Proofs the people of Bida’h bring are against them and not for them!

The root that the ghulat stem out from is their bida’ belief that Takfeer on the Mushrikeen is asl ad-Deen, just as the root the Murjiah stem out from is their bida’ statement that actions do not affect iman (whether this applies theoretically or in application), so it is important for the Muslim that he knows how to respond to their shubuhat, bi'ithnillah.

One of the most commonly brought shubhah (doubt) by the Khawarij, Mu’tazilah and those who follow them in saying Takfeer on the Mushrikeen is asl ad-Deen which is known by the ‘aql (intellect) and fitrah (innate disposition) before the khabar (information) and the risalah (message) is the story of Zayd ibn ‘Amr Ibn Nufayl. Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufayl was from amongst the Hunafa of Makkah that rejected the widespread idol worship and thought it disgusting. Imam al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of ibn ‘Umar that, “The Prophet (saws) met Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufayl in the bottom of (the valley of) Baldah before any Wahy (Divine Inspiration) came to the Prophet (saws). A meal was presented to the Prophet but he refused to eat from it. (Then it was presented to Zayd) who said, ‘I do not eat anything which you slaughter in the name of your stone idols. I eat none but those things on which Allah’s Name has been mentioned at the time of slaughtering.’ Zayd ibn ‘Amr used to criticise the way Quraysh used to slaughter their animals, he used to say, ‘Allah has created the sheep and He has sent the water for it from the sky, and He has grown the grass for it from the earth; yet you slaughter it in other than the Name of Allah.’ He used to say so, for he rejected that practice and considered it as something abominable.” Thus, he knew that idol worshipping, shirk committed with Allah, is something that is to be rejected.

On the authority of Asma bint Abi Bakr she said, “I saw Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nafayl standing with his back to the Ka’bah and saying: ‘O people of Quraysh! By Allah, none amongst you is on the Deen of Ibrahim except me'” [al-Bukhari]. And Muhammah Ibn Ishaq narrates from Hisham ibn ‘Urwah from his father on the authority of his mother Asma bint Abi Bakr that she said she saw Zayd as a very old man leaning his back on the Ka’bah and saying, “O Quraysh, by Him in whose Hand the soul of Zayd is, not one of you follows the Deen of Ibrahim but I.” So they say that Zayd with this speech declared the Kuffr of the Mushrikeen based on his fitrah before the coming of a message or an order from Allah and His Messengers, because he died before the prophet-hood of Muhammad (saws). Thus, according to them, Takfeer on the Mushrikeen is known by the ‘aql and fitrah; just as the Tawhid of Allah and leaving the worship of others is.

Whether this statement from Zayd is clear and explicit in making Takfeer is debatable but lets assume that he made Takfeer on them. If one was to look into the books of the Sunnah you will find that the story of Zayd is a proof against them and not for them. This becomes clear, bi'ithnillah, when you ask and search for the answer to the question: Did Zayd do and say what he did because of his fitrah and ‘aql really or was he informed of some information?
Imam al-Bukhari mentioned in his sahih before the narration above from Asma that he went in search of a Deen and heard the words of the scholars from the Jews and Christians; thereafter he declared himself as following the Deen of Ibrahim (as). On the authority of Ibn ‘Umar that, “Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufayl went to Sham, inquiring about a true Deen to follow. He met a Jewish scholar and asked him about their religion. He said, ‘I intend to embrace your religion, so tell me some thing about it.’ The Jew said, ‘You will not embrace our religion unless you receive your share of Allah’s anger.’ Zayd said, ‘I do not run except from Allah’s anger, and I will never bear a bit of it if I have the power to avoid it. Can you tell me of some other religion?’ He said, ‘I do not know any other religion except the Hanif.’ Zayd enquired, ‘What is Hanif?’ He said, ‘Hanif is the Deen of Ibrahim who was neither a Jew nor a Christian, and he used to worship none but Allah.’ Then Zayd went out and met a Christian scholar and told him the same as before. The Christian said, ‘You will not embrace our religion unless you get a share of Allah’s curse.’ Zayd replied, ‘I do not run except from Allah’s curse, and I will never bear any of Allah’s curse and His anger if I have the power to avoid them. Will you tell me of some other religion?” He replied, “I do not know any other religion except Hanif.” Zayd enquired, “What is Hanif?” He replied, Hanif is the Deen of Ibrahim who was neither a Jew nor a Christian and he used to worship none but Allah.’ When Zayd heard their statements about Ibrahim, he left that place, and when he came out, he raised both his hands and said, “O Allah! I make You my witness that I am on the Deen of Ibrahim.'”

As for if Zayd knew by his fitrah that he was the only follower from the people on the Deen of Ibrahim, or if he was informed: Zayd learned that he was the only one following the Deen of Ibrahim and the rest of the people are upon misguidance and he learned this through being informed by a monk in Sham, a scholar from the Christians in Raqqah. Ibn ‘asakir narrated in Tarikh Dimashq and Ibn Kathir in Bidayah wan-Nihayah that Zayd was forced out of Makkah in search of the truth and traveled until he reached Raqqah. He found a knowledgeable monk and informed him of that which he was searching for. The monk told him that the Deen he was looking for he would not find but that a Prophet was soon to be sent to revive the Deen al-Hanifiyyah and was to appear in the land he just left from. So Zayd then returned to Makkah.

Another story narrated by an-Nasai in his sunan, al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak, al-Bayhaqi in dalail an-Nubuwwah, Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and others in which the Prophet (saws) met with Zayd before his prophet-hood and Zayd mentioned that a monk had told him that the Deen he asked about that they do not know anyone who worships Allah except an old man in Jazirah, so Zayd left to go to him. When he got to him the old man said that he sees everyone in misguidance and asked who Zayd was. Zayd said he was from the house of Allah (i.e., the Ka’bah). The old man said that a prophet was soon to be sent in that land and that when he appears follow him and protect him.

So all praise belongs to Allah that the proofs the people of bida’ bring are against them and not for them.

[By al-Akh ‘Isaa ibn Abi ‘Abdillah]

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