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Fatwa CenterClarification about (Quran 4:140)
Question
My question is about Surah An-Nisa 140 and its meaning.
Does being or sitting beside or around people who commit kufr or shirk in any possible way, with or without especially/verbally expressing/ mocking islam or any verses from the Quran. Like online on chat rooms or at places or groups in real life, make a muslim a disbeliever if he or she doesn’t leave that place when he can or say anything against them when he can? Does remaining there, whether it be a chat or online room or a place in real life while one can leave or say something against those who call themselves ”God” of something or commit kufr ir shirk in any possible way, make the silent believer a disbeliever? Is that what we should understand from Surah An-Nisa 4:140?
I live in an european country and sometimes enter chat rooms (yet without being in contact with people who say kufr words in conversations) so if you have time, I’d like to also know the rulling on these situations based on the ayah.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
The verse you referred to, which is verse 140 of Soorat An-Nisaa’ [Quran 4:140], indicates that it is impermissible for a Muslim to be present in a place where a prohibited act is committed such that he sees it or hears it unless he does that for a valid purpose such as voicing disapproval of the actions of the perpetrators. The ruling in this regard applies to both physical presence in actual gatherings and virtual presence in online chat rooms and the like. A Muslim bears a sin for attending such gatherings without a Sharee'ah-acceptable reason.
It should be noted, though, that the part of verse that says (what means): {Indeed, you would then be like them} does not entail that the mere presence at such gatherings incurs committing disbelief. The likeness referred to in the verse denotes bearing a sin for that action, as explained by scholars.
At-Taahir ibn ‘Aashoor 
said in his Tafseer book At-Tahreer wat-Tanweer: “This similarity is intended to emphasize the prohibition in this regard in order to deter people from doing it. A believer does not become a hypocrite merely by sitting with the hypocrites, and the likeness is in regard to the sin, not to its extent; that is to say that you would be like them in being involved in sin.” [End of quote]
It should be noted that the Internet is a double-edged sword, so whoever uses it for a good purpose and for acquiring what benefits him in his religion and his worldly life, it becomes a blessing for him. On the other hand, whoever uses it for evil purposes, it becomes a source of misfortune for him. Therefore, a Muslim should be heedful of the evils that may be incurred by using the Internet and wisely avoid them.
Allah knows best.
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