If someone commits a major sin, are they no longer a Muslim?

No — committing even a major sin does not remove a person from Islam, and this is one of the core beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah, distinguishing it from extreme positions that declared sinning Muslims disbelievers. A Muslim who commits adultery, drinks, steals, or lies remains a believer with a deficiency in faith, not an apostate, as long as they do not deny that the act is forbidden. What removes someone from Islam is rejecting a matter of religion known by necessity, not falling short of practicing it. Allah Himself draws this distinction sharply: 'Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills' (4:48) — meaning every sin short of dying upon shirk remains within the scope of possible forgiveness, and the person remains a Muslim regardless. This is deeply merciful in practice: it means no sinner, however serious their sin, should conclude they have exited the faith and therefore have nothing left to protect or repair. The path back is always still there, and it begins with recognizing that being a struggling Muslim is still being a Muslim.

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