Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother Burhan,

I am confused about the word "AHLAY KITAAB". I have some questions related to them:

1. Are they Kafirs or not?

2. If not, then what do you mean by, that all non beleivers (who does not believe in Allah & Prophet S.A.W) are kafirs. Even Ahlay kitab also does not beleive in Allah & Rasool.

3.Its said that we can marry in them,,,please explain.

WS

Waiting for your reply.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Are ahle kitaab people disbelievers?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: I am confused about the word "AHLAY KITAAB"

The Arabic term ‘Ahley Kitaab’ literally means the ‘People of the Book’; and this term is generally associated in the Glorious Quran with the People or Nations upon whom Allah Subhanah sent His Prophets and His Divine Books to guide them to the Truth; namely the Jews and the Christians.

Your Question: Are they Kafirs or not?

If anyone disbelieves in any of the following six points of ‘emaan’ or faith, he would be considered a disbeliever:

1. The Absolute Oneness of Allah
2. All the appointed Prophets of Allah
3. All the revealed Books of Allah
4. The concept of the Hereafter
5. The concept of the Angels
6. The concept of Divine Qadr or Destiny.

Because the Jews do not believe in Prophet Isa (a.s.) and Prophet Mohamed (saws) as the appointed Messengers of Allah, and because the Christians do not believe in Prophet Mohamed (saws) as the appointed Messenger of Allah; they will be considered ‘kaafirs’ or disbelievers.

Allah Subhanah Himself in the Holy Quran refers to those among the People of the Book (The Jews and the Christians) who did not believe in Mohamed ar Rasool-Allah (saws), as ‘kaafirs’ or disbelievers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 98 Surah Bayyinah verses 1-3: The ‘disbelievers’ from among the People of the Book and the ‘mushriks’ would not desist until the clear evidence should come to them: A Messenger from Allah, who should recite to them Holy Scriptures containing sound and correct writings.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 98 Surah Bayyinah verse 6: Those who have ‘disbelieved’ from among the People of the Book and the mushriks, they shall certainly enter Hell; and remain in it forever. They are the worst of all creatures!

Your Question: If not, then what do you mean by, that all non beleivers (who does not believe in Allah & Prophet S.A.W) are kafirs. Even Ahlay kitab also does not beleive in Allah & Rasool.

The ‘Ahlay Kitaab’ believe in Allah, the believe in the Angels, they believe in the concept of the Hereafter, they believe in the Devine ‘Qadr’ or Destiny; they also believe in all the Prophets and Books that were sent to them, except that they do not believe in the appointment of Prophet Mohamed (saws) as the Last and Final Messenger of Allah, and they do not believe in the Glorious Quran as the Last and Final Testament revealed upon him (saws); thus they are declared as ‘kaafirs’ or disbelievers by Allah Subhanah Himself in the Glorious Quran.

Your Question: Its said that we can marry in them,,,please explain.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 5: This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers but chaste women among the People of the Book revealed before your time when ye give them their due dowers and desire chastity not lewdness nor secret intrigues. If anyone rejects faith fruitless is his work and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).

Indeed, Allah Subhanah has made it permissible for the believers to marry chaste women from amongst the People of the Book, if they wish to do so. Because of the proximity of the belief of the Jews and Christians to Al-Islam, whereby they believe in everything that is required to be a believer, except the appointment of Prophet Mohamed (saws) and the Revelation of the Quran….Allah Subhanah has given the People of the Book a separate and closer status to Islam, than the pagans or mushriks. Because the People of the Book are just ‘one-step’ away from accepting Islam, it is expected that the woman of the People of the Book, if married to a believer, would have a better chance to recognize and accept the Truth.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan