Q: An Imam of a Muslim group in America, whose name I prefer not to mention, reiterates some heretic claims. For example, they claim that Prophet `Isa (Jesus) was actually crucified; that Allah did not part the sea for Prophet Musa (Moses), that it is permissible for a Muslim woman to marry a Christian, and that Christians are better than Muslims in general. When the Imam of such group heard the Ayah of the stoning penalty, he described it as a barbaric penalty that should not be enforced. As for the Four Madh-habs (Hanafy, Maliky, Shafi`y, and Hanbaly schools of Jurisprudence), he claims, they are confined to Arabs in practice, thus he founded his own Madh-hab that suits the Americans, in addition to other false lies. As for himself, he claims he is the Christ and the Mahdy (a man named after the Prophet, who will appear as a sign of the Hour and rule according to Islamic law). However, later he abandoned his personal claims. A man from this group who worked as an Imam in his community twenty years ago came to our country and learned that such beliefs are false. Gradually, he learned the true Salafiyyah (the true creed of the righteous predecessors). He thus swore by Allah that he had never heard of the Salafiyyah except when he came to our country. Identifying the disbelief of the Imam mentioned above, we asked him to dissociate himself from that Imam and he acknowledged that the Imam is a Kafir (disbeliever) but he did not want to part with the group for the purpose of setting things right from the inside.Now, how should we deal with that man? Is it permissible for him to stay involved in this group under the pretext of inviting its people to the true Islam? Should he distance himself from that Imam? If he refuses to leave this group, should we abandon him?

A: The aforesaid claims are the creeds of disbelievers. They (Part No. 2; Page No. 141) contradict the teachings of the Qur'an and the consensus of Muslim scholars. Accordingly, anyone who imparts, accepts, believes in, or even does not separate himself from those who follow them, is a Kafir. The group that adopts such false creeds should not be regarded as an Islamic one and no Muslim is allowed to be a member of it except to deny and refute these deviant beliefs and invite its members to repent and accept true Islam. If they refuse, they should be abandoned and people should be warned against them. Allah (Exalted be He) says, You (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) will not find any people who believe in Allâh and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), even though they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred (people). Allah (Exalted be He) also says, Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrâhîm (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: "Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allâh: we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you hostility and hatred for ever until you believe in Allâh Alone" May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.