In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Fatwa No. ( )
Question:
Is it permissible to execute someone who claims to be a prophet?
Answer:
1. Islamic Theological Status (*Takfir*):
Whoever claims prophethood is a disbeliever (*Kafir*), and whoever believes or validates his claim is likewise a disbeliever, because Allah has sealed prophethood with the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
Textual Evidence
1. From the Qur'an:
Allah Almighty says:
﴿مَا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِنْ رِجَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ﴾
*"Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and Seal of the Prophets."* [Surah Al-Ahzab: 40]
2. From the Sunnah:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
«لَا نُبُوَّةَ بَعْدِي»
*"There is no prophethood after me."*
The Prophet (ﷺ) also said:
«مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ بَنَى دَارًا فَأَتَمَّهَا وَأَكْمَلَهَا إِلَّا مَوْضِعَ لَبِنَةٍ، فَجَعَلَ النَّاسُ يـَدْخُلُونَهَا، وَيَتَعَجَّبُونَ مِنْهَا، وَيَقُولُونَ: لَوْلَا مَوْضِعُ اللَّبِنَةِ! قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: فَأَنَا مَوْضِعُ اللَّبِنَةِ؛ جِئْتُ فَخَتَمْتُ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ»
*"My similitude and the similitude of the prophets before me is that of a man who built a house, completed it, and beautified it, except for the space of a single brick. People began to walk around it, admire it, and say: 'If only this brick were placed!' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'I am that brick; I came and sealed the prophets.'"* [Sahih Muslim]
2. Execution of Legal Punishments (*Hudud*):
Executing the judicial penalty (*Hadd*) for apostasy is exclusively the authority of the legitimate rulers (*Wulat al-Amr*), not individual Muslim citizens (*Ra'aya al-Muslimin*).
* Citizens must bring such a claimant to the authorities.
* The authorities will ask him to repent (*Istitabah*). If he repents, it is accepted; otherwise, he is executed for apostasy (*Riddah*).
3. Distinguishing Delusions and Mental Illness:
In many cases, claiming prophethood or claiming to be the *Mahdi* arises from mental illness, insane delusions (*Hawas*), severe psychological conditions, or malnutrition affecting brain function (such as vitamin deficiencies leading to delusions and obsessive thoughts). Such individuals require medical attention, psychiatric care, and proper nourishment until they recover their sanity.
Anecdote / Related Historical Benefit:
In this regard, a humorous story is mentioned involving Ibn Sina (Avicenna)—who was a physician, though he held philosophical and blasphemous views:
A man suffering from severe delusions brought on by extreme malnutrition and emaciation came to Ibn Sina, believing himself to be a cow. He demanded to be slaughtered and insisted that Ibn Sina comply.
Ibn Sina cleverly replied: *"You are too thin and weak right now; your meat is no good. Eat until you become fat, and then we will slaughter you."*
The man began eating properly, regained his health and mental balance, and was cured of his delusion.
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By His Eminence, the Jurist Sheikh:
Abu 'Abdillah Muhammad bin Hizam al-Ba'dani
*(May Allah preserve and protect him)*
