Assalamualaykum: It is considered kufr to reject an ayah of the quran. I wanted to know how there could be a difference of opinion on whether Bismillah is part of the quran wherever it is written in the mushaf. Some scholars say it is an independent verse before every surah not part of the surah, some say it is part of the surah, some say it is not part of the quran,etc. I was wondering if we could consider it to be "not kufr" for rejecting an ayah of the quran due to the fact that some scholars reject bismillah as part of the quran? If it is still kufr to reject an ayah of the quran, than does it depend on the ayah you're talking about? I thought all ayat are words of Allah and can't be rejected. And please let me know if it can be said that there is a difference of opinion on the issue of declaring someone a kafir for rejecting a verse, or if I am required to declare him a kafir (since scholars say doubting the kufr of someone committed open kufr has committed kufr himself).---Thank you

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

Whoever rejects a verse from the Quran – after knowing that it is confirmed in the Mus-haf or after trustworthy people informed him that it is from the Quran – then he is considered to be a Kaafir (non-Muslim) as Allaah commanded us to believe in the entire Quran; so whoever denies something from the Quran, he does not believe in it. A group of scholars, among whom are Al-Qaadhi Iyaadh and Ibn Qudaamah reported a consensus from the scholars that whoever rejects a verse from the Quran, he is a Kaafir.

This includes the Basmalah [i.e. saying: Bismillaah Ar-Rahmaan Ar-Raheem (in the Name of Allaah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful)] which is part of a verse in Soorah An-Naml [Quran 27], as there is a consensus on this matter as well.

As regards something where there is difference of opinion, then one does not become a Kaafir if he denies that it is from the Quran, like denying that it (the Basmalah) is part of the verse in Soorah Al-Faatihah, or that it is a verse at the beginning of every Soorah, as there is a difference of opinion on it. Ibn Al-Arabi said: “If someone says it (the Basmalah) is not a verse at the beginning of every Soorah, he does not become a Kaafir as this is a matter of difference of opinion, but if someone says that it is not from the Quran, then he becomes a Kaafir as it is found in the verse of Soorah An-Naml [Quran 27]”

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 129445.

As regards the statement of the scholars that if someone doubts the Kufr (disbelief) of a Kaafir (disbeliever), he becomes a Kaafir himself, then this is in regard to those who are definitely disbelievers like the Jews and the Christians or others. Kashshaaf Al-Qinaa', authored by Al-Buhooti from the Hanbali School of jurisprudence, reads: “Whoever does not declare as a Kaafir someone who takes a religion other than Islam, like the Christians and the Jews, or doubts about their disbelief, or considers their creed to be correct, then he is a Kaafir...”

Allaah Knows best.