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How Does Kafir Mean Rejector of Truth?


By Ali Eteraz
Posted on Mon Feb 05, 2007 at 10:28:51 PM EST
Tags: kafir, takfir, islam (all tags)

In my post Talking Takfir I tried to clarify some of the misunderstandings around the word "takfir."

One of the commentators wondered about my understanding of the word "kafir."

So, I asked someone studying Islamic Law with numerous years studying Arabic. Here is the response:

Me: Can you please provide the authority upon which al mawrid relies in comcluding that kafir means "rejector of Truth."

The Student: [It is] based on a variety of things, but primarily the Qur'an itself (when you take the kafir verses collectively) and various arabic dictionaries (including lisan al-arab).  Of course, its not that new a definition.  The core definition of kafir is in reference to a farmer who sows his land or a "sower."  The reason this is what a sower is called is because kafir literally means someone who covers seed with earth - similarly kafir in the religious context is one who covers the truth (despite knowing its there). 

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Tags: kafir, takfir, islam (all tags)
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How Does Kafir Mean Rejector of Truth? | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)
socialization(none / 0) (#1)
by paranoun on Tue Feb 06, 2007 at 05:56:26 AM EST
<div>

'..similarly kafir in the religious context is one who covers the truth (despite knowing its there).'  a student wrote.

I think there is an agreement that 'covering' is part of the meaning of Kafir.  the covering is done, however, to protect until the seed 'explodes' and shoot its tiny leaves into the sun.  Same could be said about the cluster of dates that remain protected until they are big and strong enough to (internally) rip the Kafir open. 

'fitra' is pretty much like the covered seed or the cluster of dates covered by the kafir (being not Muslim).  the energy and vitality for what is good is there in all of us; fitra, much like the seed or dates, would emerge when the time is right.

the cover is to protect; there is no 'MALICE' when the farmer does it.  Malice, being wrong, being less than muslims IS the connotation one gets from reading current discourse about 'kafir'  goodness and decency is inherent in each human being.  goodness and decency are not the monopoly of muslims, as the popular understand of kafir leads us to believe.

it is said: al insan yooladu ala al fitra: abawaho yohawwidanuh, or yonassiranoh or yomajsanoh.

which means that we are all borne with 'fitra', what makes us different is that our parents socialize us into being Jews, or Christians or Majoos. 

goodness, decency etc are there...socialization is the kafir, not the insan.

</div>



stick to the subject of the post(none / 0) (#4)
by Ali Eteraz on Tue Feb 06, 2007 at 02:44:53 PM EST

i know u dont mean it but stop with the threadjacking

this post has a very specific focus. please stick to that.

and the fact that you're still asking these questions means, humbly, that you missed the point of the previous post (and its main premise) i.e. that we do not have authority to answer the questions that you're asking. it has nothing to do with bohras. it has everything to do with who has authority to make these decisions. we do not. moving on.

im deleting your comments b/c they are totally unrelated to the post here and now. once this comment has been up for some time ill remove it too. 



Well then...(none / 0) (#6)
by AnonyMouse on Tue Feb 06, 2007 at 03:20:45 PM EST

...could you move the comments to the 'Talking Takfir' post, which it is related to? (If possible to do so)


Musings of a Muslim Mousehttp://www.muslimmouse.blogspot.com
[ Parent ]
Never mind(none / 0) (#7)
by AnonyMouse on Tue Feb 06, 2007 at 03:43:22 PM EST
Perhaps it's better to just let this particular debate alone.
Musings of a Muslim Mousehttp://www.muslimmouse.blogspot.com
[ Parent ]






Cover not/= Reject(none / 0) (#5)
by chatterwaul on Tue Feb 06, 2007 at 03:11:47 PM EST

One who covers the truth is not necessarily the same as one who rejects the truth.

One can accept the Word but hide that acceptance (taqiya) while another level is to simply reject the Word.

In this sense, I wonder if, as Amad has asserted, Jews and Christian really qualify as kaffirs. I would honestly like to know the correct usage and not the extreme usage:

Amad says: "But, after reading Ali's little rant, I can see that this forum is not even willing to see the Jews & Christians as Kafirs, let alone the deviants who claim Islam. Wallahu Musta'an."

Is it technically correct or just muslim arrogance and chauvinism?





How Does Kafir Mean Rejector of Truth? | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)

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