Q 5:What is the explanation of the Hadith, "Two (practices) of people are tantamount to Kufr
(disbelief); (they are) impugning
lineage and wailing over the dead"? What is the exact meaning of Kufr in this Hadith?
A: This is Hadith Sahih (authentic Hadith)related by Muslim in his Sahih book of Hadith on the
authority of Abu Hurayrah(may Allah be pleased with him). Impugning lineage means
defaming and criticizing people's lineage with the aim of despising and dispraising them.
However, if it is for stating a fact such as saying soandso descends from the tribe of Banu Tamim
whose qualities are suchandsuch, or from Qahtan , Quraysh , Banu Hashim whose qualities are such
andsuch without defaming them, this is not considered as impugning lineage. As for wailing
over the dead, it signifies crying loudly over the dead and this is prohibited. Kufr in this
context is a lesser degree of absolute Kufr that renders one outside the fold of Islam. For
example, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Verily, between a servant and Shirk and Kufr is the negligence
of prayer." (Related by Muslim in his Sahih)This is major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His
Divinity or worship) according to the most authentic opinion of scholars.
Muslim scholars have divided Kufr, Zhulm (injustice) and Fisq (flagrant violation of Islamic
law) each into two types. Similarly, there are two types of Shirk; major and minor Shirk.
Major Shirk is like supplicating to, seeking the help of, and vowing to the dead, idols, trees,
Minor Shirk can be seen in statements like "Were it not for Allah and soandso..." and "If
Allah and soandso will". The proper way of saying these statements would be "Were it not
for Allah then soandso..." and "If Allah wills then soandso."
Swearing by other than Allah (Exalted be He) also falls under minor Shirk such as swearing by
the Prophet (peace be upon him), the life of someone or the Faith.
Riya' (showingoff) is another example of minor Shirk such as someone seeking Allah's
Forgiveness or reciting Qur'an loudly so that people may hear. Moreover, there are two types
the first is major Zulm which is Shirk. Allah (Exalted be He) says: And it is the disbelievers who are the
Zâlimûn (wrongdoers). He (Glorified be He) also says: It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh and worship
none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong i.e. by worshipping others besides Allâh), for them (only) there is
security and they are the guided.
The other type is minor Zulm which is apparent in people doing wrong to each other with
regard to their blood and property.
A servant can do himself wrong by committing sins such as Zina (premarital sexual intercourse
and/or adultery), consuming Khamr (intoxicant) and the like. We seek Allah's Refuge from