What is the Islamic ruling regarding a preacher who was accused of disparaging the Prophet (peace be upon him) for saying that he cannot put a morsel into his wife's mouth as the Messenger used to do, and for saying that Allah is not in need of anyone, not even His Messenger, to spread His religion? Is that considered disbelief for which there is no repentance, as some scholars believe, citing *Kitab al-Shifa*? And does he who doubts the intent to disparage commit an act of disbelief?

It has not been authentically established in any Hadith (definition) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) placed a morsel in the mouth of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). Rather, the virtue of spending on one's wife in general is established. There is no sin in abandoning a Sunnah (definition), or in declaring an inability to perform it, let alone disbelief (Kufr). For the Bedouin achieved salvation by not performing some Sunnahs, and disbelief (Kufr) is not decreed except with the intention of mockery. As for the statement, "Allah does not need His Messenger to spread His call (Da'wah)," there is no denigration in it. For Allah is Self-Sufficient, in no need of anything other than Himself, and He guides whom He wills, and Messengers are means for guidance. Declaring a specific individual a disbeliever (Takfir al-Mu'ayyan) is not a light matter. The words of Al-Qadi Iyad regarding insulting the Prophet (peace be upon him) and denigrating him do not apply to what was stated. Furthermore, declaring someone a disbeliever for not declaring another person a disbeliever is a form of misguidance. The scholarly discourse on the disbelief of one who does not declare a disbeliever to be such applies only to a disbeliever whose disbelief is unanimously agreed upon. It is obligatory to advise these individuals and warn them against declaring Muslims disbelievers and distorting the words of scholars.