الاستحلال وتكفير الأمة: من فقه السلف إلى فوضى العصر المعاصر

"Istihlal And the Takfir of The Ummah: From Classical Jurisprudence to the Chaos of the Contemporary Age" )Istihlal and The Takfir of the Ummah(

Abstract

One of the burning issues in the contemporary Muslim world is excommunication, known as Takfīr — the act of declaring someone an infidel or disbeliever (kāfir). Studies show that accusing others of disbelief has become a primary source of discord and division within the Muslim Ummah. Although the phenomenon of Takfīr is not new and has deep roots in the history of Semitic religions, its contemporary manifestations reveal alarming patterns of extremism. While some groups are overly eager in declaring others as infidels, others adopt an overly lenient approach, justifying forbidden acts through Istihlal — the theological concept of rendering what is clearly prohibited (ḥarām) as permissible.

Both of these tendencies—excessive severity and undue leniency—lead to ideological imbalance, weakening the foundational principles of Islamic jurisprudence. This paper explores Istihlal in classical and medieval Islamic thought, examines its jurisprudential and theological implications, and investigates how its misuse has contributed to extremism and disunity among Muslims. The study seeks to clarify the legitimate boundaries of permissibility and prohibition in Islamic law, addressing the following key question: In what context does Istihlal emerge in Islamic jurisprudence and ʿIlm al-Kalām (Islamic theology)?

Given the current condition of the Muslim Ummah, there is an urgent need for a scholarly, principled approach to tackle such crises. This research aims to be a humble contribution toward understanding the dangers of Istihlal when misused and proposes strategies to preserve unity and orthodoxy within the Muslim community.