Kafir

"Ali: 52Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness, with the (Qur'an)."

"Pickthall: 52So obey not the disbelievers, but strive against them herewith with a great endeavour."

"Yet do they worship, besides Allah, things that can neither profit them nor harm them: and the Misbeliever is a helper (of Evil), against his own Lord!"

""They will say there in their mutual bickerings: "'By Allah, we were truly in an error manifest, "'When we held you as equals with the Lord of the Worlds; "'And our seducers were only those who were steeped in guilt."

"And thou hadst not expected that the Book would be sent to thee except as a Mercy from thy Lord: Therefore lend not thou support in any way to those who reject (Allah's Message)."

"The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the spider, who builds (to itself) a house; but truly the flimsiest of houses is the spider's house;- if they but knew. Verily Allah doth know of (every thing) whatever that they call upon besides Him: and He is Exalted (in power), Wise."

""Bring ye up", it shall be said, "The wrong-doers and their wives, and the things they worshipped- "Besides Allah, and lead them to the Way to the (Fierce) Fire! "But stop them, for they must be asked:"

"Nay, but that day they shall submit (to Judgment); And they will turn to one another, and question one another. They will say: "It was ye who used to come to us from the right hand (of power and authority)!" They will reply: "Nay, ye yourselves had no Faith! "Nor had we any authority over you. Nay, it was ye who were a people in obstinate rebellion! "So now has been proved true, against us, the word of our Lord that we shall indeed (have to) taste (the punishment of our sins). "We led you astray: for truly we were ourselves astray.""

"Ali: 4Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been Allah's Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost."

"Pickthall: 4Now when ye meet in battle those who disbelieve, then it is smiting of the necks until, when ye have routed them, then making fast of bonds; and afterward either grace or ransom till the war lay down its burdens. That (is the ordinance). And if Allah willed He could have punished them (without you) but (thus it is ordained) that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He rendereth not their actions vain."

"Soon will He guide them and improve their condition, And admit them to the Garden which He has announced for them. O ye who believe! If ye will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly. But those who reject (Allah),- for them is destruction, and (Allah) will render their deeds astray (from their mark). That is because they hate the Revelation of Allah; so He has made their deeds fruitless. Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the End of those before them (who did evil)? Allah brought utter destruction on them, and similar (fates await) those who reject Allah. That is because Allah is the Protector of those who believe, but those who reject Allah have no protector. Verily Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds, to Gardens beneath which rivers flow; while those who reject Allah will enjoy (this world) and eat as cattle eat; and the Fire will be their abode. And how many cities, with more power than thy city which has driven thee out, have We destroyed (for their sins)? and there was none to aid them. Is then one who is on a clear (Path) from his Lord, no better than one to whom the evil of his conduct seems pleasing, and such as follow their own lusts? (Here is) a Parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised: in it are rivers of water incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine, a joy to those who drink; and rivers of honey pure and clear. In it there are for them all kinds of fruits; and Grace from their Lord. (Can those in such Bliss) be compared to such as shall dwell for ever in the Fire, and be given, to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels (to pieces)?"

"Ali: 29Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; and those who are with him are strong against Unbelievers, (but) compassionate amongst each other. Thou wilt see them bow and prostrate themselves (in prayer), seeking Grace from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. On their faces are their marks, (being) the traces of their prostration. This is their similitude in the Taurat; and their similitude in the Gospel is: like a seed which sends forth its blade, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick, and it stands on its own stem, (filling) the sowers with wonder and delight. As a result, it fills the Unbelievers with rage at them. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous deeds forgiveness, and a great Reward."

"Pickthall: 29Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves. Thou (O Muhammad) seest them bowing and falling prostrate (in worship), seeking bounty from Allah and (His) acceptance. The mark of them is on their foreheads from the traces of prostration. Such is their likeness in the Torah and their likeness in the Gospel - like as sown corn that sendeth forth its shoot and strengtheneth it and riseth firm upon its stalk, delighting the sowers - that He may enrage the disbelievers with (the sight of) them. Allah hath promised, unto such of them as believe and do good works, forgiveness and immense reward."

"Thou wilt not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, loving those who resist Allah and His Messenger, even though they were their fathers or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred. For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with a spirit from Himself. And He will admit them to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, to dwell therein (for ever). Allah will be well pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allah. Truly it is the Party of Allah that will achieve Felicity."

"It is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he may proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it). O ye who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty?- That ye believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: That will be best for you, if ye but knew! He will forgive you your sins, and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the Supreme Achievement. And another (favour will He bestow,) which ye do love,- help from Allah and a speedy victory. So give the Glad Tidings to the Believers."

"So hearken not to those who deny (the Truth). Their desire is that thou shouldst be pliant: so would they be pliant. Heed not the type of despicable men,- ready with oaths, A slanderer, going about with calumnies, (Habitually) hindering (all) good, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin, Violent (and cruel),- with all that, base-born,- Because he possesses wealth and (numerous) sons."

"(The stern command will say): "Seize ye him, and bind ye him, "And burn ye him in the Blazing Fire. Further, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits! This was he that would not believe in Allah Most High.""

"Ali: 1Those who reject (Truth), among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, were not going to depart (from their ways) until there should come to them Clear Evidence,- 2An messenger from Allah, rehearsing scriptures kept pure and holy: 3Wherein are laws (or decrees) right and straight. 4Nor did the People of the Book make schisms, until after there came to them Clear Evidence. 5And they have been commanded no more than this: To worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion, being true (in faith); to establish regular prayer(to Allah), practise regular charity (according to Islam); and that is the Religion Right and Straight. 6Those who reject (Truth), among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, will be in Hell-Fire, to dwell therein (for aye). They are the worst of creatures. 7Those who have faith and do righteous deeds,- they are the best of creatures. 8Their reward is with Allah: Gardens of Eternity, beneath which rivers flow; they will dwell therein for ever; Allah well pleased with them, and they with Him: all this for such as fear their Lord and Cherisher."

"Pickthall: 1Those who disbelieve among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters could not have left off (erring) till the clear proof came unto them, 2A messenger from Allah, reading purified pages 3Containing correct scriptures. 4Nor were the People of the Scripture divided until after the clear proof came unto them. 5And they are ordered naught else than to serve Allah, keeping religion pure for Him, as men by nature upright, and to establish worship and to pay the poor-due. That is true religion. 6Lo! those who disbelieve, among the People of the Scripture and the idolaters, will abide in fire of hell. They are the worst of created beings. 7And) lo! those who believe and do good works are the best of created beings. 8Their reward is with their Lord: Gardens of Eden underneath which rivers flow, wherein they dwell for ever. Allah hath pleasure in them and they have pleasure in Him. This is (in store) for him who feareth his Lord."

"[T]he term kāfir cannot be simply equated, as many Muslim theologians of post-classical times and practically all Western translators of the Qur’ān have done, with “unbeliever” or “infidel” in the specific, restricted sense of one who rejects the system of doctrine and law promulgated in the Qur’ān and amplified by the teachings of the Prophet — but must have a wider, more general meaning. This meaning is easily grasped when we bear in mind that the root verb of the participial noun kāfir (and of the infinitive noun kufr) is kafara, “he [or “it”] covered [a thing]”: thus, in 57:20 the tiller of the soil is called (without any pejorative implication) kāfir, “one who covers,” i.e., the sown seed with earth, just as the night is spoken of as having “covered” (kafara) the earth with darkness. In their abstract sense, both the verb and the nouns derived from it have a connotation of “concealing” something that exists or “denying” something that is true. Hence, in the usage of the Qur’ān — with the exception of the one instance (in 57:20) where this participial noun signifies a “tiller of the soil” - a kāfir is “one who denies [or “refuses to acknowledge”] the truth” in the widest, spiritual sense of this latter term: that is, irrespective of whether it relates to a cognition of the supreme truth — namely, the existence of God - or to a doctrine or ordinance enunciated in the divine writ, or to a self-evident moral proposition, or to an acknowledgment of, and therefore gratitude for, favours received."

"To the Muslims, a Hindu (and any non-Muslim) is a Kafir. A Kafir (non-believer in Islam) is not worthy of respect. He is a low born and without status. That is why a country ruled by the kafir (non-muslim) is a ‘Dār ul harb’ (i.e. the land of war) to a Muslim, which must be conquered, by any means for the Muslims and turned into ‘Dār ul Islām’ (i.e., land of Muslims alone)."

"Being kafir is a defect in both ghulām and bandi as by nature the Musalman detests to associate with or keep company of a kāfir."

"In other words, Islam is Islam and Kufr is Kufr, and never the twain can meet."

"The honour of Islam lies in insulting kufr and kafirs. One who respects the kafirs dishonours the Muslims…. The real purpose of levying jiziya on them is to humiliate them to such an extent that they may not be able to dress well and to live in grandeur. They should constantly remain terrified and trembling. It is intended to hold them under contempt and to uphold the honour and might of Islam."

"But merely refraining from befriending and associating with kafirs is not enough. Enmity against the enemies of Allah and the Prophet is a duty incumbent upon every Muslim, declare the ulema. In the Fatawa-i-Rizvia the fatwas on kafirs are grouped under the heading, ‘Nafrat ke Ahkam’ — the ‘Ordinances of Hatred.’ Anyone to whom the struggle between Islam and kufr is ‘just a quarrel between clerics’ is himself a kafir: he is out of Islam, his wives are out of his nikah, declare the fatwas... ‘And among these Kafirs too there are gradations,’ declares the Fatawa-i-Rizvia in its Nafrat ke Ahkam, the Ordinances of Hatred. ‘One hard kind of basic kufr is Christianity; worse than it is Magianism; worse than that is idolatry; worse than that is Wahabiyat; and worse than all these and more wicked is Deobandiyat.’"

"A Kafir cannot be better than a Muslim under any circumstances. A Muslim is better than Kafirs in all circumstances."

"To the Mussulman, the Jews or the Christians are not object of extreme detestation; they are at the worst, men of little faith; but not so the Hindu. According to him the Hindu is idolatrous, the hateful Kafir. Hence in this life he deserves to be butchered and in the next, eternal hell is in store for him. The utmost the Mussulman kings could do as a favour to the (Hindu) priestly class - the spiritual guides of these Kafirs - was to allow them somehow to pass their life silently and wait for the last moment. This was again sometimes considered too much kindness. If the religious ardour of any king was a little more uncommon, there would immediately follow arrangements for a great Yajna by way of Kafir- slaughter."