Question:

I want to inquire that if a person 'A' for the purpose of immigration to Canada shows false documents that he 'A' is now converted from Muslim to Christian. So please tell me what does Shariah say in this regard either this person 'A' remains Muslim or not as 'A' is saying that from heart he is Muslim but he is only showing false document of his Christianity prove. And what Shariah says about those persons like 'X, Y' who are helping 'A' for creating false documents both 'X, Y' are Muslims?

Fatwa:

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 is His slave and Messenger.

If writing such words that indicate that the person apostated from Islam and embraced Christianity is accompanied with the uttering of such a word, then the person who does so becomes a non-Muslim and goes out of the fold of Islam. The scholars stated that uttering the word of disbelief takes the person out of the fold of Islam whether the person is joking or is serious.

Ibn Nujaim said: 'Whoever says the word of disbelief jokingly, he becomes a non-Muslim according to all scholars and it does not matter what his intention was.'

Moreover, Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah said: 'Uttering a word of disbelief voluntarily certainly reflects that the one who said it is content with disbelief.'

However, if this was only limited to writing the word only without any intention or being content with such words he has written, then it appears that this does not reach the state of apostating. However, the one who says it is in great danger. Allah may become angry with him, and thereby seal his heart, and could consequently fall into real disbelief. Thus, a Muslim has to be very careful not to lose his religion for a meaningless temporary worldly benefit, because this actually means losing his worldly life and that of the Hereafter.

Anyone who helps someone to do this is sinful, because Allah says (what means): {Help you one another in virtue, righteousness and piety but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.} [Quran 5:2].

Allah Knows best.

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb