A Short Explanation on the Statements of Ibn Abbaas and Other Than Him from the Salaf
The narration from Ibn Abbaas, which is used by those who usually conclude that Ayaah “And
whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed, such are the Kâfirûn” indicates Kufr
Al-Asghar, is the following, which can be found in many of the books of Tafseer and Hadeeth in
reference to this Ayaah:
Narrated by Al-Haakim, from the path of Hishaam bin Hujaayr and Tawoos who said, “Ibn
Abbas, May Allaah be pleased with him, said, “It is not the Kufr you are taking it to. It is not
Kufr, which takes one outside the Milla (i.e. the realm of Islaam). “And whosoever does not
judge by what Allâh has revealed, such are the Kâfirûn.” It is Kufr dun Kufr (i.e. Kufr less
than Kufr).1
Also, it was narrated by Ibn Abee Hatim as mentioned by Ibn Katheer, from the path of Hishaam
bin Hujaayr from Tawoos from Ibn Abbas about Allah’s saying: “And whosoever does not
judge by what Allâh has revealed, such are the Kâfirûn...” He (i.e. Ibn Abbaas said, “It is not
the Kufr you are taking it to.” 2
And the truth of the matter is that Hishaam bin Hujaayr has been declared Dha’eef by Ahmad
and Yahya bin Ma’een and others.3 And Ibn Adee mentioned him among the Dha’eef narrators.5
And Al-Uqaalee said about him 4 as well as Abu Haatim, “His Hadeeth should be written (i.e.
indicating that they did not accept from Hishaam bin Hujaayr unless his Hadeeth were recorded
elsewhere). 6
So clearly these two narrations cannot be used as evidence due to their obvious weakness.7 And
they cannot give this Ayaah a meaning, which would indicate that the Kufr mentioned is
anything less than the clear Kufr Al-Akbaar.
Also, Ibn Jareer narrated from the path of ‘Alee bin Abee Talha from Ibn Abbas who said,
“Whoever rejects what Allaah revealed has disbelieved and whoever approves of it but does not
rule by it, then he is a Dhaalim/Fasiq.” 8
And this is another narration from Ibn Abbaas, which is used to show that the Kufr in the