in another discussion, ahmadjee wrote:
what exactly does the term “kafir” entail? why the change in meaning over time?
Re: Kafir
Kaafir - It is used to refer to someone who is made aware of the message of Islaam but refuses to worship Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala). Commonly known as disbeliever.
Source: Glossary of Technical Terms
There has been no change in the meaning. However, this term is often used interchangebly with non-Muslim, which it shouldn’t be.
Re: Kafir
thanks, sadiyah. does that mean a kafir can be muslim at the same time?
Re: Kafir
A Muslim can become a kaafir, but a Muslim cannot be a kaafir at the same time. Reason being, one has to denounce Islam or commit acts [such as ascribing partners to Allah (SWT), or not believing in Allah (SWT), or not believing in Muhammad (SAW) being a prophet] that makes one a kaafir.
Re: Kafir
Kafir means someone who doesn't believe in something. Derived from kufar which means unbelief.
Kafir-billah are those who deny the existence of Allah & kafir-bil-mamoor or kafir-bil-nabi are those who deny the prophet or Messenger of Allah. And so, there is a distinction in Quran when it talks about Judo-Christian non-believers and atheists or idolaters.
From centuries each sect in Islam has issued Fatwa-e-kufar against the others, though still consnidered them Muslim.
There are traditions of people calling each other non-Muslim based on khalifa's bait in early Islam but they were in minority.
Re: Kafir
Literally, the word kaafir means 'someone who covers something up'. So by that, a person who covers his car at night with one of those protective sheets is a 'kaafir'.
Islamically, the word means 'the one who denies something despite having the knowledge'. So a Muslim who knows about his religion, but still does not believe, would be a 'kaafir', while someone who is a polytheist but was never introduced to Islam, is not a 'kaafir'.
Re: Kafir
sadiyah, so if i read your explanation of the matter correct, kafir are non muslims, but not all non muslims are kafir?
ahmadjee, as per what you said, a person being a kafir in some way isnt necessarily sufficient to assume his being a non muslim, unless u know what exactly the kufr is?
Re: Kafir
Yes.
A man can claim to be a Muslim when he proclaim the Shahada that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad (saw) is a prophet of Allah.
Such a man can still be a kafir if he doesn't follow the injuctions like zakat, hajj or salat etc.
Re: Kafir
Yes.
Re: Kafir
^ 
ahmadjee, are you sure?
Re: Kafir
Yes FG.
But someone whom I consider a kafir is not necessarily a kafir in Allah's eyes, he might as well be a momin and me being hell bound. Did I make myself clear?
Kafir is like calling someone unpatriotic. It is very subjective.
Re: Kafir
Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullah,
here are some notes i took on kufr from ustadh abu amr yaasir qadhi:
NOTES ON KUFR
Literal Definition
The word Kufr (kafir is one who commits kufr) comes from the root word ka-fa-ra which means ‘to cover up’.
Sharee’ah definition
In Islam, Kufr is the opposite of Eman. In otherwords, the Islamic definition of kufr is, ‘the absence of iman from a person, even if his heart believes’.
In the world, there is only kufr and Eman. There is nothing in between these two.
(proof is surah taghabun, verse 2- http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/064.qmt.html)
But there are levels/types of kufr, and levels of iman.
relationship of sharee’ah and linguistic definition
The person who does kufr, while doing it, tries to cover up or destroy their fitrah-innate disposition allah has created within people.
Types of Major kufr/Minor Kufr
Major Kufr is of five types. These acts take a person out of the fold of Islam.
1. kufr of denial- This means to outright deny the fundamentals of the deen (proof is surah ankaboot, verse 68- http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/029.qmt.html)
2. Kufr of arrogance- One is too arrogant to submit to allah’s will (proof is surah baqarah, verse 34- http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/002.qmt.html Also refer to story of Fir’own and story of Abu Talib)
3. Kufr of doubt- Person doubts that qiyaamah will come and doubts religion and claiming to be unsure. (proof of this is surah kahf, verses 36 -37; the story of the owner of the garden- http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/018.qmt.html)
4. kufr of turning away- A person has heard basic and fundamentals of Islam (like 5 pillars), but just doesnt care, so he doesnt contemplate about his purpose. This is about christians or jews or anyone who hears what islam is about, but they never contemplate their purpose in life even though they have capability, so end up not learning about Islam due to their turning away. (proof of this is surah sajdah, verse 22- http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/032.qmt.html)
5. kufr of hypocricy (nifaq)- missing notes (also, nifaq is within itself anohter category,but i wont discuss it).
Minor kufr is any act that shar’eeah has deemed as kufr, but doesnt put one out of the fold of Islam.
this included:
- denying others their lineage (by fornication)- don’thave proof on me- sorry:(
- denying one’s father.
- Wailing over dead peope.
- Fighting another Muslim with intention fo killing (proof is“Cursing a Muslim is sin, and fighting him is kufr.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree])
etc.
Evidence for minor kufr is reconciling ayaat which call people who do certain acts ‘believers’ while the prophet (saw) calls these certain acts ‘kufr’. This shows that these acts are acts of kufr, but the person who does it is still Muslim. Thus, the need to categorize kufr into minor(still muslim) and major(out of fold of Islam) to make things more simple for us. (other evidences not posted; this one will suffice)
Conclusion- to do Kufr is to be ungrateful to Allah since it is covering up the blessing of fitrah from Allah. Other conlusions not posted
Re: Kafir
All Kafirs= Potential Muslims...keep a positive outlook my brothers.
Re: Kafir
All Muslims=Wayward hindus....keep a positive outlook my brothers
Re: Kafir
Hinuds are just confused muslims my brother...that is all
Re: Kafir
tru kaleem
ptntl muslims= opprtnity for hasanaat
Re: Kafir
This is childish-I always smile when I see such posts.
Re: Kafir
No he is not…
According to a Hadith, we cannot call anyone who believes in Allah :swt: and Mohammed :saw: as a Prophet, a Kafir…
Some scholars call calling even Kafirs as Kafirs as a sin, because that Kafir can become a better Muslim than you, hence you’d be the one in Kufr…
Here’s a good link…
Re: Kafir
abkmuhajid, thanks for sharing the notes on kufr.
Re: Kafir
‘Kafir’ is derived from the word ‘kufr’, which means to conceal or to reject. In Islamic terminology, ‘Kafir’ means one who conceals or rejects the truth of Islam and a person who rejects Islam is in English called a ‘non-Muslim'.
if any non-Muslim considers the word ‘Kafir’ i.e. ‘non-Muslim’ as an abuse, he may choose to accept Islam and then we will stop referring to him as or call him a kafir i.e. a non-Muslim. A Muslim does not get hurt when being called a non-Hindu or non-Jew. In the same way a Hindu should not feel hurt when called a non-Muslim.