Kaafir or "Ghayr Muslim"

[Huzaifah ibn Adam]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم​

Why do people these days - even Ulamaa - use this term "Ghayr Muslim"? A "Non-Muslim". What is a "non-Muslim"?

I did Hifz of the Qur'aan, Alhamdulillaah. Completed many years ago. I don't know of a single place in the entire Qur'aan where Allaah Ta`aalaa ever refers to anyone as a "Ghayr Muslim". Only one term is used, and that is Kaafir. The same goes for the Ahaadeeth: Never did Rasoolullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم ever use the term "Ghayr Muslim" (non-Muslim). Only one term was used, and that is "Kaafir". The Sahaabah as well, never used any term but "Kaafir". There was no such thing as "Ghayr Muslims" during the time of the Sahaabah. "Non-Muslim" is a newly invented term. Allaah Ta`aalaa Himself, Rasoolullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the Sahaabah, all only used one term, and that is "Kaafir", or "Kuffaar / Kaafireen / Kafarah" for plural. It is only people today that have replaced it with this spineless, emasculated term of "Non-Muslim".

You get a "Male" and a "Female". No one says a "Male" and a "non-Male". Or a "Female" and a "non-Female".

So why use "Muslim" and "non-Muslim"? Why use it? Why refuse to call them what Allaah Ta`aalaa Himself calls them?

It's become a rarity to find anyone using the original term "Kaafir" anymore these days. Only "Ghayr Muslims" everywhere.

Allaah Ta`aalaa says in the Qur'aan:

هو الذي خلقكم فمنكم كافر ومنكم مؤمن والله بما تعملون بصير

"He is the One Who created you, then some of you are Kaafir and some of you are Mu'min..." [Soorah at-Taghaabun, 64:2]​

I don't see "Ghayr Muslim" anywhere in this Aayah. Or "Ghayr Mu'min" for that matter. Allaah Ta`aalaa splits the entire world up into only two groups:

1. Muslim
2. Kaafir

"Kaafir" or "Mu'min". "Kaafir" or "Muslim".

These people who say "Ghayr Muslim", it's like they're trying to apologise on behalf of Allaah. They feel that Allaah Ta`aalaa is being "rude" (Na`oodhubillaah), and so they must apologise to the Kuffaar with these emasculated terms they've invented.

Some people commit Kufr in this regard. They say that, when doing Da`wah, you mustn't use the word "Kaafir", you must use the word "non-Muslim" instead because "Kaafir" sounds harsh and derogatory. Do they realise what they're saying? They're saying that Allaah Ta`aalaa chose the wrong word, wa Na`oodhubillaah. They're saying Allaah Ta`aalaa chose a word that is "Harsh" and "Derogatory", and so they have to correct it by inventing a new term which is "Non-Muslim". They're saying they know better than Allaah Ta`aalaa. They're claiming to be wiser than Allaah Ta`aalaa. They're claiming to be more merciful than Allaah Ta`aalaa. They may as well go the rest of the way and try to claim divinity for themselves like Fir`own did.

In summary:

The Qur'aan uses the term "Kaafir". Thus, whoever is unhappy with this term is unhappy with the Qur'aan.

والسلام​

 

[Huzaifah ibn Adam]

And come to think of it, why isn't "non-Muslim" derogatory is well? When the whites in South Africa started using the term "non-whites" to refer to the African people, they objected against it and called it racism. They said they prefer being called black, but never "non-White". "Non-White" shows a high degree of racism. It shows that they only regard white people, and everyone else is just the "non-Whites". Coloureds, Africans, Indians, Arabs, Chinese, Malays, were all just called "Non-Whites". The Africans objected to that and said it is racism on the part of the South African whites.

So, even if a person claims to be using "non-Muslim" for the purpose of Da`wah, then even that excuse falls away because the Kuffaar can see it this same way, in which case the apologists' entire purpose behind inventing and using the term becomes useless.

 

[anatolian]

You are right with it but language is a flexable entity. Words mean what meaning you load them more than what they originally mean. Muslims loaded a derogatery meaning on the word themselves so kafirs think that you are rude with them when you call them kafir. We must just be more careful. As for dawah I would not even call them non muslim, I would call them brothers sisters in humanity

 

[Scimitar]

Bro Huzaifah,

This is actually a natural regression of language, and is a philological manifestation of human definitions.

Although I agree with you that it is wrong to attach terms which are misnomers due to the fact that words already exist (Kafir/Unbeliever) which more accurately define said idea, this is still language. Hence, with time, we find new words describing the same definitions, lead us to use an ever more expanding vocabulary to say the same things our ancestors did, yet our ancestors said it way more simply.

And it sucks that we are breaking from already established terms in this modern and crass age.

Scimi

 

[Huzaifah ibn Adam]

Bro Huzaifah,

This is actually a natural regression of language, and is a philological manifestation of human definitions.

Although I agree with you that it is wrong to attach terms which are misnomers due to the fact that words already exist (Kafir/Unbeliever) which more accurately define said idea, this is still language. Hence, with time, we find new words describing the same definitions, lead us to use an ever more expanding vocabulary to say the same things our ancestors did, yet our ancestors said it way more simply.

And it sucks that we are breaking from already established terms in this modern and crass age.

Scimi

True. My objection against the usage of the term, though, is on account of the apologetic attitude of the Muslims these days. I'm sure you've noticed it. Most Muslims seem to have become "Apologists", not in the sense of "A person who argues to defend or justify some policy or institution", but in the sense of them constantly apologising about Islaam. Whenever anything happens anywhere in the world, the so-called "Imams" and "scholars" feel the need to go around apologising to everyone. It's really pathetic. If an Israeli soldier were to rape a Palestinian girl, they'd apologise to the Israelis. That's how they've become.

Now, there is a term which Allaah Ta`aalaa uses and which Rasoolullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم uses. The reason people refuse to use this term is because they feel it is "harsh and derogatory". I'm looking at this from an `Aqeedah aspect as well. For someone to feel that a word Allaah Ta`aalaa uses is "harsh and derogatory" is actually Kufr. The person is actually objecting against Allaah Ta`aalaa, whether he/she realises it or not. They are objecting to the fact that Allaah Ta`aalaa uses this word in the Qur'aan. Throughout the Qur'aan. They are apologising for the fact that Rasoolullaah صلى الله عليه وسلم used it. That the Sahaabah used it.

This shows a weakness of Imaan. It shows that the religion of people is quickly slipping away. They're forgetting Allaah. They're forgetting the Aakhirah. A person can't say "it's wiser to say non-Muslim", because, had it been wiser to say "non-Muslim", or "Ghayr Muslim" in Arabic, then that is the word Allaah Ta`aalaa would have used. Instead, Allaah Ta`aalaa only uses the word "Kaafir". Then, this tells you that the best word to use, whether in that time, these time or any time, is the word "Kaafir".

People who say that the Qur'aan was "only for that time" are insulting Allaah. They are basically saying that Allaah Ta`aalaa didn't know what things would be like in 2016 (wa Na`oodhubillaah). When the Qur'aan was being revealed, Allaah Ta`aalaa knew exactly how things would be in this day and age, 20th of December 2016. Yet, the word Kaafir was used, and not "Ghayr Muslim".

 

[Scimitar]

I couldn't agree more with you bro Huzaifah.

The word Kafir simply means non believer. And Kufr, non belief.

People who take issue with the use of the word Kufr or Kafir should also take issue with the words "non believer" and "non belief" - or say - "atheism".

Or take the Western Christians who take offence at the word "Allah" while Christian Arabs use the word "Allah" to mean "The God". The offence the west takes at such terms are born of ignorance on their part.

Not ours.

We have nothing to apologize for,

Scimi

 

[Born_Believer]

Kafir means disbeliever, unbeliever, i.e. someone who is not Muslim. So what is wrong with saying "ghayr Muslim"? Rather than offending anyone else, it seems to offend you more so.

 

[Huzaifah ibn Adam]

Kafir means disbeliever, unbeliever, i.e. someone who is not Muslim. So what is wrong with saying "ghayr Muslim"? Rather than offending anyone else, it seems to offend you more so.

Did you actually read the thread or did you just post this without reading anything?

 

[Search]

:bism: (In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)

(Peace be upon you)

I am fluent in only two languages, and English is one of them. So, since I neither think in nor speak in Arabic, I use the English term "non-Muslim" because that's the term which easily rolls off my tongue and is the one with which I'm most familiar in terms of usage.

Believing that people are not speaking or writing the term "kaffir" because they are ashamed of the term "kaffir" in the Qur'an is, I'd say, not the right mindset to have and certainly does not seem to be in line with keeping husn-dhann (good opinion of others).

Also, the word kaffir has one meaning in the Qur'an but over the years in the West it has over the years taken on a pejorative meaning in the English language. I'm not against the term itself, but I have no idea why we cannot respect someone's idea of what it means in English.

The shari (legal) Arabic term "kaffir" simply means unbeliever but the kaffir term in English has specific negative associations not specifically intended in the Qur'an. In South Africa, for example, the term "kaffir" (as the original poster might have reason to know) is prohibited from usage as it's considered a racial slur against black persons. However, in the Qur'an, the word "kaffir" is not about any person's race as it's meant to define any person who's not a believer in the Revelation of the Qur'an brought by Prophet Muhammad :saws: (peace and blessings be upon him) as such. In the U.S., for example, the term "kaffir" is thought to be a term of insult against disbelievers, again, something I don't think Allah intended to be a term of insult in the Qur'an but rather a descriptive term to describe the state of the hearts and minds of those who reject the Truth.

Of interest to note is that I am an American. So, for example, I don't consider the term "non-whites" as offensive. However, after reading the posts, I understand now why a native South African would consider the term offensive. And so I would now never deliberately use the term "non-whites" if I were ever communicating with a South African.

Also, we should remember that Allah is neither a female nor a male nor an it, yet we use in the English language the personal pronoun "He" not because God is a male but because there is no word equivalent that would accurately capture the supremacy of God. Yet no one says that it's insulting to God to say that Allah is a "He" because we understand that the intent behind the usage of the term is not to identify Allah as a male but to use the most apt personal pronoun.

So, while I know that the original post has in general a good reminder to not apologize on behalf of Islam or Allah thinking we know best, I also think the post fails to see how linguistically the term in English language has new negative associations that was not intended in the Qur'an and therefore it is prudent to use the term "non-Muslim" with a person who doesn't accurately understand or know what a person means when he/she says "kaffir" as means of showing good manners to avoid any misunderstanding.

:wa: (And peace be upon you)

 

[Huzaifah ibn Adam]

Non-Muslim isn't exactly English, though. It's only half English. The other half is Arabic. That is, unless Muslim became an English word without me knowing.

 

[Scimitar]

:bism: (In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)

(Peace be upon you)

I am fluent in only two languages, and English is one of them. So, since I neither think in nor speak in Arabic, I use the English term "non-Muslim" because that's the term which easily rolls off my tongue and is the one with which I'm most familiar in terms of usage.

Believing that people are not speaking or writing the term "kaffir" because they are ashamed of the term "kaffir" in the Qur'an is, I'd say, not the right mindset to have and certainly does not seem to be in line with keeping husn-dhann (good opinion of others).

I did read the rest of your post, just so you don't think I'm ignoring it.

I largely agree with your POV, but want to flesh in something you may not have considered.

The word Kafir, as you know means "non believer" - your argument is "why not call them non believers then, since we speaking in English here".

I would argue that the term "non believer" could mean a number of things, dependent on which religion comes to mind. So when a Muslim says "kafir", he actually is referencing non belief in relation to the theology of Islam... and not, for example, Hinduism. Or Christianity.

I think the words Kafir and Kuffar and Kufr have a place in the English language, especially in this day and age where the world is in dire need of a rethink regarding what they are led to believe about Muslims and Islam through the media.

Scimi

 

[Search]

:bism: (In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)

(Peace be upon you)

Non-Muslim isn't exactly English, though. It's only half English. The other half is Arabic. That is, unless Muslim became an English word without me knowing.

Non-Muslim is a recognized term in the English language, no matter its origins being half Arabic and half English, and is defined as "not of or relating to Islam, its doctrines, culture" in the Collins Dictionary when you Google the term's meaning today. However, the term kaffir in contemporary word usage if you look up the word's meaning on Google says the following: "an insulting and contemptuous term for a black African."

If we're then communicating in English with a person who is fluent in the English language, it is best to avoid any misunderstanding as to what we mean. We might know what we mean, but if others don't, then using those terms is neither intelligent nor wise. Because doing so then would contradict the ahadeeth of Prophet :saws: not only on good manners but the injunction to "speak to the people according to their level of knowledge."

:wa: (And peace be upon you)

 

[Scimitar]

Non-Muslim

That works, wonderfully well too.

All I'm saying is, that the words "kafir, kufr, and kuffar" should not be deemed offensive. If people who are not Muslims find these words offensive, then it really is up to us, Muslims, to teach them why they are not.

Scimi

 

[Huzaifah ibn Adam]

The pronunciation of "Kaafir" is vastly different to the pronunciation of the word "Kaffir", or "Caffer". They don't sound similar at all. We all use it, the African Muslims use it, and no one thinks the speaker is referring to the term "kaffir". So, I don't see why people from other parts of the world where the term "Kaffir" was never even used in the first place should get confused. Why are they getting confused? "Kaffir" is from SA and they're in America or elsewhere. They don't even know about that word. They've just read about it somewhere maybe in a history book. They've probably never even heard it pronounced, or if so, not the proper pronunciation (the first to use it were the Afrikaaners / Boere).

 

[Scimitar]

The pronunciation of "Kaafir" is vastly different to the pronunciation of the word "Kaffir", or "Caffer". They don't sound similar at all. We all use it, the African Muslims use it, and no one thinks the speaker is referring to the term "kaffir". So, I don't see why people from other parts of the world where the term "Kaffir" was never even used in the first place should get confused. Why are they getting confused? "Kaffir" is from SA and they're in America or elsewhere. They don't even know about that word. They've just read about it somewhere maybe in a history book. They've probably never even heard it pronounced, or if so, not the proper pronunciation (the first to use it were the Afrikaaners / Boere).

Kaffir is a racist word for black people in South Africa isn't it? and Boer seems to mean white man (farmer - implying that black people do not farm and are thus, uncivilised and inferior) from Germanic migrations, right?

These are wholly terms identifying a peoples race. Not religion. Or lack thereof.

Of course, we can understand why the word Kaffir in SA would be quite problematic. Same way the N word is over here.

Scimi

 

[Search]

:bism: (In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)

(Peace be upon you)

The pronunciation of "Kaafir" is vastly different to the pronunciation of the word "Kaffir", or "Caffer". They don't sound similar at all. We all use it, the African Muslims use it, and no one thinks the speaker is referring to the term "kaffir". So, I don't see why people from other parts of the world where the term "Kaffir" was never even used in the first place should get confused. Why are they getting confused? "Kaffir" is from SA and they're in America or elsewhere. They don't even know about that word. They've just read about it somewhere maybe in a history book. They've probably never even heard it pronounced, or if so, not the proper pronunciation (the first to use it were the Afrikaaners / Boere).

As a non-Arabic speaker, I honestly can't tell the difference between what you've written as to "kaafir" or "kaffir" and am not sure how the pronunciation differs either. Think from the perspective of the non-Arabic speaker and you'll then maybe understand why it seems all the same.

:wa: (And peace be upon you)

 

[Scimitar]

:bism: (In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)

(Peace be upon you)



As a non-Arabic speaker, I honestly can't tell the difference between what you've written as to "kaafir" or "kaffir" and am not sure how the pronunciation differs either. Think from the perspective of the non-Arabic speaker and you'll then maybe understand why it seems all the same.

:wa: (And peace be upon you)

You would know the difference in pronunciation. Kaffir in the racist SA pronunciation is the same as when you pronounce Kaffir Lime. Kaafir in Arabic, which means Non-Believer (in Islam) on the other hand has an alongated Kaa and the R at the end is sharp and rolls a little. Quite different from the South African in pronunciation and meaning.

Scimi

 

[Search]

:bism: (In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)

(Peace be upon you)

Hi. Can someone please link me to actual pronunciations of the words "kaffir" and "kaafir" so that I can see if I've been pronouncing it wrong or not in real life and hear the difference? I tried finding it on Google, but one of the YouTube videos that I found had two comments that said the speaker was pronouncing it incorrectly. I get what has been said about the pronunciation in theory, but I'd like to hear it as well in reality. Thanks in advance.

:wa: (And peace be upon you)

 

[azc]

'Kufr' denotes the rejection of the truth, whether this rejection is committed knowingly or unknowingly. Moreover,This term is not necessarily applied on ghai-Muslims, sometimes it may be applied on Muslims as well, however, literally or metaphorically is a matter of consideration. E.g. ''man tarakas salatah muta'ammidan fa qad KAFAR'' according to this hadith if one doesn't pray salah 'knowingly', commits 'kufr'

 

[azc]

Types of kufr: http://sunnahonline.com/library/beliefs-and-methodology/87-types-of-kufr-disbelief