The Difference Between an Act and the Doer

THE ISSUE OF KUFR AND KAFIR has committed disbelief” (Al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat by alTabarani, Hadith No. 3348). Another hadith says: “Between a person and shirk and disbelief stands the abandonment of prayer” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 82). From these reports, it is understood that if a Muslim deliberately and persistently abandons prayer, then, in the sight of the Shariah, he enters the category of disbelief. On the basis of these hadiths, it is entirely valid for a reformer to encourage Muslims in general toward prayer, using the language of exhortation and warning, and to mention the serious consequences associated with abandoning prayer. However, it would be completely wrong for a reformer to compile a name-by-name list of Muslims who do not pray and then publicly declare that such-andsuch individuals have become disbelievers because of abandoning prayer. This kind of specific declaration goes beyond what the Shariah permits. In the same way, a caller or reformer may, on the basis of Quranic verses, explain which actions are such that committing them causes a person to fall into disbelief in the sight of God. However, it is beyond one’s legitimate limits to take the names of non-Muslim individuals or groups and announce that such-and-such non-Muslims are disbelievers.