or that it possesses esoteric interpretations that render the prescribed acts void, and the like.” This is the doctrine of the Qaramitah, the Batiniyyah, and among them the Nasikhiyyah. There is no disagreement concerning the disbelief of all such people.
The Shaykh said: “Whoever accuses Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, of that from which Allah declared her innocent is a disbeliever without any disagreement. As for whoever reviles any of the Prophet’s other wives, peace and blessings be upon him, there are two views: the first is that it is like reviling one of the Companions; the second—and it is the correct view—is that it is like accusing Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her.” Accordingly, whoever reviles one of the Mothers of the Believers is a disbeliever, because reviling her is an affront to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him—especially where it concerns the defilement of his marital bed and corrupt character. This is among the gravest offenses against the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Thus, we say: whoever reviles Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, or any of the other wives of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is a disbeliever according to the preponderant view.
As for reviling all the Companions, the apparent meaning of the Shaykh’s words is that such a person is not deemed a disbeliever unless it is coupled with the claim that Ali is a deity or a prophet, or that Gabriel erred. Yet this apparently is not what is intended, because claiming that Ali is a deity or a prophet, or that Gabriel erred and therefore delivered the message to Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, instead of Ali, renders a person a disbeliever in itself, whether or not he reviles the Companions.
He said: “As for one who reviles them in a manner that does not impugn their integrity or their religion—such as one who describes some of them as miserly, cowardly, lacking in knowledge, or lacking in asceticism, and the like—such a person deserves discipline and discretionary punishment, but is not a disbeliever. As for one who curses and disparages them without qualification, this is a matter of disagreement; that is, whether he is a disbeliever or