07.15.08
Kaafir
AsSalaamu Alaikum,
This post is inspired by the work of ukhti Miss Muslimah -
Is ‘Kaafir’ an Insult?
The word Kaafir – from the root word kafara – means to cover up.
In Islam, a kaafir is someone who disbelieves in the oneness of Allah and the messengership of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). To be Kaafir, in my understanding, a true kaafir, you must know the truth and reject it. So the english translation disbeliever – becomes valid. You have been shown the signs, the ayats, it has been made plain to you, yet you disbelieve – Kaafir. Muslims, in my opinion, have no right to use this word to degrade or insult anyone. It is a state of Kufr that someone is in, or characteristic of Kufr that someone has that is hated, not the person. So to insult someone with this word is foolish and only shows one’s lack of understanding. Character and etiquette, have a lot to do with using this word correctly and again our reminder is the Qur’an -
Suratul Kafirun translated in English
Audhu’ billahi min ash-shaytan ir-Rajim
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
109.001
YUSUFALI: Say : O ye that reject Faith!
PICKTHAL: Say: O disbelievers!
SHAKIR: Say: O unbelievers!
109.002
YUSUFALI: I worship not that which ye worship,
PICKTHAL: I worship not that which ye worship;
SHAKIR: I do not serve that which you serve,
109.003
YUSUFALI: Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
PICKTHAL: Nor worship ye that which I worship.
SHAKIR: Nor do you serve Him Whom I serve:
109.004
YUSUFALI: And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship,
PICKTHAL: And I shall not worship that which ye worship.
SHAKIR: Nor am I going to serve that which you serve,
109.005
YUSUFALI: Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
PICKTHAL: Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
SHAKIR: Nor are you going to serve Him Whom I serve:
109.006
YUSUFALI: To you be your Way, and to me mine.
PICKTHAL: Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion.
SHAKIR: You shall have your religion and I shall have my religion.
The Surah is simply put, no insulting involved, no reason for a person who does not believe or does not know to insult Allah (S.W.T.) or the Prophet (S.A.W.) or the religion of Islam, no, just you believe what you believe and I believe what I believe. No argument. This is Islam! Peace. The people of Islam, speaking to myself first, should be more concerned with not having an inkling of Kufr in our forte`. Therefore, since that is our struggle, how can we insult someone for having Kufr. No, it says in Qur’an and I’m paraphrasing, when a party begins to speak in a bad manner on bad terms, leave until they are done. It doesn’t say insult them or join them. Islam is something to be understood and implemented. Allah knows well our hearts and He gives us the understanding for He guides us to His Light. So no muslim should feel safe from His Punishment and no “Kaafir” should be in despair. Allah (S.W.T.) is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful. Do we make a jest of the dignity and privelege of guidance, by insulting those who don’t have it. And who’s to say that those same people being intentionally insulted by the word Kaafir won’t become muslim in the future? Allah makes muslims. Allahu Allum! And that’s the skinny.
May Allah guide us all on the straight way
AsSalaamu Alaikum
07.12.08
Hadith of the Day
AsSalaamu Alaikum,
Been a while I know.
Thought I’d re-enter this hadith of Mercy. Alhamdulillah. Allahu Akbar!!!
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Allah has divided mercy into one hundred parts; and He retained with Him ninety-nine parts, and sent down to earth one part. Through this one part creatures deal with one another with compassion, so much so that an animal lifts its hoof over its young lest it should hurt it”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Allah has one hundred mercies, out of which He has sent down only one for jinn, mankind, animals and insects, through which they love one another and have compassion for one another; and through it, wild animals care for their young. Allah has retained ninety-nine mercies to deal kindly with His slaves on the Day of Resurrection.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Another narration in Muslim is reported: by Salman Al-Farisi: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Allah has hundred mercies, out of which one mercy is used by his creation for mutual love and affection. Ninety-nine mercies are kept for the Day of Resurrection.”
Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Allah created one hundred units of mercy on the Day He created the heavens and the earth. Each one of them can contain all that is between the heaven and the earth. Of them, he put one on earth, through which a mother has compassion for her children and animals and birds have compassion for one another. On the Day of Resurrection, He will perfect and complete His Mercy”. (That is He will use all the hundred units of mercy for his slaves on that Day).
Commentary:
1. We learn from this Hadith that kind and compassionate treatment is liked by Allah and is in fact His Blessing and Benevolence. This is the reason He has given a part of it to His creatures, and a person who is so hard-hearted, that he is not even aware of it has a defect which is extremely displeasing to Allah. Moreover, it is a sign that such a person is deprived of Divine blessing and mercy.
2. On the Day of Resurrection, Almighty Allah will bestow upon the believers hundred mercies. This news has great hopes and joy for His slaves.
AsSalaamu Alaikum
Abdul At-Tawwaab
06.29.08
Hadith of the Day
AsSalaamu Alaikum,
Came across this hadith today out of Sahih Muslim. Wanted to post it. I’ll be making comments about it but right now just too busy.
Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (PBUH) observed: “There are three (types of) people to whom Allah will neither speak on the Day of Resurrection nor look at them nor purify them, and they will have a painful chastisement.” The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) repeated it three times. Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) remarked: “They are ruined. Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?” Upon this, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “One who lets down his lower garments (below his ankels) out of arrogance, one who boasts of his favours done to another; and who sells his goods by taking a false oath.”
[Muslim].
Commentary: The Hadith makes it evident that it is forbidden for a man to let his lower-body garment go beyond his ankles out of arrogance. The Hadith also makes it clear that it is forbidden to take a false oath with a view to sell one’s goods. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) also said in a Hadith reported by Al-Bukhari:”Taking a false oath) helps one sell one’s goods well but takes away Allah’s blessings from it.”
AsSalaamu Alaikum
Abdul