Adhering to Custom against the Shari‘a

Question

If someone says: “We have nothing to do with whether these matters are permissible or impermissible; we shall do what our fathers and forefathers did,” — what is the ruling concerning this person: is it a word of kufr or not? It is hoped that a detailed answer, with references to several books, will be written very soon, and that you will oblige us.

Answer

Saying such a thing is a grave sin and extremely dangerous — so much so that some fuqaha have declared the one who says it a kafir. Therefore it is necessary for such a person to repent immediately. One whose statement or deed all the fuqaha have declared kufr must, by consensus, renew his iman (tajdid al-iman) and renew his nikah (tajdid al-nikah).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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