Does Saying Certain Words Out of Anger Entail Disbelief?

Question:

If in a fit of anger I utter out words that entail disbelief, what is the expiation?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

Angrily expressing words of blasphemy is sinful, but not disbelief if one does not mean in one’s heart what one is saying. One should immediately repent and say the testimony of faith.

There is no specific expiation, but charity and additional worship would be a good idea. Allah Most High says, “Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.” [Qur’an, 11: 114]

One should also look very carefully into the scenario that gave rise to this unhealthy reaction and to the sources of the words that come out on to your tongue. Who are you listening to on a regular basis? Who were you with when this happened? What lead up to this event? While it is true that we all sin and we all repent, we do still have to be responsible for our actions and try our best to change what we do in the future based on the lessons we have learned from the past. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Let no believer be stung from the same hole twice.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid Dingle

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.