Who Is A Kaafir?

Although within numerous Islamic circles, non Muslims are frequently labelled as “Infidels” and the Arabic term “Kafir” (pl “Kuffar”) is used for them, the Qur’an reveals an entirely different picture as to the identity of bearers of this term.

The Actual Meaning

Not only non Muslims, but rival sects issue Fatwas (edicts) of “Takfeer” and declare each other as “Kaafir” and outside the pale of Islam for one reason or another.  But what is the literal and linguistic meaning of the term, that is often used to vilify opponents and evoke negative sentiments? In this article I will explore this as well as the Quranic usage of the terminology.

The Arabic word “Kufr” (lit. rejection, concealment, covering up) is derived the triliteral root Ka-Fa-Ra which means “he became a rejecter of, or a denier of”.

The term “Kufr” or “Rejection” in its various derivative forms in Qur’anic usage is in its generic sense, and wherever the word occurs, it does not imply or refer to “Non Muslims”. E.g Prophet Abraham and his companions say in 60:4 that they have “rejected” the belief of their persecutors (“Kafarna – Bikum”). Similarly, in (26:19) the Pharaoh, called Moses a “Kaafir” i.e. a rejecter, as Moses had rejected the belief system of his.

So as Abraham’s followers who are believers say that they reject polytheism and the word “Kafar” is used for that act of theirs and as Moses who is a believer and a Prophet had committed “Kufr” of the tyranny of the Pharaoh, this demonstrates that “Kafir”, “Kufr” etc are not terms synonymous with “Non Muslims”, or but are  terms depicting specific *acts* and *actions* by human beings.

Believers in the Qur’an are “Kaafirs” i.e. rejecters of ideologies opposing the Qur’an. Similarly those who uphold such ideologies, when they are faced with the Qur’anic message, and they consciously reject it, then they become “Kaafirs” of the Qur’an. It is very common nowadays for some people to label all non Muslims as “Kaafir”. Not only is this grammatically wrong, this view is not supported by the Qur’an itself.

What Qualifies One For “Kufr”

Somebody who has never heard about the Qur’anic message, is not conscious of its teachings is not a “Kaafir”, but in Qur’anic terminology a “Jaahil” (ignorant of the message) or a “Ghaafil” (unaware of the message) person.

For to qualify for “Kufr”, one needs to be clear about and be consciously aware of the message first. When the message has not even reached somebody, then he or she cannot be called a “rejecter” or an “acceptor” of that message. It is only when one has *knowledge* of the message – that he or she qualifies for acceptance or rejection.  The Qur’an repeatedly says that people: “…reject the truth AFTER it was made clear to them….” (c.f. 2:109, 47:25 etc)

When the Qur’an uses the term “Kaafir” to those who reject the Qur’an itself, then it also qualifies their traits further that they do this, when the message is clear to them, and they don’t just stop at merely rejecting the message, BUT ALSO actively oppose people from it as well (c.f. 47:1), and if that is not enough, they also PERSECUTE those who uphold the message (33:58) , and cause them mental, physical as well as material injury (63:7-8).

It is on the basis of this intolerant behavior and persecution that such are condemned. Cross referencing verses related to “Kaafir”, “Kufr” and analyzing the behavior pattern inherent in it makes this abundantly clear and clears the misconception that the Qur’an is intolerant towards or condemns people of all faiths. In the light of this, a young boy in a remote dwelling who has never heard of the Quran and is innocently observing his ancestral faith is neither the “Kaafir” that the Quran speaks of nor the target of its reprimands, until or unless he consciously rejects the message after its reception and engages in its opposition and persecution of believers.

First Comes The Message, Then Comes The Accountability

It is a consistent theme of the Qur’an, that before holding any community accountable, the Divine message is first and foremost delivered to its people – and it is THEN that retribution comes in case of rejection and immorality and NEVER before hand. God of the Qur’an is not an unjust God, who holds people responsible for not observing a law, when people do not even now what that law is all about!

“And so it is that thy Sustainer would never destroy a community’ for its wrongdoing so long as its people are still unaware.” (6:131)

The Qur’an very clearly states that those people who were weak on earth and for some reason were not able to receive the message, e.g. many are mentally handicapped, and not have the faculties to comprehend the Qur’an, or young children who die before reaching an age of consent or those residing in such localities were the message has not reached them – such people will not be held accountable by God.

 But excepted shall be the truly helpless – be they men or women or children – who cannot bring forth any strength and have not been shown the right way: (4: 98) As for them, God may well efface their sin – for God is indeed an absolver of sins, much-forgiving. (4: 99)

That “Kaafir” is a person who actively knows the message and then consciously rejects it, should also explain those passages where it is said that God has set a seal on their hearts. Many people misunderstand this (because they do not cross reference themes and passages, but are selective in their reading) to mean as if non believers or non Muslims have their hearts sealed by God – this is not so.

God is not acting arbitrarily and without reason in the Qur’an. Whenever certain people are condemned IT IS ALWAYS ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR BEHAVIOUR that this condemnation is narrated.

A Consequence of Your Actions

We see in the Qur’an that human choices and actions COME FIRST, and based on those choices and an ACT OF GOD occurs. Because people consciously reject the message, and choose to persistently behave in an immoral way, that is why a consequence of their repeated wrongdoing is sealing of their hearts, and it is not the case that their fate was sealed by God beforehand.

The type of actions we do in life, that type of results we get. Actions come first, results afterwards.  And we have the free will to choose whatever actions we want in life, says the Qur’an.

And say: “The truth [has now come] from your Sustainer: let, then, him who wills, believe in it, and let him who wills, reject it.” (18:29)