Kufr in Islam: what is it and what are it’s types :
Learning about Kufr is an essential part of Muslim’s knowledge about his faith. Without knowing Kufr, bạn cannot do justice to Tawheed. Kufr is used in the Glorious Qur’an for people who cover up hoặc hide the truth. It also uses this word to point out those who denied the favors of Allah bởi not accepting his Dominion and Authority. Therefore Kufr is the opposite of Imaan hoặc Disbelief in Allah and a Non-Believer is called Kaafir.
A person can be categorized as Kaafir hoặc Murtadd (meaning apostate) if the following twelve beliefs hoặc actions are found in him. Everyone should be aware of what Kufr is so that we can save ourselves from its dangers. Not knowing about kufr may result in bạn thinking that bạn are a Muslim, yet in reality bạn come under the category of Kaafir (May Allah save us from such disgrace).
However, unless we have clear and irrefutable evidence, ensure not to haste in labeling a person who claims to be Muslim as a kaafir (disbeliever) hoặc Murtadd (Apostate). Leave this job to the scholars of Islam. But when bạn feel the need of letting people know about the person’s kufr, bạn may mention that his actions portray kufr in them. The reason for not directly assigning a person the label of a kaafir (Disbeliever) is the warning from prophet (pbuh) in the below Hadith:
Ibn Umar (radiallahu ‘anhu) reports that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) đã đưa ý kiến “Any person who called his brother ‘O Unbeliever’ (has in fact done an act bởi which this kufr) would return to one of them. If it were so as he (the accuser) asserted, (the kufr of the accused would be confirmed, but if the kufr was not true) then it returned to him (the man who called his brother Muslim a kaafir).” Muslim.
There are matters which may indeed indicate hoặc even necessitate that a person be a disbeliever (kaafir) such as defiling the Qur’aan hoặc cursing the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) regardless of what the person espouses and it is only Allah who knows the unseen. As humans we can only judge hoặc make determinations from what is outwardly evident.
Kufr (disbelief) is of two types: action (‘amaly) and belief (‘itiqaady ), some of which may be termed “kufr doona kufr” that is, a degree of kufr less than the total kufr which does not necessarily put one outside of đạo hồi although such a person’s đạo hồi may be doubtful hoặc in grave danger. This is the explanation of Qur’aan 5:44 bởi the companion Ibn Abbaas (radiallahu ‘anhu) collected bởi Ibn Jareer and quoted bởi Ibn Katheer on the authority of ‘Ataa.
1) To disavow Allah’s Lordship (Ruboobiyah) hoặc Deity and singular right to be worshipped (Uloohiyah) [Qur'aan 4:48 & 116, 5:72, 39:2-3, 51:56] hoặc the message of any of the Messengers of Allah (Tawheed) [Qur'aan 10:35, 16:36] hoặc to claim that any Messenger hoặc Prophet (Rasool hoặc Nabiy) came after the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). [Qur'aan 6:93, 6:21, 7:37, 11:18-19, 18:15, 29:68, 33:40, 39:32, 61:8]
2) To deny hoặc reject any of Allah’s Attributes hoặc Names (Asmaa was Sifaat) i.e. Living, Knowing, Hearing, Seeing, Merciful, having a face and hands (though we know not in what manner yet certainly not like His creation), hoặc to add to them that which is not mentioned in the Qur’aan hoặc authentic Sunnah. i.e. Belief that Allah is not above His creation & that He is everywhere hoặc in everything hoặc to attribute any quality that is Allah’s alone to man [Qur'aan 4:48, 6:18 & 61, 10:3, 68 - 69, 20:5, 35:10, 42:11, 72:26 - 27, Ch. 112]
3) Setting up intermediaries between oneself and Allah, making supplication to them, asking their intercession, and placing one’s trust in them. Calling upon the dead, asking them for help, hoặc offering them gifts hoặc sacrifices is all shirk. [Qur'aan 2:165 & 255, 5:72, 30:52, 39:44]. To give any of the creation that which is due to Allah alone hoặc to be pleased with being được trao worship besides Allah in any manner [Qur'aan 21:29] thus making hoặc becoming a taaghoot (pl. tawaagheet).
4) To curse, abuse the Name of Allah, to deny hoặc to revile Him hoặc any of His Messengers hoặc Prophets hoặc Angels. [Qur'aan 2:285, 4:136, 6:10, 57:19]
5) To deny, stop, hoặc reject any Fard (obligatory) duty of the Sharia (Divine Law) i.e. Salaah, Zakaah, Saum, Hajj, Kindness to parents, hoặc Jihad. [Qur'aan 4:50, 64-65, 80] hoặc to turn away from the religion bởi not learning hoặc practicing it’s precepts. [Qur'aan 32:22]
6) To deem hoặc to make permissible (halaal) what is clearly forbidden (haraam) -i.e. adultery, fornication, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, theft, murder, sorcery, magic; hoặc to make what is halaal haraam – i.e. to eat meat hoặc seafood, marry plural wives, women to veil, etc. [Qur'aan 2:102, 174-176,4:69, 6:157]
7) To deny hoặc reject any chapter, verse, hoặc letter from the Book of Allah (Al-Qur’aan) hoặc to purposely give it deviant interpretations [Qur'aan 3:7, 6:21] i.e. not derived from the Qur’aan itself, the authentic Sunnah of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) [Qur'aan 6:153, 16:64] hoặc according to established methods of tafseer. Abu Hurairah (radiallahu ‘anhu) reported that the Rasool (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “Don’t pursue that which bạn have no knowledge of”. Ahmed. [Qur'aan 4:59, 10:68-70].
To openly hiển thị disdain, scorn, contempt for, hoặc treat with levity the Deen of đạo hồi hoặc it’s tenets, obligatory injunctions hoặc it’s traditions. [Qur'aan 4:140] To ridicule and deride them hoặc to treat the Qur’aan as a piece of garbage hoặc filth hoặc to trample hoặc abuse it as an insult. [Qur'aan 4:83, 140, 6:4-5, 7:50-51, 9:63-66, 20:124, 41:26 27]
9) To disbelieve in the Resurrection, Punishment, hoặc Goodly reward on the ngày of Reckoning hoặc that punishment and reward are only abstract, symbolic hoặc spiritual. [Qur'aan , 56:1-2, 67:8-10, 69]
10) To say that the Righteous (Awliyaa’) are above the Prophets (‘alaihimus salaam) hoặc that some of the Righteous are exempt from acts of worship prescribed bởi đạo hồi according to the Sunnah of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). [Qur'aan 3:85, 8:34, 10:62-63]
11) To rule hoặc judge bởi other than that which Allah revealed. This is of different types and the ruling differs depending on the beliefs and actions. Whoever rules bởi other than what Allah has revealed viewing it hoặc believing it to be superior hoặc better than Allah’s sharia is considered a disbeliever bởi all the Muslims. Likewise, the one who substitutes the sharia with man-made laws and các lượt xem that as permissible, even if he says that to rule bởi the sharia is better, is a disbeliever because he has made halaal what Allah has made haraam. If one rules as described following whims hoặc in opposition to someone (i.e. not viewing it as equal, a substitute hoặc superior as described above) he is considered a major sinner. [2:120, 3:85, 4:115, 5:3, 44, 49, 50, 33:36, 45:18, 58:22]. [explained in detail in Fataawa Ibn Baz, Vol. 1 Rulings on 'Aqeedah, pg. 991]
12) To support hoặc aid the polytheists (mushrikoon) against the Muslims. [3:28. 118, 4:51, 5:57]
Types of Kufr:
There are many types of Al-Kufr ul Akbar:
1. Kufrul-’Inaad: Disbelief out of stubborness. This applies to someone who knows the truth and admits to knowing the truth and admits to knowing it with his tongue, but refuses to accept it and refrains from making a declaration. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Throw into Hell every stubborn disbeliever [Soorah Qaaf (50), Ayah 24]
2. Kufrul-Inkaar: Disbelief out of denial. This applies to someone who denies with both tim, trái tim and tongue. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: They recognize the favors of Allaah, yet they deny them. Most of them are disbelievers. [Soorah Nahl (16), Ayah 83]
3. Kufrul-Kibr: Disbelief out of arrogance and pride. The disbelief bởi the devils (Iblees) is an example of this type of Kufr.
4. Kufrul-Juhood: Disbelief out of rejection.This applies to someone who aknowledges the truth in his heart, but rejects it with his tongue. This types of kufr is applicable to those who calls themselves Muslims but who reject any necessary and accepted norms of đạo hồi such as Salaat and Zakat. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: They denied them (OUR SIGNS) even though their hearts believed in them , out of spite and arrogance. [Soorah Naml (27), Ayah 14]
5. Kufrul-Nifaaq: Disbelief out of hypocrisy.This applies to someone who pretends to be a believer but conceals his disbelief. Such a person is called a MUNAFIQ hoặc hypocrite. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Verily the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of Hell. bạn will find no one to help them. [Soorah An Nisaa (4), Ayah 145]
6. Kufrul-Istihaal: Disbelief out of trying to make HARAM into HALAL. This applies to someone who accepts as lawful (Halal) that which Allaah has made unlawful (Haram) like alcohol hoặc adultery.Only Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala has the prerogative to make things Halal and Haram and those who seek to interfere with His right are like rivals to Him and therefore fall outside the boundries of faith.
7. Kufrul-Kurh: Disbelief out of detesting any of Allaah’s subhanahu wa ta’ala commands. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Perdition (destruction) has been consigned to those who disbelieve and He will render their actions void. This is because they are averse to that which Allaah has revealed so He has made their actions fruitless. [Soorah Muhammed (47), Ayah 8-9]
8. Kufrul-Istihzaha: Disbelief due to mockery and derision. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Say: Was it at Allaah, His signs and His apostles that bạn were mocking? Make no excuses. bạn have disbelieved after bạn have believed. [Soorah Taubah (9), ayah 65-66]
9. Kufrul-I’raadh: Disbelief due to avoidance. This applies to those who turn away and avoid the truth. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: And who is thêm unjust than he who is reminded of his Lord’s signs but then turns away from them. Then he forgets what he has sent phía trước, chuyển tiếp (for the ngày of Judgement) [Soorah Kahf (18), Ayah 57]
10. Kufrul-Istibdaal: Disbelief because of trying to substitute Allaah’s Laws. This could take the form of:
(a) Rejection of Allaah’s law (Sharee’ah) without denying it
(b) Denial of Allaah’s law and therefore rejecting it, or
(c) Substituting Allaah’s laws with man-made laws. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: hoặc have they partners with Allaah who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not allowed. [Soorah Shuraa(42), Ayah 8] Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely (that) is lawful and this is forbidden so as to invent a lie against Allaah. Verily, those who invent a lie against Allaah will never prosper. [Soorah Nahl (16), Ayah 116]
Learning about Kufr is an essential part of Muslim’s knowledge about his faith. Without knowing Kufr, bạn cannot do justice to Tawheed. Kufr is used in the Glorious Qur’an for people who cover up hoặc hide the truth. It also uses this word to point out those who denied the favors of Allah bởi not accepting his Dominion and Authority. Therefore Kufr is the opposite of Imaan hoặc Disbelief in Allah and a Non-Believer is called Kaafir.
A person can be categorized as Kaafir hoặc Murtadd (meaning apostate) if the following twelve beliefs hoặc actions are found in him. Everyone should be aware of what Kufr is so that we can save ourselves from its dangers. Not knowing about kufr may result in bạn thinking that bạn are a Muslim, yet in reality bạn come under the category of Kaafir (May Allah save us from such disgrace).
However, unless we have clear and irrefutable evidence, ensure not to haste in labeling a person who claims to be Muslim as a kaafir (disbeliever) hoặc Murtadd (Apostate). Leave this job to the scholars of Islam. But when bạn feel the need of letting people know about the person’s kufr, bạn may mention that his actions portray kufr in them. The reason for not directly assigning a person the label of a kaafir (Disbeliever) is the warning from prophet (pbuh) in the below Hadith:
Ibn Umar (radiallahu ‘anhu) reports that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) đã đưa ý kiến “Any person who called his brother ‘O Unbeliever’ (has in fact done an act bởi which this kufr) would return to one of them. If it were so as he (the accuser) asserted, (the kufr of the accused would be confirmed, but if the kufr was not true) then it returned to him (the man who called his brother Muslim a kaafir).” Muslim.
There are matters which may indeed indicate hoặc even necessitate that a person be a disbeliever (kaafir) such as defiling the Qur’aan hoặc cursing the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) regardless of what the person espouses and it is only Allah who knows the unseen. As humans we can only judge hoặc make determinations from what is outwardly evident.
Kufr (disbelief) is of two types: action (‘amaly) and belief (‘itiqaady ), some of which may be termed “kufr doona kufr” that is, a degree of kufr less than the total kufr which does not necessarily put one outside of đạo hồi although such a person’s đạo hồi may be doubtful hoặc in grave danger. This is the explanation of Qur’aan 5:44 bởi the companion Ibn Abbaas (radiallahu ‘anhu) collected bởi Ibn Jareer and quoted bởi Ibn Katheer on the authority of ‘Ataa.
1) To disavow Allah’s Lordship (Ruboobiyah) hoặc Deity and singular right to be worshipped (Uloohiyah) [Qur'aan 4:48 & 116, 5:72, 39:2-3, 51:56] hoặc the message of any of the Messengers of Allah (Tawheed) [Qur'aan 10:35, 16:36] hoặc to claim that any Messenger hoặc Prophet (Rasool hoặc Nabiy) came after the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). [Qur'aan 6:93, 6:21, 7:37, 11:18-19, 18:15, 29:68, 33:40, 39:32, 61:8]
2) To deny hoặc reject any of Allah’s Attributes hoặc Names (Asmaa was Sifaat) i.e. Living, Knowing, Hearing, Seeing, Merciful, having a face and hands (though we know not in what manner yet certainly not like His creation), hoặc to add to them that which is not mentioned in the Qur’aan hoặc authentic Sunnah. i.e. Belief that Allah is not above His creation & that He is everywhere hoặc in everything hoặc to attribute any quality that is Allah’s alone to man [Qur'aan 4:48, 6:18 & 61, 10:3, 68 - 69, 20:5, 35:10, 42:11, 72:26 - 27, Ch. 112]
3) Setting up intermediaries between oneself and Allah, making supplication to them, asking their intercession, and placing one’s trust in them. Calling upon the dead, asking them for help, hoặc offering them gifts hoặc sacrifices is all shirk. [Qur'aan 2:165 & 255, 5:72, 30:52, 39:44]. To give any of the creation that which is due to Allah alone hoặc to be pleased with being được trao worship besides Allah in any manner [Qur'aan 21:29] thus making hoặc becoming a taaghoot (pl. tawaagheet).
4) To curse, abuse the Name of Allah, to deny hoặc to revile Him hoặc any of His Messengers hoặc Prophets hoặc Angels. [Qur'aan 2:285, 4:136, 6:10, 57:19]
5) To deny, stop, hoặc reject any Fard (obligatory) duty of the Sharia (Divine Law) i.e. Salaah, Zakaah, Saum, Hajj, Kindness to parents, hoặc Jihad. [Qur'aan 4:50, 64-65, 80] hoặc to turn away from the religion bởi not learning hoặc practicing it’s precepts. [Qur'aan 32:22]
6) To deem hoặc to make permissible (halaal) what is clearly forbidden (haraam) -i.e. adultery, fornication, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, theft, murder, sorcery, magic; hoặc to make what is halaal haraam – i.e. to eat meat hoặc seafood, marry plural wives, women to veil, etc. [Qur'aan 2:102, 174-176,4:69, 6:157]
7) To deny hoặc reject any chapter, verse, hoặc letter from the Book of Allah (Al-Qur’aan) hoặc to purposely give it deviant interpretations [Qur'aan 3:7, 6:21] i.e. not derived from the Qur’aan itself, the authentic Sunnah of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) [Qur'aan 6:153, 16:64] hoặc according to established methods of tafseer. Abu Hurairah (radiallahu ‘anhu) reported that the Rasool (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “Don’t pursue that which bạn have no knowledge of”. Ahmed. [Qur'aan 4:59, 10:68-70].
To openly hiển thị disdain, scorn, contempt for, hoặc treat with levity the Deen of đạo hồi hoặc it’s tenets, obligatory injunctions hoặc it’s traditions. [Qur'aan 4:140] To ridicule and deride them hoặc to treat the Qur’aan as a piece of garbage hoặc filth hoặc to trample hoặc abuse it as an insult. [Qur'aan 4:83, 140, 6:4-5, 7:50-51, 9:63-66, 20:124, 41:26 27]
9) To disbelieve in the Resurrection, Punishment, hoặc Goodly reward on the ngày of Reckoning hoặc that punishment and reward are only abstract, symbolic hoặc spiritual. [Qur'aan , 56:1-2, 67:8-10, 69]
10) To say that the Righteous (Awliyaa’) are above the Prophets (‘alaihimus salaam) hoặc that some of the Righteous are exempt from acts of worship prescribed bởi đạo hồi according to the Sunnah of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). [Qur'aan 3:85, 8:34, 10:62-63]
11) To rule hoặc judge bởi other than that which Allah revealed. This is of different types and the ruling differs depending on the beliefs and actions. Whoever rules bởi other than what Allah has revealed viewing it hoặc believing it to be superior hoặc better than Allah’s sharia is considered a disbeliever bởi all the Muslims. Likewise, the one who substitutes the sharia with man-made laws and các lượt xem that as permissible, even if he says that to rule bởi the sharia is better, is a disbeliever because he has made halaal what Allah has made haraam. If one rules as described following whims hoặc in opposition to someone (i.e. not viewing it as equal, a substitute hoặc superior as described above) he is considered a major sinner. [2:120, 3:85, 4:115, 5:3, 44, 49, 50, 33:36, 45:18, 58:22]. [explained in detail in Fataawa Ibn Baz, Vol. 1 Rulings on 'Aqeedah, pg. 991]
12) To support hoặc aid the polytheists (mushrikoon) against the Muslims. [3:28. 118, 4:51, 5:57]
Types of Kufr:
There are many types of Al-Kufr ul Akbar:
1. Kufrul-’Inaad: Disbelief out of stubborness. This applies to someone who knows the truth and admits to knowing the truth and admits to knowing it with his tongue, but refuses to accept it and refrains from making a declaration. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Throw into Hell every stubborn disbeliever [Soorah Qaaf (50), Ayah 24]
2. Kufrul-Inkaar: Disbelief out of denial. This applies to someone who denies with both tim, trái tim and tongue. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: They recognize the favors of Allaah, yet they deny them. Most of them are disbelievers. [Soorah Nahl (16), Ayah 83]
3. Kufrul-Kibr: Disbelief out of arrogance and pride. The disbelief bởi the devils (Iblees) is an example of this type of Kufr.
4. Kufrul-Juhood: Disbelief out of rejection.This applies to someone who aknowledges the truth in his heart, but rejects it with his tongue. This types of kufr is applicable to those who calls themselves Muslims but who reject any necessary and accepted norms of đạo hồi such as Salaat and Zakat. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: They denied them (OUR SIGNS) even though their hearts believed in them , out of spite and arrogance. [Soorah Naml (27), Ayah 14]
5. Kufrul-Nifaaq: Disbelief out of hypocrisy.This applies to someone who pretends to be a believer but conceals his disbelief. Such a person is called a MUNAFIQ hoặc hypocrite. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Verily the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of Hell. bạn will find no one to help them. [Soorah An Nisaa (4), Ayah 145]
6. Kufrul-Istihaal: Disbelief out of trying to make HARAM into HALAL. This applies to someone who accepts as lawful (Halal) that which Allaah has made unlawful (Haram) like alcohol hoặc adultery.Only Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala has the prerogative to make things Halal and Haram and those who seek to interfere with His right are like rivals to Him and therefore fall outside the boundries of faith.
7. Kufrul-Kurh: Disbelief out of detesting any of Allaah’s subhanahu wa ta’ala commands. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Perdition (destruction) has been consigned to those who disbelieve and He will render their actions void. This is because they are averse to that which Allaah has revealed so He has made their actions fruitless. [Soorah Muhammed (47), Ayah 8-9]
8. Kufrul-Istihzaha: Disbelief due to mockery and derision. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Say: Was it at Allaah, His signs and His apostles that bạn were mocking? Make no excuses. bạn have disbelieved after bạn have believed. [Soorah Taubah (9), ayah 65-66]
9. Kufrul-I’raadh: Disbelief due to avoidance. This applies to those who turn away and avoid the truth. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: And who is thêm unjust than he who is reminded of his Lord’s signs but then turns away from them. Then he forgets what he has sent phía trước, chuyển tiếp (for the ngày of Judgement) [Soorah Kahf (18), Ayah 57]
10. Kufrul-Istibdaal: Disbelief because of trying to substitute Allaah’s Laws. This could take the form of:
(a) Rejection of Allaah’s law (Sharee’ah) without denying it
(b) Denial of Allaah’s law and therefore rejecting it, or
(c) Substituting Allaah’s laws with man-made laws. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: hoặc have they partners with Allaah who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not allowed. [Soorah Shuraa(42), Ayah 8] Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely (that) is lawful and this is forbidden so as to invent a lie against Allaah. Verily, those who invent a lie against Allaah will never prosper. [Soorah Nahl (16), Ayah 116]
