Facsimile · p. 46
The religious texts have come together, warning against extremism in excommunication or hastiness in it without evidence or proof. - It is narrated from Thabit bin Al-Dahhak, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever accuses a believer of disbelief is like killing him." (Narrated by Bukhari). - And from Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, he said: I heard the Prophet, peace be upon him, say: "Any man who says to his brother: 'O disbeliever,' then one of them has earned it. If he was as he said, otherwise it returns to him." (Narrated by Muslim). Our righteous predecessors also warned against hastiness in excommunication and extremism in it. Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said (in I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in): "Among the major sins is excommunicating someone whom Allah and His Messenger have not excommunicated." And Ibn Abd al-Barr, may Allah have mercy on him, said (in Al-Tamhid): "Therefore, it is obligatory in consideration not to excommunicate anyone except those on whose excommunication everyone agrees, or for whose excommunication there is irrefutable evidence from the Book or the Sunnah." And Imam Al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him, said (in Al-Mu'him): "The chapter of excommunication is a dangerous chapter. Many people have embarked on it and fallen, and the strong have refrained and been safe. We do not consider safety as anything." And Al-Shawkani, may Allah have mercy on him, says (in Al-Sayl al-Jarrar): "Know that judging a Muslim man as having left the religion of Islam and entered into disbelief should not be undertaken by a Muslim who believes in Allah and the Last Day except with proof clearer than daylight." Based on this, this research has been prepared: (Declaring Disapproval of the Innovator Who is Extreme in Excommunication)