Question:
I’ve read in Sunni mutuun about how denying the validity of masaH on the khuffayn is kufr due to the tawaatur transmission of those akhbaar concerning it and due to highlighting distinction between Sunnah and Shii`ah. But surely the denial of the validity of doing masah on the khuffayn is not equivalent to those who deny the wujuud of Allaah ta`aalaa Himself. Or else there would be no difference in the “kufr” of the Shii`ah and the “kufr” of the Athiests. So how do we classify the varying degrees of what constitutes “kufr” as mentioned in classical Sunni texts? I imagine that the kufr of denying the validity of doing masah on the khuffayn is kufr by inference on account of it entailing the denial of mutawatir reports, but perhaps not necessarily on account of denying the masah itself??
Answer:
There is a difference in the kufr entailed by opposing the practical consensus of the Ummah, which stipulates that wiping is valid, and the doctrinal consensus over the articles of creed. The latter consensus, furthermore, is greater in number since it includes Shi`is and all other groups. Finally there is also general agreement that denying the validity of wiping is khuffs is tantamount to kufr and is what has been called “practically kufr” (kufr `amali) which makes one a fasiq; whereas denying a daruri (necessarily known) article of creed is kufr of belief (kufr i`tiqadi) and makes one a kafir, which is much worse. Allah knows best.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
