WHAT IS KUFR?????

 According to Seeks, any one who does not believe that Miswaak is essential is also a Kaafir. If this principle is followed then we will have many kaafirs around us, almost all the Ummah will be some kind of kaafir.

My dear brother, I hope you agree that Kufr means disbelief. Lets continue with the same example of Miswaak. Suppose if a muslim, knows that it is sunnah to use Miswak, but does not practice it because of some reasons like carelessness etc, then it is not Kufr, but weakness of faith. But if he rejects this sunnah, saying that why shud i practice it ---or deny it -- etc then it is Kufr. Hope you did understand this concept. One who rejects Quran and sunnah, and disbelieves it then he is also commiting kufr, though he shall still be under the folds of Islam. Such muslims are either called faasiq or faajir.

 I have examined the verse 3:85. There is nothing about Kufr there and no word of Kufr is there. That verse only states that if any one will present (or adopt) any religion other than Islam, it will not be acceptable to Allah

 Its just below this verse {85}, refer verse 86

 "How shall Allah guide a people who disbelieved after their belief and after they bore witness that the Messenger is true and after clear proofs came to them And Allah guides not the people who are wrongdoers" - These type of people are kaafir.

That is, willing disregard of Islam and disbelief and opposition to Islam to up root it, That is Kufr.

That is also a type a kufr. Not the only Kufr. As explained in the notes above, even we muslims commit kufr. Did you notice that brother.

 Also, please try to remember the time of the prophet s.a.w.s. in Makkah and  Madinah. There were believers (Momineen) and dis-believers (non-Momineen) and Mushrikeen and Munkireen and kaafireen and people of the books. There were many Mushrikeen, nearly all of them. But not all of them were Kaafir.

There was a person of Makkah who fully armed in company with his sons, came to the help of the prophet s.a.w.s. when the prophet was returning from his mission to Taif (hill station 86 Km from Makkah). He wanted to enter his city (Makkah) and needed help and support (cover) to enter. The prophet sent a message to that good man for permission and support to enter the city of Makkah in peace. That person (I forget the name) responded to the call of the prophet s.a.w.s. He was not a believer (Momin). Would you say that he was a kaafir? Also, would you say that the prophet s.a.w.s. would ask help from a kaafir??

 Also, about the christian king of Ethopia, north Afrika. He was not a Momin. He had never heard about Islam. He helped the oppressed migrant Muslims of Makkah. When the lords of Makkah went to Ethopia to claim the custody of those migrants, the non-momin king did not allow to give up those Muslim refugees. He had not believed in Muhammad s.a.w.s. According to you that king must have been a kaafir (at least at that time). Please try to understand that a Kaafir is a non-believer, a strict non-believer, rather an enemy of the believers.

 That is what I read and see in the Quran. I do not suggest the other friends to agree to me. They can believe what they like. I will also come over to their side when i am convinced that every one disagreeing slightly with the religion is a kaafir. Good-Bye, but keep trying to help me about who is really a kaafir.

2:62 VERILY, those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Christians, and the Sabians <>Asad(2,49)^[49] -all who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds-shall have their reward with their Sustainer; and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve. <>Asad(2,50)^[50]

Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Believers:on them is no fear nor shall they grieve] [Believers:rewarded] [Christians:believers rewarded] [Fear ( none for the Righteous ):or for Believers] [Jews:among them some believe] [People of the Book:among them are those who believe] [Sabians]

Inna allatheena amanoo waallatheena hadoo waalnnasara waalssabieena man amana biAllahi waalyawmi alakhiri waAAamila salihan falahum ajruhum AAinda rabbihim wala khawfun AAalayhim wala hum yahzanoona

 Let us say, I am living in Germany or India.

{ Brother we assume you to be in Germany, Aap wahi'n teek ho  }

 MY next door neighbor is a christian or a Hindu. Surely, he is non-believer (non-momin). He is a good neighbor. His relations with me are excellent. So is his general morale. He has never uttered the Kalimah Shahadah.

But he is not my enemy and I do not see him active against my religion i.e. Islam. He is busy with his own daily affairs and practices his own religious rituals. He is otherwise a completely peaceful person.

I ask you "Is he a Kaafir?" and should I deal with him as with a kaafir? Please help.

Brother, at first we need to make it clear in our minds that Kaafir is n't a term of abuse. Why do we picture that they are our enemies or we are there enemies.  Does Islam not teach us to be good to even non-muslims. Even if your neighbour is bad to you, be good to him. There are many incidents during Prophet Muhammad {sallal lahu alaihi wasallam} which teach us to be good  and kind to them. Quran also conveys the same message. We are  n't to hate them.

Answering to your question , "Is he a Kaafir". Yes , he is. Am sure , he must have heard of  our Prophet { Whole world knows this personality now}. Does he not dis-believe. If suppose an American works  in an Arab country, but still is he  not stated as " a non-Arab". Do they call him Arab ? No ! Similarly, kafir is n't term of  any sort of abuse, but used for disbelievers. Hope you understood.

 You shud deal with him kindly and honestly. If you really care of him so much, try to convey the teachings of Islam with Hikmah. When we try  our best to be a practicing muslim by following Quran and SUNNAH, he himself shall start up. For instance, if you start up by practicing sunnah of  beard, his impression that bearded men are wrong or terrorist shall wipe out, because you are kind to him and good to him as before. He shall them slowly ask  you questions pertaining to Islam. You can then explain him and deal with  hikmah. 

It does n't mean when he is a kafir, that we do not share our foods with them, or hate them. Just move on and be mindful of Islam too.