Dear Br. R: As-salaamu alaykum. The word Kafir has always meant non-Muslim and it is not something that was developed in our Islamic history. Kafir simply means that a person has disbelieved in God, His prophet (s), the Divine Books, the Day of Judgment, the Angels, etc.... . This is the way God has labeled non-Muslims and not the way people have. Therefore, Kafir should not be taken in a derogatory way. While there are Kafirs who are atheists or idol worshippers, there are also Kafirs who are of the People of the Book. See Surah al-Bayyina (98) and Surah al-Kafiroun (109) which explain that a Kafir can be of all of the previous categories. Thank you for asking and God knows best. (Source: IslamiCity)
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BROTHER IMAM, IN REPONSE TO YOUR ANSWER GIVEN TO QUESTION #855, I THINK THE ANSWER I WAS LOOKING FOR WAS ONE THAT CONTAINED QURANIC AND OR HADITH REFERENCES AS CALLING NON-MUSLIMS KAFIR . ...
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Question 1491
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BROTHER IMAM, IN REPONSE TO YOUR ANSWER GIVEN TO QUESTION #855, I THINK THE ANSWER I WAS LOOKING FOR WAS ONE THAT CONTAINED QURANIC AND OR HADITH REFERENCES AS CALLING NON-MUSLIMS KAFIR . IT SEEMS TO ME THAT TO BE A KAFIR ONE WOULD HAVE TO REJECT SOME- THING. IN THE CASE OF THE NON-MUSLIMS DURING THE TIME OF THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH (SAWS)THESE PEOPLE WERE CALLED KAFIR AFTER THEY REJECTED HIS MESSAGE.THIS I BELEIVE IS EVIDENCED BY THE SURA, AL-KAFIROON.THROUGHOUT THE GLORIOUS QURAN THE NON MUSLIMS ARE ADDRESSED WITH RESPECT TO THEIR VARIOUS COMMUNITIES, I.E., BANI ISRAEL,AHLUL KITAB, ETC. IF THIS IS NOT TRUE THEN I WILL STAND TO BE CORRECTED. THE NON- MUSLIMS OF OUR TIME PERIOD SHOULD NOT IN MY ESTIMATION BE LABEL- LED KAFIR, UNLESS WE DO THE DAWAH AND THEY REJECT OUR MESSAGE. THE TERM KAFIR IS BEING USED TODAY BY MANY MUSLIMS LIKE SOME KING OF RACIST TERM TO APPLY TO PE0PLE OUTSIDE OF OUR BELIEF SYSTEM AND IS SERVING AS A BARRIER TO CIVILIZED HUMAN EXCHANGE. THIS WAS CERTAINLY NOT THE WAY OF OUR BELOVED PROPHET MUHAMMAD. WE MAY NEED TO REVISIT THE HISTORICAL BIAS WE HAVE INHERITED FROM OUR MUSLIM ANCESTORS TO VERIFY WHAT IS OR IS NOT APPRO- PRIATE FOR US IN THIS DAY AND TIME. AND ALLAH KNOWS BEST.
Dear Br. RA, As Salaam Alaykum. Thank you for your comment. We need to inform people about Islam in an appealing manner. For more information about the term Kafir please see Surah 2 verse 39 and Sura 5 verse 72-73. May Allah help us in establishing truth and justice. Thank you for asking. (Source: IslamiCity)
