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, toi cannot do justice to Tawheed. Kufr is used in the Glorious Qur’an for people who cover up ou hide the truth. It also uses this word to point out those who denied the favors of Allah par not accepting his Dominion and Authority. Therefore Kufr is the opposite of Imaan ou Disbelief in Allah and a Non-Believer is called Kaafir.
A person can be categorized as Kaafir ou Murtadd (meaning apostate) if the following twelve beliefs ou 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 toi thinking that toi are a Muslim, yet in reality toi 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) ou Murtadd (Apostate). Leave this job to the scholars of Islam. But when toi feel the need of letting people know about the person’s kufr, toi 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) a dit “Any person who called his brother ‘O Unbeliever’ (has in fact done an act par 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 ou even necessitate that a person be a disbeliever (kaafir) such as defiling the Qur’aan ou 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 ou 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 islam although such a person’s islam may be doubtful ou in grave danger. This is the explanation of Qur’aan 5:44 par the companion Ibn Abbaas (radiallahu ‘anhu) collected par Ibn Jareer and quoted par Ibn Katheer on the authority of ‘Ataa.
1) To disavow Allah’s Lordship (Ruboobiyah) ou Deity and singular right to be worshipped (Uloohiyah) [Qur'aan 4:48 & 116, 5:72, 39:2-3, 51:56] ou the message of any of the Messengers of Allah (Tawheed) [Qur'aan 10:35, 16:36] ou to claim that any Messenger ou Prophet (Rasool ou 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 ou reject any of Allah’s Attributes ou 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), ou to add to them that which is not mentioned in the Qur’aan ou authentic Sunnah. i.e. Belief that Allah is not above His creation & that He is everywhere ou in everything ou 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, ou offering them gifts ou 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 ou to be pleased with being donné worship besides Allah in any manner [Qur'aan 21:29] thus making ou becoming a taaghoot (pl. tawaagheet).
4) To curse, abuse the Name of Allah, to deny ou to revile Him ou any of His Messengers ou Prophets ou Angels. [Qur'aan 2:285, 4:136, 6:10, 57:19]
5) To deny, stop, ou reject any Fard (obligatory) duty of the Sharia (Divine Law) i.e. Salaah, Zakaah, Saum, Hajj, Kindness to parents, ou Jihad. [Qur'aan 4:50, 64-65, 80] ou to turn away from the religion par not learning ou practicing it’s precepts. [Qur'aan 32:22]
6) To deem ou to make permissible (halaal) what is clearly forbidden (haraam) -i.e. adultery, fornication, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, theft, murder, sorcery, magic; ou to make what is halaal haraam – i.e. to eat meat ou seafood, marry plural wives, women to veil, etc. [Qur'aan 2:102, 174-176,4:69, 6:157]
7) To deny ou reject any chapter, verse, ou letter from the Book of Allah (Al-Qur’aan) ou 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] ou according to established methods of tafseer. Abu Hurairah (radiallahu ‘anhu) reported that the Rasool (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “Don’t pursue that which toi have no knowledge of”. Ahmed. [Qur'aan 4:59, 10:68-70].
To openly montrer disdain, scorn, contempt for, ou treat with levity the Deen of islam ou it’s tenets, obligatory injunctions ou it’s traditions. [Qur'aan 4:140] To ridicule and deride them ou to treat the Qur’aan as a piece of garbage ou filth ou to trample ou 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, ou Goodly reward on the jour of Reckoning ou that punishment and reward are only abstract, symbolic ou spiritual. [Qur'aan , 56:1-2, 67:8-10, 69]
10) To say that the Righteous (Awliyaa’) are above the Prophets (‘alaihimus salaam) ou that some of the Righteous are exempt from acts of worship prescribed par islam according to the Sunnah of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). [Qur'aan 3:85, 8:34, 10:62-63]
11) To rule ou judge par other than that which Allah revealed. This is of different types and the ruling differs depending on the beliefs and actions. Whoever rules par other than what Allah has revealed viewing it ou believing it to be superior ou better than Allah’s sharia is considered a disbeliever par all the Muslims. Likewise, the one who substitutes the sharia with man-made laws and vues that as permissible, even if he says that to rule par the sharia is better, is a disbeliever because he has made halaal what Allah has made haraam. If one rules as described following whims ou in opposition to someone (i.e. not viewing it as equal, a substitute ou 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 ou 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 cœur, coeur 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 par 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 islam 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 ou hypocrite. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Verily the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of Hell. toi 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 ou 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 toi were mocking? Make no excuses. toi have disbelieved after toi 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 plus unjust than he who is reminded of his Lord’s signs but then turns away from them. Then he forgets what he has sent vers l'avant, vers l’avant (for the jour 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: ou 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, toi cannot do justice to Tawheed. Kufr is used in the Glorious Qur’an for people who cover up ou hide the truth. It also uses this word to point out those who denied the favors of Allah par not accepting his Dominion and Authority. Therefore Kufr is the opposite of Imaan ou Disbelief in Allah and a Non-Believer is called Kaafir.
A person can be categorized as Kaafir ou Murtadd (meaning apostate) if the following twelve beliefs ou 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 toi thinking that toi are a Muslim, yet in reality toi 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) ou Murtadd (Apostate). Leave this job to the scholars of Islam. But when toi feel the need of letting people know about the person’s kufr, toi 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) a dit “Any person who called his brother ‘O Unbeliever’ (has in fact done an act par 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 ou even necessitate that a person be a disbeliever (kaafir) such as defiling the Qur’aan ou 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 ou 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 islam although such a person’s islam may be doubtful ou in grave danger. This is the explanation of Qur’aan 5:44 par the companion Ibn Abbaas (radiallahu ‘anhu) collected par Ibn Jareer and quoted par Ibn Katheer on the authority of ‘Ataa.
1) To disavow Allah’s Lordship (Ruboobiyah) ou Deity and singular right to be worshipped (Uloohiyah) [Qur'aan 4:48 & 116, 5:72, 39:2-3, 51:56] ou the message of any of the Messengers of Allah (Tawheed) [Qur'aan 10:35, 16:36] ou to claim that any Messenger ou Prophet (Rasool ou 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 ou reject any of Allah’s Attributes ou 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), ou to add to them that which is not mentioned in the Qur’aan ou authentic Sunnah. i.e. Belief that Allah is not above His creation & that He is everywhere ou in everything ou 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, ou offering them gifts ou 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 ou to be pleased with being donné worship besides Allah in any manner [Qur'aan 21:29] thus making ou becoming a taaghoot (pl. tawaagheet).
4) To curse, abuse the Name of Allah, to deny ou to revile Him ou any of His Messengers ou Prophets ou Angels. [Qur'aan 2:285, 4:136, 6:10, 57:19]
5) To deny, stop, ou reject any Fard (obligatory) duty of the Sharia (Divine Law) i.e. Salaah, Zakaah, Saum, Hajj, Kindness to parents, ou Jihad. [Qur'aan 4:50, 64-65, 80] ou to turn away from the religion par not learning ou practicing it’s precepts. [Qur'aan 32:22]
6) To deem ou to make permissible (halaal) what is clearly forbidden (haraam) -i.e. adultery, fornication, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, theft, murder, sorcery, magic; ou to make what is halaal haraam – i.e. to eat meat ou seafood, marry plural wives, women to veil, etc. [Qur'aan 2:102, 174-176,4:69, 6:157]
7) To deny ou reject any chapter, verse, ou letter from the Book of Allah (Al-Qur’aan) ou 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] ou according to established methods of tafseer. Abu Hurairah (radiallahu ‘anhu) reported that the Rasool (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “Don’t pursue that which toi have no knowledge of”. Ahmed. [Qur'aan 4:59, 10:68-70].
To openly montrer disdain, scorn, contempt for, ou treat with levity the Deen of islam ou it’s tenets, obligatory injunctions ou it’s traditions. [Qur'aan 4:140] To ridicule and deride them ou to treat the Qur’aan as a piece of garbage ou filth ou to trample ou 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, ou Goodly reward on the jour of Reckoning ou that punishment and reward are only abstract, symbolic ou spiritual. [Qur'aan , 56:1-2, 67:8-10, 69]
10) To say that the Righteous (Awliyaa’) are above the Prophets (‘alaihimus salaam) ou that some of the Righteous are exempt from acts of worship prescribed par islam according to the Sunnah of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). [Qur'aan 3:85, 8:34, 10:62-63]
11) To rule ou judge par other than that which Allah revealed. This is of different types and the ruling differs depending on the beliefs and actions. Whoever rules par other than what Allah has revealed viewing it ou believing it to be superior ou better than Allah’s sharia is considered a disbeliever par all the Muslims. Likewise, the one who substitutes the sharia with man-made laws and vues that as permissible, even if he says that to rule par the sharia is better, is a disbeliever because he has made halaal what Allah has made haraam. If one rules as described following whims ou in opposition to someone (i.e. not viewing it as equal, a substitute ou 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 ou 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 cœur, coeur 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 par 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 islam 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 ou hypocrite. Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Verily the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of Hell. toi 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 ou 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 toi were mocking? Make no excuses. toi have disbelieved after toi 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 plus unjust than he who is reminded of his Lord’s signs but then turns away from them. Then he forgets what he has sent vers l'avant, vers l’avant (for the jour 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: ou 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]
