As'Salamu Alaikum,
Sometimes we believers do commit kufr. Here are the notes which explain us the term kufr, its characteristics ---- Hope we shall all learn from it.
Kufr and its characteristics:
For the Believers there are certain essential beliefs and practices, the source of which have been established with absolute certainty (Tawaatur ) the certainty of such beliefs and practices is of such an absolute degree that there does not admit the slightest doubt. These beliefs and practices are called Dhurooriyaati Deen. Belief in all of them is Fardh (Obligatory), denial of any of them amounts to Kufr (Rejection) even if is a Mustahaab act such as using Miswaak. Although Miswaak is a Sunnah and not Fardh, to deny that is part of Deen, that is, deny the Sunnah is Kufr.
The Dhurooriyaati Deen (Essentials of the Deen consist of Ahkaam (Laws and rules) covering all aspects of life and all categories. What is Fard (Obligatory) what is Waajib (Absolutely necessary) Haraam (What is unlawful), Halaal (What is Lawful) Mubah (That which is merely permissible to do), Mustahaab (that which is praiseworthy but not mandatory to do) etc. About the Essentials of the Deen we should understand that:
1. It is Fardh to believe in every belief and practice that constitutes an Essential of the Deen even if such practices are Sunnah, Mustahaab, and Nafl etc.
2. Denial of any of the essentials of Deen. practices or beliefs is Kufr.
3. Neglecting or discarding any Fardh, Waajib or Sunnatul Muakkada is not Kufr if one still believes them to be correct and accepts them as essential. This person becomes a Fasiq (One who knowingly transgresses the Limits Allahu ta �ala has placed upon Mankind or neglects the Ibaadah). Such a person, though not a Kaafir, may be punished by Allahu ta ala for his transgressions if he doesn�t repent before dying.
4. Omission of a Mustahaab act is not sinful provided one believes it to be Mustahaab.
The Four Types of Kufr
There are basically four kinds of Kufr and anyone guilty of any of these types of kufr is described as a Kaafir in terms of Shari�ah. They are:
1. Kufr Jahl
2. Kufr Juhood
3. Kufr Shakk
4. Kufr Ta�weel.
Kufr Jahl:
Kufr Jahl means kufr occasioned by Ignorance. Islam or the true teachings of Islam are denied on the basis of Ignorance. The rejecter believes that Islam is false. This was the type of kufr of Abu Jahl and his compatriots.
Evidence: Suratul Maida 107
And when it is said to them: Come to what has been sent down from Allah to the Rasul. they say: Enough for us is the ways of our fathers. What! Even though their fathers were totally devoid of knowledge and guidance?
Kufr Juhood:
Kufr Juhood means deliberate kufr. The denial of Islam or its teachings done deliberately in spite of realizing its truth. This is the type of kufr of Ahli Kitaab (Jews and Christians) and Shaytaan may Allahu ta ala curse him. About this type of kufr we find a clear description in Holy Quran Suratul Baqara 89 ayah wherein Allahu ta ala says:
�And when a Book came to them from Allah, confirming what was with them, and they previously prayed for help to overcome the unbelievers, when what they recognized came to them, they disbelieved in it (Became Kuffar); and the Curse of Allah is on the Kafireen.
Al Imaam Tabari Rahmatullah alaihi reports in his Tafsir �Jami� al bayaan �an Ta�weel ay Al Quran� that Hazrat Ibn Abbas Rathiallahu anhu says about this ayat (whose source is Rasulullah Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim):
The Jews used to pray for the help of Muhammad Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim, before he was sent, to overcome the Aus and Khazraj. But when Allahu ta ala sent him from among the Arabs. they disbelieved in him and disclaimed what they had been saying about him. Then Hazrat Mu�adh bin Jabal and Bishr ibn al Baraa lbn Marur Rathiallahu ta �ala anhum ajmain, one of Banu Salma (Tribe) said to them: �0 community of Jews, fear Allah and embrace Islam. You used to pray for Muhammad�s (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) help to overcome us when we were polytheists and tell us that he would be sent, and you described him to us.� Then Salaam ibn Mishkam, one of the Banu An Nadeer. (one of the Jews) said: �He brought us nothing we recognize and he is not the one we used to mention to you.� So Allah sent down about what they said. �And when a book came to them from Allah, confirming what was with them, and they previously prayed for help to overcome the unbelievers, when what they recognized came to them, the disbelieved (Committed Kufr) in it; and the Curse of Allah is on the Kafireen.
About the Kufr of the Christians, their kufr is deliberate as they are mentioned in Suratul A�raaf ayah 157 wherein Allahu ta ala says:
�Those who follow the Rasulun Nabiyy the Ummi who they find mentioned in their Books, the Taurah and Injeel: For he Commands to what is Correct and Prohibits corruption ( evil ); he allows them what is Halaal and Tayyib and prohibits them the Khabaaith the bad and impure ); he releases them from the yoke that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him (Rasulullah Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim) and honour him and help him and follow the noor sent down with him, they are the Muflihoon (Successful).
Kufr Shakk:
Kufr Shakk is kufr occasioned by doubting the truthfulness of Islam and because of their doubts they reject Islam and thereby are Kuffar considered Kuffar. About this group of Kuffar Allahu ta ala says In Suratul Baqara ayah 23:
And if you are in doubt (Rayb) with what we have sent down to our Servant, then produce a Surah similar to it, and call your witnesses apart from Allah, if you are sadiqeen. (truthful in speech)
In the Tafsir of Al Imam Tabari we read:
�if you o polytheist Arabs. and the unbelievers among the people of the scripture are in doubt about the light, the clear demonstration, and the verses of Furqaan which We have sent down to Our Servant Muhammad (Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim). that it is from Me, that It is I who have sent it down to him, them produce a proof that will refute his proof. For you know that everyone who has Prophethood proves the truth of his claim to it by producing a demonstration, the like of which no creature is able to produce.�
In the very next ayah Allahu ta �ala tells the doubters that they 9 will not be able to produce a Surah the like of which they doubted had come down to Rasulullah Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim from Allahu ta ala. Their inability to produce a Surah even with all their helpers manifest the truth of the Holy Last Nabi Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim. Allahu ta �ala further announces the punishment to face them by saying:
And if you do not, and you never will, then fear the fire whose fuel is men and stone, prepared for the Kafireen.
Kufr Ta�weel:
Kufr Ta�weel is kufr by way of interpretation. The kufr is not done through outright rejection of Islamic principles or beliefs, it is done by distorting or giving a meaning other than that which the established meaning giving to it by Rasulullah Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim. Qur�anic ayaah and Ahadith are given meanings which conflict with the true and original meaning as explained by Rasulullah Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim. For this reason we are not allowed to give out our own opinion or understanding of Ayaah of Holy Qur�an and Hadith. By means of Ta�weel, many who were born Muslim or who have converted to Islam have become Kuffar. In Mishkaat Shareef we read:
Ibn Abbas Rathiallahu anhu reported that Rasulullah Sall Allahu alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim said: Whoever interprets the Qur�an according to his opinion (Ra�yah)? let him seek his abode in the fire.� (Tirmidhi)
Further Allahu ta �ala says about Kufr Ta�weel, Suratul Ali �Imraan 7 ayaah;
He is the One who sent down to you the book. In it are ayaah muhkamaatun (With a clear established meaning), they are Ummul Kitaab (mother of the book), and others are allegorical (mutashaabihah). But those who have perverted hearts follow the allegorical seeking to cause fitna and seeking it�s hidden meaning Ta�weel ) and none knows the Ta�weel except Allah. And those who are really knowledgeable say: �We believe in it. all of it is from our Rabb; and none mind except men of understanding.
Further proof of the incorrectness of Ta�weel of Quran based upon 10 personal opinion (Ta�weel Bir Ray) is the well known ahadith in the Sahih of Imaam Muslim �Kitaab ul �Ilm wherein Hazrat Ummmahaatul Mu�mineen Hazrat Aisha Siddiqah Rathiallahu anha reported that Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi we sallim recited the above mentioned ayaah and commenting on it said that when you see those who go by the figurative (mutashaabihah) know that they have gone astray and avoid them.
Edited by seekshidayath