Islam is the one true way of life chosen by Allah (God). True peace in this world and ultimate salvation in the hereafter lie in seeking refuge under its principles and holding firmly to its teachings. Throughout history, Allah sent prophets and messengers with one core message: to call humanity to the worship of the One God (Tawhid) and to warn against actions that could corrupt or completely destroy their faith. Therefore, it is essential for every Muslim to understand the Nullifiers of Islam and learn how to guard against them. In this article, we will explore these critical topics and the practical steps to protect your faith, all based on the Quran and authentic Hadith.

Top 9 Actions: Understanding the Nullifiers of Islam

Islamic scholars, drawing from the Quran and Sunnah, have identified numerous actions that can lead a person out of the fold of Islam. The following are ten of the most critical and dangerous nullifiers.

1. Shirk: Associating Partners with Allah in Worship

The most severe and unforgivable sin—and the foremost among the Nullifiers of Islam—is Shirk. It means associating partners with Allah in His Lordship, attributes, or His right to be worshipped. Allah does not forgive the sin of Shirk unless one sincerely repents from it before death.

إِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُوْنَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”
(Surah An-Nisa: 116)

إِنَّهُ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ
“Indeed, he who associates others with Allah – Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire.”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah: 72)

2. Doubting the Disbelief of Polytheists or Validating Their Beliefs

A Muslim’s faith is nullified if they refuse to acknowledge polytheists (Mushrikun), Jews, or other non-Muslims as disbelievers, or if they doubt their state of disbelief, or consider their false religions to be valid paths to God. Allah declares the polytheists impure (Surah At-Tawbah: 28) and states their eternal home is Hellfire (Surah Al-Bayyinah: 6).

3. Preferring Human Devised Laws Over the Shari’ah

Anyone who believes that Human Devised laws, constitutions, or ideologies are superior to the Islamic Shari’ah (divine law), equal to it, or that the Shari’ah is no longer suitable for modern times, has exited the fold of Islam. The final judgment and authority belong only to Allah and His Messenger.

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلاَ مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُوْنَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ
“It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should have any choice in their matter.”
(Surah Al-Ahzab: 36)

4. Hating Any Part of the Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) Teachings

A person who harbors hatred or resentment for any part of the religion brought by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) becomes a disbeliever, even if they outwardly practice it.

ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَرِهُوْا مَا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ
“That is because they disliked what Allah revealed, so He rendered their deeds worthless.”
(Surah Muhammad: 9)

5. Mocking Any Aspect of Islam

Mocking or ridiculing Allah, His Messenger (ﷺ), the Quran, the angels, or any established Islamic practice—such as Salah (prayer), fasting, Hijab (modest dress), or keeping a beard—is an act of clear disbelief (Kufr) and one of the clearest Nullifiers of Islam.

قُلْ أَبِاللهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُوْلِهِ كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُوْنَ، لاَ تَعْتَذِرُوْا قَدْ كَفَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ إِيْمَانِكُمْ
“Say, ‘Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?’ Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief.”
(Surah At-Tawbah: 65-66)

6. Engaging in or Believing in Sorcery and Fortune-Telling

Practicing, commissioning, or believing in magic, witchcraft, or sorcery is an act of disbelief and is counted among the seven destructive sins. Similarly, believing in horoscopes, fortune-tellers, or astrologers is a faith-destroying act.

Allah says:

وَلَكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ
“…but it was the devils who disbelieved, teaching people magic…”
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 102)

7. Siding with Disbelievers Against Muslims

Supporting and aiding disbelievers against Muslims, with the intent to harm the Muslim community, is a grave nullifier of faith. This is considered a major form of hypocrisy in Islam.

وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّهُمْ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ
“And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them.”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah: 51)

8. Believing in Salvation Outside of Islam

Anyone who believes that it is possible to achieve salvation or please Allah while following a religion other than Islam (such as modern-day Judaism or Christianity) is a disbeliever. Islam is the only religion accepted by Allah.

وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلاَمِ دِيْنًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِيْنَ
“And whoever desires other than Islam as religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.”
(Surah Aal-Imran: 85)

9. Intentionally Abandoning Islam

Deliberately turning away from the religion of Allah, by neither learning its basic tenets nor practicing them, is an act of disbelief.

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا إِنَّا مِنَ الْمُجْرِمِيْنَ مُنْتَقِمُوْنَ
“And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord; then he turns away from them? Indeed, We will take retribution from the criminals.”
(Surah As-Sajdah: 22)

Protecting Your Iman from the Nullifiers of Islam

Guarding this priceless gift of faith from everything that can corrupt it is the primary duty of every believer. Below are some essential ways to protect your Iman.

1. Seek Authentic Islamic Knowledge

The first step to protecting yourself from the nullifiers of faith is to acquire correct and pure Islamic knowledge. Without a solid understanding of the Quran and authentic Hadith, it’s impossible to safely navigate the dangers of Shirk, Kufr, and Bid’ah (religious innovation).

2. Constantly Seek Refuge in Allah

Make it a regular habit to pray to Allah to protect your faith from the whispers of Satan and the trials of life. The Prophet (ﷺ) would frequently make this supplication:

يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ
“Yā Muqallib al-qulūb, thabbit qalbī ‘alā dīnik.”
(O Turner of hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.)

3. Be Consistent in Worship and Remembrance

Performing the five daily prayers, fasting, and other obligatory acts of worship with sincerity strengthens your Iman. Supplement these with voluntary prayers, recitation of the Quran, and the remembrance of Allah (Dhikr), which keeps the heart alive and connected to its Creator.

Allah says: أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوْبُ “Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” (Surah Ar-Ra’d: 28)

4. Choose Righteous Company

The people you surround yourself with have a profound impact on your faith. Keeping the company of righteous, God-fearing people will encourage you towards good deeds and help you stay away from sin.

5. Turn to Repentance (Tawbah)

If you fall into sin or engage in a faith-nullifying act, do not despair. Turn back to Allah immediately with sincere repentance. Allah says:

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لاَ تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللهِ إِنَّ اللهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'”
(Surah Az-Zumar: 53)

6. Frequently Remember Death

Remembering death helps detach the heart from the temptations of this world and motivates one to prepare for the hereafter. A person who often contemplates their mortality will find it harder to engage in sin.

7. Practice Patience and Gratitude

Being patient during times of hardship and showing gratitude to Allah during times of ease are signs of a mature and strong faith. Becoming impatient and having negative thoughts about Allah during trials can be severely damaging to one’s Iman.

Conclusion: The Path Forward

This discussion makes it clear that the threats to our faith are all around us. If we are not vigilant against these Nullifiers of Islam, we risk losing the most valuable asset we will ever possess. Anyone who dies while engaged in one of them faces a terrifying fate in the hereafter.

However, the mercy of Allah is limitless. If a person falls into these errors but turns back with sincere repentance, Allah can forgive them.

It is upon all of us to treat these matters with the utmost seriousness, to understand them deeply, and to strive relentlessly to keep ourselves far from them. May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala grant us all the ability to live with complete faith and to die as true believers. Ameen.