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:

Salam Aliakom!!!

In Europe and America there is a need to define the word KAFIR. Can you
please define for Muslims living in Western countries please. Thank you.

Iftekhar Hai, Teacher of Quran to Non-Muslims

(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:

Who is a kaafir

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chaper 2 Surah Baqarah verses 38-39:

38 We (Allah Subhanah) said: "Get ye (Adam, Hawwa, and Iblees) down all from here (Paradise); and if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from Me; whosoever follows My Guidance on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.

39 But those who do ‘kufr’ (reject, deny) and belie Our Signs they shall be companions of the Fire; they shall abide therein."

The Lord Most High has not divided mankind by race, or color, or language, or nationality, etc….but the Lord All-Knowing All-Wise has chosen to divide mankind according to belief into two categories:

1. Believers (Muslims)
2. Disbelievers (Kaafirs)

The Arabic term ‘Kaafir’ is derived from the root word ‘kufr’ which literally means to doubt, deny, or reject something which is presented to them….and when used in the Islamic or legal context, a ‘kaafir’ would mean one who does not accept the Absolute Oneness of Allah Subhanah and the appointment of Prophet Mohamed (saws) as His Last and Final Prophet of Allah.

In the Sight of Shariah Law, any person who verbally declares belief in the Absolute Oneness of Allah Subhanah and in the appointment of the Prophet Mohamed (saws) as the Messenger of Allah, or declares the ‘shahaadah’ or testification of faith will be considered a ‘muslim’ in the Sight of Shariah Law and of the believers, and every single right that is due to a ‘muslim’ will be accorded to him in full….his food will be lawful unto the believers, he may marry amongst the muslims, he may visit the Sacred House, he is eligible to receive from ‘zakah’ dues if poor and needy, he will inherit from his believing heirs, his believing heirs will inherit from him, he will be given a muslim burial, etc.

Alternatively, in the Sight of Shariah Law, any person who does not verbally declare belief in the Absolute Oneness of Allah Subhanah and in the appointment of Prophet Mohamed (saws) as the Messenger of Allah, will be considered a ‘kaafir’ or disbeliever in the sight of Law….and thus the above quoted rights that are reserved only for muslims in the life of this world will not be accorded to him.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan