The Ruling Concerning a Muslim of the Bhangi Caste

Question

(a) Zayd took away a Muslim woman of the Bhangi (sweeper) caste without contracting a marriage and absconded with her. After some days he returned and left the woman. In such a state, how is it to eat with Zayd and to sit with him? And has he by this act left Islam or not? What of Zayd’s entering the mosque and touching the vessel used for ablution? (b) Zayd now repents of this act of his in the mosque, but the Muslims of the village do not deem this acceptable and consider him to have left Islam. How is this?

Answer

(1) This is a major sin; yet according to the Hanafis a person does not leave iman by committing a major sin. So Zayd is a Muslim. [ar]وَلَا نُكَفِّرُ مُسْلِمًا بِذَنْبٍ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ كَبِيرَةً إِذَا لَمْ يَسْتَحِلَّهَا، وَلَا نُزِيلُ عَنْهُ الْإِيمَانَ[/ar] “We do not declare a Muslim a disbeliever for any sin, even a major one, so long as he does not hold it…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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