Definition and Kinds of Kufr (Disbelief) From the Gardens of Tafsir of Shaykh al Islam Ibrahim Niasse (ra) Surah Baqara إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا “Surely those who have disbelieved” Kufr (disbelief) linguistically means concealment and covering. In the terminology of the Shariʿa of Islām it means, to deny that which has been confirmed through the coming of Nabī and the knowledge of which is obvious. The Kāfir in the Qurʾān is of four types: The first type of Kāfir is the one opposed to the believer إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ “Those who disbelieve and prevent (others) from Allah’s way.” (Muḥammad: 39). The second Kāfir is the one who denies. وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ “As a right of Allāh, it is obligatory on the people to perform Ḥajj of the House - on everyone who has the ability to manage (his) way to it. If one disbelieves, then Allāh is independant of all the worlds” (āl-ʿImrān: 97). The meaning referring to the one who denies the obligatory status of Ḥajj. The third type of Kāfir is the one who is ungrateful اشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ “be thankful to Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me.” The fourth type of Kāfir signifies the one who dissociates himself. ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضًا “Then on the Day of Judgment you will disbelieve in each other and will curse each other”. Meaning they will dissociate themselves with each other, while in the world they used to associate among themselves for certain qualities and attributes. Kufr is of different types: The first type of Kufr is of the one who nevertheless recognizes. This is the one who recognizes the existence of Allāh-Taʿālā but disbelieves in Him through his tongue, such as Iblīs and as the Kufr of the Jews. فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ مَا عَرَفُوا كَفَرُوابِهِ “Yet when there came to them that which they did recognize, they denied it.” (al-Baqara: 89). The second type of Kufr is the one who completely negates (Allāh) the Bārī (Maker of Order). This is the one who does not recognize His existence Taʿālā; this is the case for most of the disbelievers. The third type of Kufr is of the individual who knows (Allāh) the Truthful One but does not utter that recognition and does not adopt the truth as his religion. This is what happened to Abū-Ṭālib (the uncle of the Prophet) who said: ولَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ بِأَنّ دِينَ مُحَمّدٍ مِنْ خَيْرِ أَدْيَانِ الْبَرِيَةِ دِينَا ‘I have indeed known that Muḥammad’s religion of, is a religion from among the best of people’s religions.’ He mentioned this with his tongue and believed it with his heart, however, he did not adopt Islām as a religion and as a result he became a disbeliever. The fourth type of Kufr is that of hypocrisy (Nifāq). This is the one who testifies with his tongue but denies with his heart. Kufr, as we have previously mentioned, is to deny that which has been confirmed as being brought by Muḥammad and the knowledge of which is obvious; that is, the Oneness (Tawḥīd) of Allāh-Taʿālā, the establishment of the prayers, the fasting of Ramaḍān, the obligation of Zakāt on wealth, Ḥajj, and resurrection. This includes everything that the arrival of Muḥammad has confirmed in an obvious manner; to then deny such a thing amounts to disbelief. One who denies matters about which it can not be easily known that Nabī came with them without pondering and thoroughness, is not guilty of disbelief. Happy Jummat To You All.
Posted on: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 05:58:33 +0000
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