Is working in the construction of a church, or selling crosses, or not preventing the construction of a church for someone in a position of power, or allowing such construction, considered an act of disbelief (kufr)? And is aiding a disbeliever by selling them a device, with the knowledge or presumption that they will use it for polytheistic purposes, such as writing supplications to other than Allah, or turning on a television for someone who watches channels that attack Islamists, or restarting the internet for someone with disbelieving views who might write them online, or carrying a bag containing a device belonging to someone with disbelieving views who argues about them, or repairing something in a device belonging to someone with disbelieving views, considered a form of disbelief? And what is the criterion that determines whether these actions are acts of disbelief or not?
The heart's contentment with disbelief is disbelief. As for merely assisting in it without being pleased with it, that is not considered disbelief but rather something forbidden. Imam Al-Shafi'i disliked a Muslim working in the construction of churches, while scholars have unanimously agreed that building and renovating churches is unlawful and invalid because it is an act of disobedience. This ruling does not change whether the doer is a Muslim or a disbeliever. Thus, the scenarios you mentioned are not disbelief unless the heart is content with it; otherwise, they are merely acts of disobedience or whisperings (waswas). The questioner is advised to distance himself from these whisperings.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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