Re: Are They Muslims?
JAK for the reply.
I have categorized the emboldened part in two parts i.e. (a) and (b) for sake of discussion:
(a) This is exactly what the Quran tells us about the Jews or Christians. They changed their scriptures to suit their needs. The Quran does not call them Mushrik though or one who commits major Shirk. If this change involves changing the scripture in such a way to change or deny the Oneness of Allah SWT or associate a partener in worship with him AWJ, then that becomes a major form of Shirk. This has always been our difference with Christians. A minor form of Shirk is also a Zulm in many cases. I think our scholars have defined so many categories of Shirk that many muslims have lost its true meaning and often confuse Zulm with Shirk. If the riches of a person make a person so proud that he starts comparing himself with Allah SWT (Audhubillah) as in the case of Phiroan or Pharoah then that is major Shirk however if it only makes him proud and arrogant towards his other fellow humans then that is not major Shirk but a grave Zulm. I think the central theme to calling something shirk is when someone starts raising/considering himself or others above his God-conscienceness or dependence on Allah SWT.
(b) Since pimping is the example here, first case I think it is zulm since he does it knowingly and the second case is Kufr because he is denying it even though he knows it is right.
Agreed ... JazakAllah Khair