Query 3

A person says that we should not even call a ‘kaafir’ (unbeliever) a ‘kaafir’ (unbeliever). What does he mean by this? When we Muslims are in discussions etc. can we not refer to kaafirs as kaafirs, or should we not call them kaafir in their presence? Please can you inform me what this person means? Please can you also inform me, which people belonging to which sect can we refer to as kaafirs?

Queried by: Fazlur Rahmaan - Bara Bazaar Bareilly - 25 Sha’baan 1355 Hijri

The Verdict 

The said person’s statement is absolutely incorrect and false. He needs to make Tauba (repent) from uttering such a statement. A kaafir (unbeliever) will be referred to and known as a kaafir, and a Muslim will be referred to and known as a Muslim. One false concept of the ignorant ones is that we should not call kaafirs as kaafirs because we do not know what his end will be (in other words whether he will die a Muslim or a kaafir). These ignorant people do not realise that we call a kaafir a kaafir on the basis on his kufr, and when he becomes a Muslim then obviously we will call him a Muslim.

If this is there concept, then they should not even call Muslims as Muslims as they do not know what their end will be. Allah Forbid, What if he dies a kaafir? The ones who make such statements are those who want to compromise their Religion. There are those who eat the meat of the cow, keep names like Muslims, perform some practices like Muslims, and who apparently behave like Muslims. No matter whatever words of kufr these hidden hypocrites utter, these people still regard them as Muslims, (they say) that such people should still be regarded as Muslims, and that even kaafirs should not be called kaafirs; and they are regarded as Muslims!

This seems to be some new Shariat of these people. The pure Shariat commands us to call a kaafir a kaafir. Those Munafiqs (hypocrites) who were in the time of Holy Prophet ﷺ, would not only read Namaaz behind him and keep fast, but they also partook in jihad. They would fight against the kaafirs as well. Allah unveiled these people. The Quran referred to these evil ones as kaafirs. The Holy Prophet ﷺ removed every single one of them from his Masjid by saying, “Leave the Masjid, you are a Munafiq.”

A Munafiq once whilst with other Munafiqs said that the Prophet  says that a certain lost camel will be found at a certain place, yet he has no knowledge of the unseen. Almighty Allah informed the Prophet ﷺ of this and Almighty Allah informed the Prophet ﷺ about this by saying,

ۚوَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ

In other words, when they are questioned about their actions, they will lie by saying that they were just joking with one another, having a light hearted discussion. Even this excuse of theirs was answered in the Quran. Almighty Allah says,

ۚلَا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ

(O Beloved You Say) ‘Do not make false excuses. You have become infidels (kaafir) after (your claim of) bringing Imaan’.

[Surah Tauba, verse 66]

With the exception of Deen-e-Islam, all other religions are on kufr and anyone who claims to be a Muslim and rejects any necessities of Deen becomes a kaafir, such as the Qadianis, Deobandi, Wahabi, Raafdi (Shia) and Naichari (Naturalist) etc.

References

1. Fatawa Mustafawiyah, Ghaus-ul-Waqt Mufti e Azam e Hind Mawlana Mustafa Rida Khan Qadri RadiyAllahu Anhu.

[Translation]

Mufti Afthab Cassim Qadri Ridawi Noori