh”, or he verbally says, “I am a kāfir right here right now”, or he verbally says, “kāfir” or “I am kāfir” or he verbally says, “I am saying with full intention of kufr, if I break my ṣalāh or break and restart my ṣalāh then I am a kāfir right here right now”, or he verbally says, “There you go, I have said it with full intention of kufr, that if I break my ṣalāh or break and restart my ṣalāh then I am a kāfir right here right now”, and other similar statements.

Anyhow, the above-mentioned Muslim ends up breaking or breaking and restarting his ṣalāh, even after intending and verbally saying the above statements and conditions with the intention and belief as explained above.

1. Does the above-mentioned Muslim become a kāfir by breaking or restarting his ṣalāh even after he verbally says the above statements and conditions with intention of kufr as explained above? The Muslim in question suffered and suffers from waswasa (devilish whispers). He used to suffer a lot from waswasa, however, now it has calmed down but still has some waswasa.
2. Does the above-mentioned Muslim become a kāfir if he “automatically” breaks his ṣalāh (without making any effort to stop himself from breaking his ṣalāh) as soon as he feels air in his stomach, some other feeling, waswasa or any distractions, even though he has said the above statements and conditions with intention of kufr (as explained above)?

Answer:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathabah Institute.

One should refrain from making any of the above statements such as “If I break my ṣalāh, I will become a kāfir (disbeliever).” This is unwarranted and uncalled for. It also amplifies the doubts and waswasa (devilish whispers).

That being said, one should note the statements, “I am a kāfir”, “If I break my ṣalāh, I am a kāfir” and “I am a kāfir right here right now”, are all offensive, disrespectful and will only constitute kufr (disbelief) when they are said with rejection of the faith and its tenants in the heart.

Imam Abū Ja’afar Al-Ṭaḥāwīy writes, “One does not exit faith except by rejecting that which enters them into it.” – (See: Al-Ta’līqāt Al-Aqīdah Al-Ṭaḥāwīyyah, Page 144, Dār Al-‘Āṣimah, Al-Qawāid Al-Fiqhīyyah, Page 25, Dār Al-Tirmidhī)

Sufyān bin ‘Abdullāh Thaqafī (may Allāh be pleased with him) narrates, “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allāh, tell me of something that I can adhere to.’ He replied, ‘Say, “Allāh is my Lord,” then adhere steadfastly to Islam.’ He said, ‘O Messenger of Allāh, what is the thing that you fear most for me?’ The Messenger of Allāh took hold of his own tongue, then said, ‘This.’” – (Ibn Mājah 3972)

The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said, “I bear testimony to the fact that there is no god but Allāh, and I am His Messenger. The person who would meet Allāh without entertaining any doubt about these [two fundamentals] would enter Paradise”. – (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 27)

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allāh has forgiven my followers the evil thoughts that occur in their minds, as long as such thoughts are not put into action or uttered.” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī 5269)

“Whoever disbelieves in Allāh after his belief except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their hearts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allāh, and for them is a great punishment.” – (Qur’ān 16:106)

Only Allāh knows best

ولا يخرج العبد من الإيمان إلا بجحود ما أدخله فيه – كتاب التعليقات المختصرة على متن العقيدة الطحاوية ص ١٤٤ دار العاصمة

لَا عِبْرَةَ لِلتَوَهُم – القواعد الفقهية ص٢٥ دارالترمذي

عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ مَاعِزٍ الْعَامِرِيِّ أَنَّ سُفْيَانَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الثَّقَفِيَّ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ حَدِّثْنِي بِأَمْرٍ أَعْتَصِمُ بِهِ قَالَ ‏قُلْ رَبِّيَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقِمْ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا أَكْثَرُ مَا تَخَافُ عَلَىَّ فَأَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِلِسَانِ نَفْسِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ هَذَا – رواه ابن ماجة ٣٩٧٢ ‏‏

فَقَالَ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ ‏ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لاَ يَلْقَى اللَّهَ بِهِمَا عَبْدٌ غَيْرَ شَاكٍّ فِيهِمَا إِلاَّ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ – رواه مسلم ٢٧ ‏

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضى الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَجَاوَزَ عَنْ أُمَّتِي مَا حَدَّثَتْ بِهِ أَنْفُسَهَا مَا لَمْ تَعْمَلْ أَوْ تَتَكَلَّمْ – رواه البخاري ٥٢٦٩

مَن كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ إِيمَانِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَٰكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ – سورة النحل ١٠٦