Muslim & Kafir
Question:-
We, as Muslims, often complain about literature or articles that generalise Muslims in a negative sense e.g. that because there are terrorists among them, therefore, all Muslims are terrorist and even that Islam is the source of terrorism. But how should we respond when those people claim that the Quran does the same thing when it speaks of "kafirs" often translated as disbelievers or unbelievers? E.g.
"The unbelievers spend their wealth to hinder (man) from the path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend; but in the end they will have (only) regrets and sighs; at length they will be overcome: and the unbelievers will be gathered together to Hell." 8:36
Comment:-
There is a misunderstanding here.
The Quran tells us in several places that people are punished or rewarded according to their deeds, motives and thoughts.
"Say: O mankind! There has come to you the Truth from your Lord, and he who is guided by it, his guidance is only for his own soul; and he who errs, errs only against it; and I am not a warder over you." 10:109
"On the Day when every soul will come to plead for itself, every soul shall be paid what it has earned, and they shall not be wronged." 16:111
"That, your thought which ye did think about your Lord, hath ruined you; and ye find yourselves (this day) among the lost." 41:23
The Quran does not say that only those who call themselves Muslims are righteous and that everyone else is a Kaffir:-
"Verily, whether it be of those who believe, or those who are Jews or Christians or Sabaeans, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and acts aright, they have their reward with their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve." 2:62
The Quran distinguishes between believers, hypocrites, idolators, People of the Book, People of the Left hand, people of the Right hand and the Foremost, Prophets, Messengers, the Saints, the sincere, the knowledgeable and so on.
It tells us the difference between right and wrong. People that are believers can do wrong, while people who do not know the Quran or are disbelievers can do right.
"O you who believe! If you fear (does your duty to) Allah He will give you discrimination (or a Criterion) and will rid you of your evil thoughts and deeds, and will forgive you; for Allah is Lord of Infinite Bounty." 8:29
"And that He may punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and the idolatrous men and the idolatrous women, who entertain evil thoughts about Allah. For them is the evil turn of fortune, and Allah is wroth with them and has cursed them and prepared Hell for them, an evil destination." 48:6
It is perfectly possible to think of Kafir and Believer as referring to certain qualities which people may have to various degrees and in different proportions.
I do not think that the Quran thinks of the term "Islam" or "Muslim" as referring to something formal, a name to be applied indiscriminately of qualities to certain doctrines, institutions, persons or communities, but in the real meaning of the word "surrender to Allah" and "persons who surrender to Allah". The terms apply to the degree to which this is true. That is also why the followers of the former Messengers are also Muslim.
"And strive for Allah with the endeavour which is His right. He hath chosen you and hath not laid upon you in religion any hardship; the faith of your father Abraham (is yours). He hath named you Muslims of old time and in this (Scripture), that the messenger may be a witness against you, and that ye may be witnesses against mankind." 22:78
"They are not all alike. Of the people of the Book there is an upright community, reciting the revelations of Allah throughout the night, falling prostrate (in Surrender). They believe in Allah, and in the last day, and bid intelligent (or right) conduct, and forbid what is stupid (or wrong), and vie with one another in good works; these are among the righteous." 3:113-114
It is possible, therefore, that people who call themselves or are regarded as "Muslim" may, in truth, be Kaffir to various degrees and that people claiming to be or regarded as non-Muslim or even Kaffir are, in truth, Muslim to various degrees. It is not for us, but for Allah to judge:-
"Your Lord, He knows best who errs from His path, and He knows best the rightly guided." 6:118
"Say: Shall I crave for other than Allah for Lord, when He is Lord of all?" But each soul earns only on its own account, nor does any laden soul bear the burden of another. Then unto your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that wherein you differ. He it is who made you Vicegerents (Agents, Successors, Inheritors) of the earth, and raised some of you above others in degree (or rank, virtue, power, wealth, ability etc.), to try you by that which he has given you; Verily, your Lord is swift to punish, but, verily, He is Forgiving and Merciful." 6:165-166
However, there is a difference between those who consciously obey and strive in the way of Allah and those who do not, provided of course that they know and understand what that is, because the former are making the efforts to advance on the Straight Road and the latter are not. It could be argued that they may be advancing sub-consciously or unconsciously owing to all kinds of other efforts. This may be true, but that would be accidental and could be leading them backwards or astray. It is the conscious efforts that count in spiritual development.
"But whoever desires the Hereafter, and strives for it with the necessary effort, for such, their striving shall find favour." 17:19
"That no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another, and that man shall have nothing but what he strives for, and that his striving shall be seen. Then shall he be rewarded for it with the fullest reward; And that your Lord is the final goal." 53:38-42
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