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Fatwa CenterRuling on saying 'Jesus' when surprised or shocked
Question
Assalam alaikum wrwb I would like to know if it is shirk to call our "Jesus" if something happens to a person. For instance, you see something surprising or you see something shocking or something happens in which the first word that comes out of the mouth is "Jesus" due to hearing it being said by non-Muslims. Is this a form of shirk and apostasy or is this considered not a big sin. I amassing not because I say this but because I hear many Muslims calling out "Jesus" when something happens. May Allah reward you ameen
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
There is no doubt that using this phrase in the context mentioned in the question is considered Istighaathah (i.e. an appeal for help and relief in case of distress) from other than Allaah; there is no doubt that this constitutes Shirk (i.e. associating partners with Allaah). It is impermissible to call on or seek the help and relief of other than Allaah; it is prohibited to call on an angel, a prophet, a righteous person, or any creature.
Alas, some Muslims in Muslim countries do that; they supplicate the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, call on him and seek his help and relief or those of the Walis (allies of Allaah) or righteous people. Verily, all these acts constitute Shirk as clarified in Fatwa 82007.
However, it is impermissible to hasten to declare a Muslim as a disbeliever even if he commits an act of disbelief that takes the doer out of the fold of Islam; rather, the doer should be advised and taught the relevant religious ruling. The due principles and conditions for Takfeer (i.e. declaring a person or a group to be disbelievers) and the fact that it should not be done except with the fulfillment of its legitimate conditions and the absence of the legitimate impediments were explained in Fataawa 8106 and 87963.
Lastly, we would like to underline the gravity of living in a non-Muslim country and the negligence of Muslims in learning their religion. This is the primary cause for the blind imitation of the enemies of Allaah. For further benefit, please refer to Fatwa 86405.
Allaah Knows best.
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