What is the ruling on one who denies the Shahada? And what is the ruling on one who keeps a crow in his house?
Bearing witness and rendering testimony is a communal obligation (fard kifaya). If some people fulfill it, the burden is lifted from others. However, if it becomes an individual obligation (ta'ayyanat) upon a person, then it is incumbent upon them to render it, based on the Almighty's saying: ﴿وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ وَمَنْ يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُ آثِمٌ قَلْبُهُ﴾ (And do not conceal testimony. And whoever conceals it - his heart is sinful) and His saying: ﴿وَأَقِيمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ لِلَّهِ﴾ (And uphold the testimony for Allah). Imam Al-Shafi'i stated that bearing witness is an individual obligation upon the witness towards everyone, based on the Almighty's saying: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ﴾ (O you who have believed, be persistently upholders of justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives). As for the crow, it is divided into two categories: that which is permissible to acquire and eat, and that which is forbidden and recommended to kill.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/48003