Denying One’s Own Islam: “I Am Not a Muslim”

Question

If a person says, “I am not a Muslim,” while he is regular in fasting and prayer, is it correct to pray behind him or not? Is he to be counted a Muslim or not?

Answer

Saying this is extremely dangerous. Repentance, seeking forgiveness and recitation of the kalima are obligatory upon him; as a precaution he should renew his marriage. If, however, he says so regarding his iman as weak — meaning that the certainty in Allah’s promises and the adherence to His commands that a Muslim ought to have are lacking in him — and says it out of grief and…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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