Causes of Apostasy

Apostasy occurs by committing any nullifier of Islam - whether seriously, jokingly, or mockingly. Examples include: - Shirk (associating partners with Allah) in all its forms - Denying prayer or other pillars of Islam - Insulting Allah or His Messenger ﷺ - Denying the Quran wholly or partially - Believing some people are exempt from Muhammad's ﷺ Shariah (like extremist Sufis) - Supporting disbelievers against Muslims - Implementing man-made laws believing them superior or equal to Islamic Shariah --- **The causes can be categorized into four:** **1. Speech:** - Insulting Allah, His Messenger, or the angels - Claiming prophethood - Claiming knowledge of the unseen - Shirk with Allah --- **2. Action:** - Prostrating to an idol or grave - Throwing the Mushaf [in contempt] - Deliberately desecrating it - Supporting polytheists against Muslims --- **3. Belief:** - Believing Allah has a partner, wife, or son - Believing fornication or alcohol is permissible - Believing another's guidance is more complete than the Prophet's ﷺ guidance --- **4. Doubt:** - Doubting the prohibition of what is agreed to be forbidden - Or the permissibility of what is agreed to be permitted - When such matters cannot be unknown to him