Takfir of a Muslim

Question

Someone issued a fatwa that a certain Muslim is a kafir, whereas in reality he is not a kafir. What is the ruling of the Sacred Law on the one who said this — according to the Hanafis?

Answer

To regard any Muslim as a kafir without cause is kufr. [ar]عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ: أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ قَالَ لِأَخِيهِ: كَافِرٌ، فَقَدْ بَاءَ بِهَا أَحَدُهُمَا. مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ[/ar] From Ibn ‘Umar ﵄: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whenever a man says to his brother, ‘Kafir!’, one of the two has incurred it.” Agreed upon.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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