Is it wajib to call an unbeliever an unbeliever?

- Based on the fatwa of Imam Abu Hanifa, “He who does not call an unbeliever an unbeliever becomes an unbeliever himself”, is it wajib to call someone an unbeliever when his unbelief is known and there are many other proofs of his unbelief? Does the one who does not call him an unbeliever also become an unbeliever? Is it wajib to call that person an unbeliever?
- The following is stated in the treatise called Fiqhul-Absat, attributed to Imam Abu Hanifa:
إِن قَالَ قَائِل لَا اعرف الْكَافِر كَافِرًا قَالَ هُوَ مثله
“A person who says I do not consider an unbeliever an unbeliever is like him (that is, an unbeliever).”
- Abul Husayn al-Malati al-Asqalani ash-Shafi’i (d. 377) writes the following in his book called “at-Tanbih war-Radd”:
جميع أهل القبلة لا اختلاف بينهم أن من شك في كافر فهو كافر لأن الشاك في الكفر لا إيمان له لأنه لا يعرف كفرا من إيمان
“There is no disagreement among all the people of the Qibla regarding the fact that whoever doubts the unbelief of an unbeliever is himself an unbeliever because a person who doubts about unbelief has no belief; that person cannot distinguish belief from unbelief; he does not know the difference between belief and belief.”

Dear Brother / Sister,

It is one thing to conclude, based on concrete evidence, that someone is not a Muslim and it is quite another to declare it.

The statements you quoted relate to the first point; that is, recognizing an unbeliever as an unbeliever. However, spreading this knowledge and belief, and rambling on without considering the benefit or harm is not permissible.

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