Can one still be a Muslim if he/she denies some verses that he/she found outdated or illogical?
In Islam, the relationship between belief and the acceptance of the Qur'an's verses is critical. The Qur'an emphasizes the importance of belief in Allah, His messengers, and His scriptures. Specifically, it states: O ye who believe! Believe in Allah and His messenger and the Scripture which He hath revealed unto His messenger, and the Scripture which He revealed aforetime. Whoso disbelieveth in Allah and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers and the Last Day, he verily hath wandered far astray.
4:136.
This verse highlights that denying any part of what Allah has revealed, including the Qur'an, can lead one to stray far from the truth. The implication is that one cannot claim to be a true believer while simultaneously rejecting or finding parts of Allah's revelations outdated or illogical.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir explains that such denial constitutes a significant breach of faith, as it undermines the very foundation of belief in Allah and His guidance. It is a warning against selectively accepting parts of the divine message while dismissing others.
Thus, belief in the entirety of the Qur'an is essential for being a Muslim. If someone finds certain verses outdated or illogical and denies them, this could lead to a state of disbelief, moving them away from the faith.
Sources
-
4:136 · An-Nisaa
4:136 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلْكِتَٰبِ ٱلَّذِى نَزَّلَ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَٱلْكِتَٰبِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَٰلًۢا بَعِيدًا
O ye who believe! Believe in Allah and His messenger and the Scripture which He hath revealed unto His messenger, and the Scripture which He revealed aforetime. Whoso disbelieveth in Allah and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers and the Last Day, he verily hath wandered far astray.
-
Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 4:136
Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 4:136
Allah commands His believing servants to fully engage in all aspects of faith, encompassing its branches, pillars, and supports. This exhortation is not about acquiring a foundational minimum level of belief, but rather about perfecting, confirming, and steadfastly continuing in it. Just as the believer prays in every prayer, "Guide us to the straight path," asking not only for guidance but also for clarity, increased guidance, and firmness upon it. Therefore, Allah commands belief in Himself and in His Messenger, as He says: "O you who believe, fear Allah and believe in His Messenger." Regarding the phrase "and the Book which He sent down upon His Messenger," this refers explicitly to the Qur'an. "And the Book that was sent down before it" encompasses all previous revealed scriptures, a general category including earlier divine books. The term "sent down" is used because the Qur'an was revealed gradually, in portions at various times, responding to the needs of the believers in their religious and worldly affairs. In contrast, earlier scriptures were delivered as a whole at once; hence the phrase distinguishes this continuity. Lastly, Allah states, "And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly strayed far away." This means that such a person has departed from the path of guidance and is utterly distant from the true purpose and intention.
Answers are generated and checked automatically; they may still be incomplete or imperfect. For religious rulings, consult a qualified scholar.
Ask your own question →