Question
In the Prophet’s time, there was a well demarcated line that determined whether or not you were a Kafir (Rejector). If you believed that Muhammad (pbuh) was the messenger of God, but you still persisted in worshiping Idols (as was the prevalent form of religion then), then you were a Kafir. Further, most of the time, the Kafirs mentioned in the Quran referred to those that actively resisted the Prophet’s mission. It was for them that everlasting Hell was promised in the next world.
What constitutes Kufr in these days then? The well demarcated line during the prophet’s time is much more blurred now. We even have Muslims fighting each other these days because each party believes the other is spreading untruth and hence is in this respect denying the Prophet.
There are many “Muslims” these days that don’t pray, or fast or ever intend to do Hajj or anything. A lot of these so-called nominal Muslims, however, have strong convictions regarding the truth of Islam and the Prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh). Does their lack of adherence to the practical aspects of faith make them rejecters? These people are convinced of the truth of Islam, but they don’t pray. Does this not constitute rejection then?
Answer
Kufr actually means to reject the Truth. However, every person guilty of ‘kufr’ is not necessarily a ‘Kafir’, because ‘rejection of Truth’ can effectively take place for a number of genuine reasons, as, for instance, ignorance or misunderstanding etc. On the contrary, ‘kafir’ is a person who rejects the truth after having fully recognized it and after the Truth has become clearly distinct from falsehood for him/her.
With the advent of a messenger of God, God distinguishes the Truth – including the truthfulness of the messenger himself – from falsehood and, as a result, those who persist in rejecting the Truth are declared Kafirs – i.e. rejecters – and condemned to the everlasting torments of Hellfire. Furthermore, at the time of the advent of a messenger of God, there is a live link between the humankind – through the selected prophet of God – and God. As a result, at such times there can be a few aspects of God’s knowledge which are brought into the open, which under other circumstances remain hidden from ordinary human beings like us. Whether or not a person has rejected something after having fully recognized it as God’s truth is only known to the All-Knowing God. No one other than God can decide about this phenomenon, which is clearly internal to every man.
In view of the foregoing, I do not consider it correct for any human being to declare another a ‘Kafir’. It is indeed the responsibility of scholars to educate people about what, according to their understanding, constitutes ‘kufr’ and also about the dire consequences of intentionally and knowingly rejecting the Truth, but labeling a particular individual or group ‘kafir’, due to its adherence to what they consider to be ‘kufr’, is beyond human jurisdiction. Only God, with His absolute knowledge about the motives, intentions and all other hidden thoughts and phenomena, can declare an individual or a person to be ‘kafir’. However, there is one exception to this principle. This exception relates to a person’s declared adherence to what he, himself, understands and declares to be ‘kufr’.
I hope the foregoing explanation shall adequately clarify my understanding of the referred issue.
You write:
There are many “Muslims” these days that don’t pray, or fast or ever intend to do Hajj or anything.
A person who, after accepting Islam to be his religion, does not offer prayers is a sinner – a sinning Muslim. Such a person shall have to face the dire consequences for not living a life corresponding to the Truth that he had accepted. In contrast to the foregoing, a person who, after accepting Islam to be his true religion and after accepting that the obligatory prayers are an essential part of being a Muslim, persistently and openly refuses to offer the obligatory prayers would render himself a non-Muslim.
In other words, deviating from God’s directives is a sin. Such a sin can even sometimes be committed by a person who has accepted to live a life of submission (Islam) to God. However, refusing to accept God’s directives is, in fact, refusing to live a life of submission (Islam) to God.
You write:
A lot of these so-called nominal Muslims, however, have strong convictions regarding the truth of Islam and the Prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh).
A strong conviction in a phenomenon cannot coexist with persistent refusal to fulfill the requirements of that phenomenon. Just as a person who truly loves and values his life cannot intentionally and knowingly commit suicide, similarly acceptance of Islam cannot coexist with persistent refusal to accept and submit to the teachings of the Prophet (pbuh) of Islam.
You write:
Does their lack of adherence to the practical aspects of faith make them rejecters? These people are convinced of the truth of Islam, but they don’t pray. Does this not constitute rejection then?
Whether or not such lack of adherence renders a person non-Muslim depends upon the nature of their lack of adherence. A continual lack of adherence which is of the nature of indolence and carelessness is a great sin for which a person shall be held accountable on the Day of Judgment, but such carelessness and lethargy cannot generally be declared as rejection of Islam. However, lack of adherence which is of the nature of rejection and refusal is, in fact, a rejection of Islam and can, as a result, render a person non-Muslim.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Moiz Amjad
December 23, 2002