Question:
Assalamualaikum w.b.t. Recently, I often hear whispers calling me to utter words that may lead to kufr like, “It is not a problem even if I am a kafir (disbeliever)”. My question is, if I say it accidentally, should I say syahadah again?
Hope for an explanation. Thank you.
BRIEF ANSWER
A person who utters words of kufr without having any intention or accidentally saying so is not ruled as kafir and his syahadah is not revoked. So, one who utters words of kufr without having intention or accidentally saying so is not needed to repeat his syahadah again. However, in order to have some peace of mind, it is encouraged to do so as well as asking for forgiveness and protection from Allah SWT from those whispers of shaytan.
Wallahu a’lam.
EXPLANATION
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Firstly, we have to realize that shaytan will always call people towards sinning and wrongdoings, which then drag them towards kufr (disbelieving). Among them is by instilling waswas (doubt) towards one’s faith in Allah SWT. This is in accordance with the saying of Allah SWT:
الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ
Who whispers [evil] into the chests of mankind –
Surah al-Nas (5)
The tafsir scholars explained that the meaning from the verse is shaytan will call using their whispers and seduction in the heart of the people through two methods:
بالكلام الخفي الذي يصل مفهومه إلى القلب من غير سماع
(Which is) By a gentle whisper which meaning goes deep into one’s heart even if is not heard. (Refer Tafsir al-Khazin, 4:503)
Therefore, these whispers can be very subtle which cannot be heard in clear voice, but its meaning runs deep into one’s heart which then causes the feeling of waswas and doubt.
Besides, the Messenger of Allah PBUH also remind us to seek for protection from Him when hearing such gentle voices and should try to erase them. In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
يَأْتِي الشَّيْطَانُ أَحَدَكُمْ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا حَتَّى يَقُولَ مَنْ خَلَقَ رَبَّكَ فَإِذَا بَلَغَهُ فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ، وَلْيَنْتَهِ
"Satan comes to one of you and says, 'Who created so-and-so? 'till he says, 'Who has created your Lord?' So, when he inspires such a question, one should seek refuge with Allah and give up such thoughts."
Sahih al-Bukhari (3276) and Sahih Muslim (213)
Coming back to the question presented, does a person become an apostate (murtad) and his syahadah is revoked when he utters words of kufr unintentionally or accidentally?
In this matter, Allah SWT explain that a person is not considered as sinful if he accidentally doing something, unless if it is intentional. Allah SWT says:
وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا أَخْطَأْتُم بِهِ وَلَـٰكِن مَّا تَعَمَّدَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful
Surah al-Ahzab (5)
Besides, the Messenger of Allah PBUH explained that a person who mistakenly utters the words of kufr due to being overjoyed for example, so his words are not considered because it is a slip of the tongue. In a hadith narrated by Sayyidina Anas bin Malik RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
ثُمَّ قَالَ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الْفَرَحِ : اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ عَبْدِي وَأَنَا رَبُّكَ. أَخْطَأَ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الْفَرَحِ
and then out of boundless joy says: 0 Lord, Thou art my servant and I am Thine Lord. He commits this mistake out of extreme delight.
Sahih Muslim (2747)
If we see through the hadith, the person stated something that clearly portrays his disbelief, but is not considered because it is the slip of his tongue due to being overjoyed.
The scholars also explain that it is not being ruled if what is said is not being understood and not being intended by someone. Among them is what is mentioned by Imam al-‘Izz Ibn Abd al-Salam in his book, Qawa’id al-Ahkam fi Masalih al-Anam that:
إذا نطق الأعجمي بكلمة كفر أو إيمان أو طلاق أو بيع أو شراء أو صلح أو إبراء لم يؤاخذ بشيء من ذلك؛ لأنه لم يلتزم مقتضاه ولم يقصد إليه، وكذلك إذا نطق العربي بما يدل على هذه المعاني بلفظ أعجمي لا يعرف معناه فإنه لا يؤاخذ بشيء من ذلك؛ لأنه لم يرده، فإن الإرادة لا تتوجه إلا إلى معلوم أو مظنون
If an ‘ajam (non-Arab) utters the words of kufr, iman, talaq, buying, selling, sulh or ibra’, then none of those matter. This is because the effects are not considered and it is not intended. Also, if an Arab utters something meaningful in languages other than Arabic, but is not known by him, then none of those are considered because he does not intend so. Indeed, intention is not intended except for things which are known or through dzann only. (Refer Qawa’id al-Ahkam fi Masalih al-Anam, 1:79)
Conclusion
Based on the above discussion and argument, we would like to conclude that a person who utters words of kufr unintentionally or accidentally is not ruled as kafir and his syahadah is not revoked. Therefore, a person who utters words of kufr unintentionally or accidentally is not needed to repeat his syahadah again. However, in order to have some peace of mind, it is encouraged to do so as well as asking for forgiveness and protection from Allah SWT from those whispers of shaytan as mentioned in the above hadith.
May Allah SWT give us true understanding in His Shari’a as well as taufiq and hidayah to perform the acts of worship solemnly due to Him. Ameen.
Wallahu a’lam.