Friday 29 April 2011

Kufr and its various kinds

Kufr and its various kinds
I read in Question no. 12811 that there are various kinds of major kufr that puts one beyond the pale of Islam. I hope that you could explain that and give some examples of it.


 

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

The reality of kufr and its various kinds is a lengthy topic,
but we may sum it up in the following points: 

1 – The importance of knowing what kufr is and the forms
it may take:

The texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah indicate that faith is
not valid and is not accepted unless two conditions are met – which are what
are implied by the testimony that there is no god except Allaah. These two
conditions are submission to Allaah alone (Tawheed), and denouncing and
shunning all kinds of kufr and shirk. 

A person cannot denounce or shun anything unless he knows
what it is. From this we understand the importance of knowing what Tawheed
is, so that we may act accordingly and attain Tawheed, and knowing what kufr
and shirk is so that we may avoid them and steer clear of them. 

2 – Definition of kufr: 

Kufr in Arabic means covering and concealing something. 

In shar’i terminology it means “not believing in Allaah and
His Messenger, whether that is accompanied by denial or it is not
accompanied by denial but rather doubt, or turning away from faith out of
jealousy or arrogance, or because one is following whims and desires that
prevent one from following the message. So kufr is the attribute of everyone
who rejects something that Allaah has commanded us to believe in, after news
of that has reached him, whether he rejects it in his heart without uttering
it, or he speaks those words of rejection without believing it in his heart,
or he does both; or he does an action which is described in the texts as
putting one beyond the pale of faith.” See Majmoo’ al-Fataawa by
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, 12/335; al-Ihkaam fi Usool al-Ahkaam by
Ibn Hazam, 1/45. 

Ibn Hazam said in his book al-Fasl: “Rejecting
something for which there is sound proof that there can be no faith without
believing in it is kufr, and uttering words for which there is proof that
uttering them is kufr is kufr. Doing any action for which there is proof
that it is kufr is also kufr.” 

3 – Kinds of major kufr which put one beyond the pale of
Islam 

The scholars divided kufr into a number of categories, under
which they listed many forms and kinds of shirk. These are as follows: 

-1- The kufr of denial and rejection. This kufr may sometimes
take the form of disbelief in the heart – which occurs rarely among the
kuffaar, as Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said – and
sometimes it takes the form of outward or apparent rejection, which means
concealing the truth and not submitting to it outwardly, whilst recognizing
it and knowing it inwardly, such as the Jews’ rejection of Muhammad
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Allaah says of them
(interpretation of the meaning): 

“then when there came to them that which they had
recognised, they disbelieved in it”[al-Baqarah 2:89] 

He also said (interpretation of the meaning]: 

“then when there came to them that which they had
recognised, they disbelieved in it”

[al-Baqarah 2:146] 

That is because rejection only happens which a person knows
the truth and refuses it. Hence Allaah stated that the kuffaar’s disbelief
in the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was not
disbelief in the true sense of the word, because their disbelief was only
outward and verbal, and inwardly they recognized the truth. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“it is not you that they deny, but it is the Verses (the
Qur’aan) of Allaah that the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) deny”

[al-An’aam 6:33] 

“And they belied them (those Ayaat) wrongfully and
arrogantly, though their ownselves were convinced thereof”

[al-Naml 27:14] 

Similar to this is the kufr of permitting that which is
forbidden. Whoever regards as permissible something which he knows that
Islam has forbidden has disbelieved in the Messenger (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) and in that which he brought. The same
applies to one who forbids something which he knows that Islam has
permitted. 

-2- The kufr of turning away in arrogance, such as the kufr
of Iblees of whom Allaah said: 

“… except Iblees (Satan), he refused and was proud and was
one of the disbelievers (disobedient to Allaah)”

[al-Baqarah 2:34 – interpretation of the meaning] 

And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“They (hypocrites) say: ‘We have believed in Allaah and in
the Messenger (Muhammad), and we obey,’ then a party of them turn away
thereafter, such are not believers”

[al-Noor 24:47] 

So Allaah has stated that those who do not act in accordance
with faith are not believers, even if they utter the words of faith. The
kufr of turning away means that one ignores the truth and does not learn it
or act in accordance with it, whether it is the matter of words, actions or
beliefs. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“But those who disbelieve, turn away from that whereof
they are warned”[al-Ahqaaf 46:3] 

Whoever turns away verbally from that which the Messenger has
brought is like one who says “I will not follow him.” The one who turns away
by his actions is like one who runs away from hearing the truth which he
brought, or puts his fingers in his ears so as not to hear, or who hears it
but turns away in his heart and refuses to believe, and who refuses to act
upon it. He has disbelieved in the sense of the kufr of turning away. 

-3- The kufr of hypocrisy. This takes the form of not
believing in the heart and not acting, whilst submitting outwardly in order
to show off to people. This is like the kufr of Ibn Salool and the other
munaafiqeen (hypocrites) of whom Allaah said (interpretation of the
meaning): 

“And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: ‘We
believe in Allaah and the Last Day,’ while in fact they believe not.

They (think to) deceive Allaah and those who believe,
while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!

In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and
Allaah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they
used to tell lies.

And when it is said to them: ‘Make not mischief on the
earth,’ they say: ‘We are only peacemakers.’

Verily, they are the ones who make mischief, but they
perceive not.

And when it is said to them (hypocrites): ‘Believe as the
people (followers of Muhammad, Al-Ansaar and Al-Muhajiroon) have believed,’
they say: ‘Shall we believe as the fools have believed?’ Verily, they are
the fools, but they know not.

And when they meet those who believe, they say: ‘We
believe,’ but when they are alone with their Shayaateen (devils —
polytheists, hypocrites), they say: ‘Truly, we are with you; verily, we were
but mocking.’

Allaah mocks at them and gives them increase in their
wrong-doing to wander blindly.

These are they who have purchased error for guidance, so
their commerce was profitless. And they were not guided.

Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a
fire; then, when it lighted all around him, Allaah took away their light and
left them in darkness. (So) they could not see.

They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the
Right Path).

Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness,
thunder, and lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out
the stunning thunderclap for fear of death. But Allaah ever encompasses the
disbelievers (i.e. Allaah will gather them all together).

The lightning almost snatches away their sight, whenever
it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they
stand still. And if Allaah willed, He could have taken away their hearing
and their sight. Certainly, Allaah has power over all things”

[al-Baqarah 2:8-20] 

-4- The kufr of doubt, which means hesitating with regard to
following the truth and being uncertain as to whether it is true, because
what is required is certainty of faith (yaqeen) that what the Messenger
brought is truth with no hint of doubt in it. Whoever thinks that what he
brought may not be true has disbelieved, in the sense of kufr of doubt, as
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And he went into his garden while in a state (of pride
and disbelief), unjust to himself. He said: ‘I think not that this will ever
perish.

 And I think not the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I
am brought back to my Lord, (on the Day of Resurrection), I surely, shall
find better than this when I return to Him.’

His companion said to him during the talk with him: ‘Do
you disbelieve in Him Who created you out of dust (i.e. your father Adam),
then out of Nutfah (mixed semen drops of male and female discharge), then
fashioned you into a man?

But as for my part, (I believe) that He is Allaah, my
Lord, and none shall I associate as partner with my Lord.’”

[al-Kahf 18:35-38] 

From this we may conclude that kufr – which is the opposite
of eemaan or faith – may take the form of feelings in the heart, such as
hating Allaah or His signs, or His Messenger (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him); this contradicts love and faith which support the
actions of the heart. Kufr may also take the form of spoken words, such as
insulting Allaah, or it may be an outward action, such as prostrating to
idols, or offering sacrifices to someone other than Allaah. Just as faith
takes the form of actions of the heart, words on the tongue and outward
physical actions, so too kufr may take the form of actions of the heart,
words on the tongue and outward physical actions. We ask Allaah to keep us
safe from kufr and its branches, and to increase us in faith and make us
guided and cause us to guide others… Ameen. And Allaah knows best. 

See A’laam al-Sunnah al-Manshoorah,
177; Nawaaqid al-Eemaan al-Qawliyyah wa’l-‘Amaliyyah by Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez Aal ‘Abd al-Lateef, 36-46; Dawaabit al-Takfeer by Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah al-Qarani, 183, 196.

 

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

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