In Europe and America there is a need to define the word KAFIR.
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
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:
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