Traditionalists and Islamists hold two false beliefs that partly fuel the growing extremism and Islamophobia: 1. Kafir means non-Muslim/disbeliever. 2. The Prophet was fighting battles against the disbelievers to end disbelief – therefore it is every Muslim’s duty to wage holy war until there is no more disbelief.
Both these are serious misconceptions that have no support in the Quran whatsoever.
The Quran promotes religious pluralism and never describes any disbeliever as kafir. Nor did the Prophet or early Muslims have such an understanding which is why they were tolerant of all religious faiths.
Often mistranslated as disbelievers/non-believers, the multi-meaning word ‘kafir’ derives from the root kfr or K-F-R, which essentially means “to cover or reject” (note ‘kufar’’s similarity with ‘cover’).
The word ‘kafir’ in its Quranic usage has three basic meanings:
● ‘Kafir’ is one who knows the truth, but COVERS it up or rejects it out of arrogance and for some selfish gain (Say: O you who knowingly reject the truth, 109:1; cf. 2:6, 2:19, 5:44).1 A parabolic example in this regard is Iblis2, who did not engage in disbelieving in God, but became a kafir/rejecter (2:34) by knowingly denying His command (18:50). A similar example is Pharaoh2, who knew the truth but covered it up because of arrogance (10:90). The word ‘kafir’ is also used for certain Jewish people2 who knew the actual teaching of Torah but concealed it for selfish reasons (5:44). Kafir, in this specific sense, is a stubborn, high-handed oppressor whose arrogance makes him an ingrate rebel against his Sustainer. This makes him deny the permanent values of life including human rights. He is in war with the good people and fights for evil causes and spreads mischief and disorder. The Prophet was therefore fighting the Kafir who were the religious persecutors, to end religious persecution. He was not fighting any disbeliever to end disbelief.
● ‘Kafir’ is one who is unthankful, ungrateful or unappreciative, e.g. one who associates something or someone with God, due to their lack of appreciation of God as their only Sustainer. An example is the case of certain Trinitarian Christians (“Ingrates indeed are those who say: “God is a trinity!” There is no god except One god. 5:73”). When we fail to appreciate our Sustainer’s provisions and blessings to us, we are ingrates (kafir) in His eyes.
● ‘Kafir’ is one who just covers or rejects something, though in a positive sense. The word occurs in these instances with good connotations, such as a rejecter of falsehood or a coverer of faults. For example, Devil’s rejection (kufr)3 of the way people associate him with God is a positive rejection (14:22). Abraham’s followers were kafirs3 or rejecters in the sense that they rejected all incorrect doctrines (60:4). Likewise, God Himself is Kafir when He covers (kaffir)3 our faults (3:193). Even farmers are kafirs3 as they cover the seeds with soil while planting (57:20).
In brief – except in the last category of verses above where kufr implies covering or rejection in a positive sense (3:193,14:22, 57:20, 60:4) – the word kafir in its Quranic usage means either an arrogant, stubborn transgressor who knowingly hides the truth for some selfish gain or a person who is unappreciative of God’s blessings. Thus the word contains no reference to any traditional connotation, including religion, community or race, and therefore is very different from its popular understanding. Kafir doesn’t mean disbeliever4, let alone non-Muslim.
Now, on one hand, most of today’s non-Muslims do not fall in the theological definition of ‘kafir’ as they cannot be blamed5 for ‘covering up’ the truth. On the other hand, most of the people on Earth, including Muslims, could somehow generally fall in the other definition of ‘kafir’ as they are often unappreciative of divine blessings and therefore, knowingly or unknowingly, they often associate something or someone with God.
Furthermore, as noted, the Quran also describes Abraham’s followers, i.e., Muslims, as kafirs or rejecters (60:4). Though in the sense that they rejected all incorrect doctrines.
Since the word ‘kafir’ has been misinterpreted and misused by many in the past, it sent some confusing and hate messages and thereby affected the true image of Islam throughout the centuries. We find this traditional usage of the word as divisive and so against the Unitarian spirit of the Quran. This is enough reason that one should NEVER call any fellow human being a ‘kafir’, irrespective of his/her religion or community or other station in life.
Most certainly we must love all people as equal in humanity and make everyone an invaluable part of our life, without degrading anyone into ‘non-Muslim’ or ’non-believer’ – since Muslims and non-Muslims and believers and non-believers are labels only. It is impossible to imagine that an all-wise, infinitely just God would descend so low to judge small humans on the basis of these small labels.
Unconditional love and compassion for all is just one of those minimum requirements of humanity that make us humans. We should leave the rest to God the ultimate Judge, since it is only He who knows what is truly in the heart of each person.
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Note 1
Right at the beginning of the Quran, in sura 2, we have been clearly explained what a kafir is. Then the related derivatives of the root kfr (K-F-R) constantly recur throughout the sura for further clarification. As for those who reject (or, do not appreciate), whether you warn them or do not warn them, they will not acknowledge. 2:6/ … Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return. 2:18/ Or like a violent cloudburst from the sky, with utter darkness, thunder and lightning: they place their fingers in their ears from the thunder-claps for fear of death; but God is aware of the rejecters/ingrates (kafireen). 2:19. The true intention of the above allusion is clarified by the surrounding context of these verses: • The Quran is defined here as a reveration to the righteous who acknowledge the unseen, while acknowledging the current and the previous revelations. • As for those who know the truth but conceal it maliciously are referred to as stubborn rejecters (kafirs) – they will not accept the truth whether they are warned or not. • Their hearts and ears are sealed, and they are blind. When they proclaim to accept God and the last day, they actually lie. • They claim to be good but they in effect spread corruption. When they meet those who acknowledge the truth they lie saying they do too.
Note 2
Referring to Iblis’s refusal to obey God’s command to comply with Adam (18:50), the Quran states: And when We said to the controllers: Comply with Adam, they all complied except Iblis, he refused and became arrogant, and became one of the rejecters (kafireen). 2:34. However, since Iblis knew there is One God without associates, he did not engage in disbelief, but in becoming a kafir he knowingly engaged in rejection/denial of God’s command (“he disobeyed in respect of his Sustainers command. 18:50”). A similar example is Pharaoh, who knew the truth (note the word ‘acknowledged’) but covered it up because of his arrogance: When overtook him the drowning, he said: I acknowledged that there is no god but He Whom acknowledge the Children of Israel and I am among ones who submit to God. 10:90. The word ‘kafir’ is also used for certain Jewish people who knew the actual teaching of Torah but covered it up for selfish reasons: We have sent down the Torah, in it is a guidance and a light; the prophets who have submitted judged with it for those who are Jewish, and the Devotees, and the Priests, for what they were entrusted of the Book of God, and they were witness over. So do not be concerned with the people but be concerned with Me; and do not purchase with My revelations a cheap price. And whoever does not judge with what God has sent down, then these are the rejecters (kafiroon). 5:44
Note 3
In pre-Islamic days ‘kafir’ described farmers covering the seeds with soil while planting: Know that this worldly life is but a play and a passing delight, and boasting among you, and an increase in wealth and children. Its parable is that of rain, whereof the herbage delights the tillers/planters (kuffar); but then it withers, and you see it turn yellow; then it becomes debris. … 57:20. Also, in the Quran, there are instances where the word kufr (rejection, cover) occurs in a positive sense. For example, Devil’s rejection (kufr) of the way people associate him with God is a positive rejection: And I (Devil) had no power over you (humans) except that I invited you and you responded to me. So do not blame me, but blame yourselves; I cannot help you nor can you help me. I reject (kafar) the way you have set me up as a partner before this. 14:22. Abraham’s followers were kafirs or rejecters in the sense that they rejected all incorrect doctrines: There has been a good example set for you by Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: “We are innocent from you and what you serve besides God. We have rejected (kafarna) you; and between us and you there has arisen animosity and hatred until you acknowledge God alone. …” 60:4. Likewise, God Himself becomes Kafir when He covers (kaffir) our faults: “Our Sustainer! Protect us from our transgressions, cover (kaffir) our faults, and take us along with the righteous.” 3:193
Note 4
Question: What about 98:6, which says that the disbelievers and the polytheists are the worst of creatures and will go to hell? Answer: 98:6 doesn’t condemn the ‘disbelievers of traditional Islam’ or all polytheists. Rather it condemns ONLY “those who KAFAROO (deliberately reject islam/peace-seeking) among the people of the book and the associators”. We read the verse in its context: And they were commanded no more than to serve God, being sincere to Him in the system, upright, and to establish the communication, and contribute towards betterment. And that is the right system./ Those who kafaroo (deliberately rejected the truth), from the people of the book and the associators, are in the hellfire abiding therein, they are the worst of creatures./ As for those who acknowledge and do good works, they are the best of creatures. 98:5-7. So, those who are peace-breakers, i.e., who deliberately reject the path of peace-seeking, are ‘the worst of creatures’ and are dwelling in fire (inferno of war, violence, lack of peace; 3:103, 4:10, 5:64, 2:221; note: Those invite to the Inferno, when God invites to the Garden. 2:221). Here the condemnation of kufar is not about personal glorification of God but about following the straight path of social reform, peace and justice (note “contribute towards betterment” and “do good works”). The terms kufar, islam and nar have very specific meanings in the Quran, as we noted in the related studies.
Note 5
Question: Why does the Quran condemn those who didn’t believe its divine origin and therefore argued that the messenger was only a human and a madman? No sane person will knowingly hide the truth of the Quran if they know it with certainty while knowing that a rejection would lead to hell. Answer: The problem is, many people often know the truth in their deep inside, yet, instead of focusing on it, they remain oblivious of it because of arrogance and extreme materialistic desire. On the other hand, like today, many people during the time of the Prophet also didn’t believe the Quran’s source as divine, simply because they didn’t have enough knowledge or evidence for that. The Quran doesn’t seem to denounce this category of people: “This is because they are a people who do not know. 9:6”. So when it mentions some people arguing against the messenger, it basically refers to only those who were continuously active in their enmity against Islam.
Lamp of Islam 