Chapter Six:

Conformity of My Conclusions with the Statements of the Companions of Ibn ’Abbās(1) It has been confirmed(2) from two of his companions that the meaning of disbelief in the Āyah, “And whoever does not judge by what Allāh has revealed, then it is those who are the disbelievers.” [Al-Mā'idah 5:44], refers to minor disbelief (kufr aṣghar), and it is NOT known that anyone opposed them during their time. Ṭāwūs, may Allāh have mercy on him, said: «ليس بكُفر ينقل عن الملة» "It is not disbelief that takes one out of the fold of Islam." This was transmitted by Aṭ-Ṭabari in his Tafsīr (8/465) and by Al-Marwazi in Ta’dhīm Qadr Aṣ-Ṣala‌h (574). ’Aṭā', may Allāh have mercy on him, said: «كفر دون كفر، وظلم دون ظلم، وفسق دون فسق» "It is a lesser form of disbelief, a lesser form of injustice, and a lesser form of transgression." This was also transmitted by Aṭ-Ṭabari in his Tafsīr (8/464-465) and by Al-Marwazi in Ta’dhīm Qadr Aṣ-Ṣala‌h (575). --- (1) Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allāh have mercy on him, said: «وأما التفسير: فإِنَّ أَعْلَمَ الناس به؛ أهل مكة؛ لأنهم أصحاب ابن عباس؛ كمجاهد وعطاء بن أبي رباح، وعكرمة مولى ابن عباس، وغيرهم من أصحاب ابن عباس؛ كطاووس، وأبى الشعثاء، وسعيد بن جبير، وأمثاهم» "When it comes to Tafsīr, the most knowledgeable people regarding it are the people of Makkah, as they were the companions of Ibn ’Abbās, such as Mujāhid, ’Aṭā' ibn Abi Rabāḥ, ’Ikrimah the freed-slave of Ibn ’Abbas, and others among his companions, like Ṭāwūs, Abū Ash-Sha’thā', Sa’eed ibn Jubayr, and those similar to them." [Al-Fatāwā (13/347)]. (2) Refer to 'As-Silsilah Aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah' by Al-Albāni (may Allāh have mercy on him), 6/114, under Hadith no. 2552.