Kafir (Infidel)

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Definitions

A kāfir (كافر ; plural كفّار kuffār) is a disbeliever, someone who rejects or does not believe in Allah as the one and only God and Muhammad as the final messenger of Allah.[1][2] Although Christians and Jews are called the People of the Book (أهل الكتاب ahl al-kitab), Islamic teaching qualify them as disbelievers[3][4][5]. The word "kafir" can be offensive to non-Muslims, as it has roots meaning "concealer", or someone who consciously denies what they know to be true, and "ingrate", implying that non-Muslims are ungrateful liars. It is also often used among Muslim populations as an extremely offensive curse word. Other terms which are used to refer to non-Muslims include "faasiq" (sinner, corrupt) and "munafiq" (hypocrite).

Acts of Kufr, or Disbelief

Call on anyone other than Allah (i.e. for intercession).

And cry not, beside Allah, unto that which cannot profit thee nor hurt thee, for if thou didst so then wert thou of the wrong-doers.

Dislike Allah.

And when Allah alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are repelled, and when those (whom they worship) beside Him are mentioned, behold! they are glad.

Sacrifice to anyone other than Allah.

So pray unto thy Lord, and sacrifice.

Dislike Islam or anything Islamic.

That is because they are averse to that which Allah hath revealed, therefor maketh He their actions fruitless.

Joke about Islam or anything Islamic.

65. And if thou ask them (O Muhammad) they will say: We did but talk and jest. Say: Was it at Allah and His revelations and His messenger that ye did scoff?
66. Make no excuse. Ye have disbelieved after your (confession of) belief. If We forgive a party of you, a party of you We shall punish because they have been guilty.

Disbelieve in any of the Messengers.

The messenger believeth in that which hath been revealed unto him from his Lord and (so do) believers. Each one believeth in Allah and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers - We make no distinction between any of His messengers - and they say: We hear, and we obey. (Grant us) Thy forgiveness, our Lord. Unto Thee is the journeying.

Judge by any other law aside from Islamic law.

Lo! We did reveal the Torah, wherein is guidance and a light, by which the prophets who surrendered (unto Allah) judged the Jews, and the rabbis and the priests (judged) by such of Allah's Scripture as they were bidden to observe, and thereunto were they witnesses. So fear not mankind, but fear Me. And barter not My revelations for a little gain. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are disbelievers.

Forbid what Allah has made lawful, or make lawful what Allah has forbidden.

Those who swallow usury cannot rise up save as he ariseth whom the devil hath prostrated by (his) touch. That is because they say: Trade is just like usury; whereas Allah permitteth trading and forbiddeth usury. He unto whom an admonition from his Lord cometh, and (he) refraineth (in obedience thereto), he shall keep (the profits of) that which is past, and his affair (henceforth) is with Allah. As for him who returneth (to usury) - Such are rightful owners of the Fire. They will abide therein.

Believe in any other religion.

And whoso seeketh as religion other than the Surrender (to Allah) it will not be accepted from him, and he will be a loser in the Hereafter.

Leave Islam.

They question thee (O Muhammad) with regard to warfare in the sacred month. Say: Warfare therein is a great (transgression), but to turn (men) from the way of Allah, and to disbelieve in Him and in the Inviolable Place of Worship, and to expel His people thence, is a greater with Allah; for persecution is worse than killing. And they will not cease from fighting against you till they have made you renegades from your religion, if they can. And whoso becometh a renegade and dieth in his disbelief: such are they whose works have fallen both in the world and the Hereafter. Such are rightful owners of the Fire: they will abide therein.

Give assistance to disbelievers against Muslims.

Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends in preference to believers. Whoso doeth that hath no connection with Allah unless (it be) that ye but guard yourselves against them, taking (as it were) security. Allah biddeth you beware (only) of Himself. Unto Allah is the journeying.

Disbelieve in Muhammad.

Lo! those who disbelieve, among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters, will abide in fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings.
This page is featured in the core article, People of the Book which serves as a starting point for anyone wishing to learn more about this topic
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See Also

  • Non-Muslims - A hub page that leads to other articles related to Non-Muslims

Translations

  • A version of this page is also available in the following languages: French. For additional languages, see the sidebar on the left.

References

  1. "...Kafir: Literally means "a disbeliever". In Islam it refers to one who rejects Allah and who does not believe in Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam as the final messenger of Allah...." - Islamic Glossary
  2. "...kafir noun (pl=kuffar) 1. (Islam) infidel, Infidel, pagan, non-believer; a non-Muslim aside from ahl al-kitab (Christians, Jews, etc.). 2. (Islam) Infidel, pagan, non-believer; any non-Muslim. Ref: Shaykh Al-Islam ibn Taymiyyah (Rahimullah) v27 p264: "Whosoever does not forbid people from the deen of the Jews and Christians after the prophethood of the messenger Muhammad (saw) nor declares them kafir nor hates them, he is not a Muslim by the consensus of ALL Muslims, their scholars and the general public."..."AllWords.com - kafir
  3. ""...the permissive people, who do not believe in any command or prohibition at all and refer to the Divine will and decree as an excuse for their evil deeds, are worse off than the Jews, Christians and Arab mushrikeen, because even though the latter are kaafirs, they still believe in some kind of command and prohibition..." - Atheism is a greater sin than shirk - Islam Q&A, Fatwa No. 113901
  4. "...But it is not permissible to marry her, as she is still a Kafir (non-Muslim) and has not yet embraced Islam wholeheartedly without any doubt...." - Thinking of marrying an atheist - Dr. Abdullah Al-faqih, Islam Web, Fatwa No. 88328, July 21, 2004
  5. "...This is something that is well known among the Muslims, and they are unanimously agreed that the Christians are kaafirs, and even that those who do not regard them as kaafirs are also kaafirs..." - Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:People of the Book