What Are the Nullifiers of Islam?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question: Assalamu alaykum

What are the nullifiers of Islam?

Answer: Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh

I pray you are well.

One’s attachment to the religion of Islam is nullified by essentially saying the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, lied – far be it for him to do anything of the sort! In addition to this the Jurists have included derisive mockery of the religion and its signs. (Ghazali, Faysal al Tafriqa; Haytami; al I’lam bi Qawati’ al Islam)

Summarising this, Imam Tahawi said that a person only leaves Islam by denying that which entered him into it. That is, the affirmation of the the truthfulness of Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and give him peace; and denying the reverence due to them. (al Aqida al Tahawiyya)

Focus on What Benefits You

Your question has its merits, and, in a certain context, it is well placed. For most people, however, it is better for focus on making your faith flourish, and increasing your expression of slavehood to Allah in the situation He has placed you.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, told us, “Clearly, I have only been sent to perfect righteous character.” (Ahmad) This is one of the manifestation of the above. Theological positions have their proper place without a doubt, but they can lead to pointless debates which only bring out the opposite of said righteous character. Focus on that instead.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 to study and sit at the feet of some of the most erudite scholars of our time.

Over the following eighteen months he studied a traditional curriculum, studying with scholars such as Shaykh Adnan Darwish, Shaykh Abdurrahman Arjan, Shaykh Hussain Darwish and Shaykh Muhammad Darwish.

In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years, in Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Theology, Hadith Methodology and Commentary, Shama’il, and Logic with teachers such as Dr Ashraf Muneeb, Dr Salah Abu’l-Hajj, Dr Hamza al-Bakri, Shaykh Ahmad Hasanat, Dr Mansur Abu Zina amongst others. He was also given two licences of mastery in the science of Qur’anic recital by Shakh Samir Jabr and Shaykh Yahya Qandil.

His true passion, however, arose in the presence of Shaykh Ali Hani, considered by many to be one of the foremost tafsir scholars of our time who provided him with the keys to the vast knowledge of the Quran. With Shaykh Ali, he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Qur’anic Sciences, Tafsir, Arabic Grammar, and Rhetoric.

When he finally left Jordan for the UK in 2014, Shaykh Ali gave him his distinct blessing and still recommends students in the UK to seek out Shaykh Abdul-Rahim for Quranic studies. Since his return he has trained as a therapist and has helped a number of people overcome emotional and psychosomatic issues. He is a keen promoter of emotional and mental health.