Kafir
The linguistic meaning of this word comes from the verb kafara, which means to cover a seed with dirt. A kafir is one who does kufr (the act of covering a seed with dirt.) This term is used in Islam in both a spiritual sense and a legal sense. Spiritually speaking, a kafir is one who covers the metaphorical “seed” of truth, with the “dirt” of lies. Thus any person who covers the truth knowingly, either to themselves (in an act of self denial) or before others, commits an act of kufr and will be liable on Judgement Day. In Islamic Law, a kafir is a non-Muslim. It should be noted that not every kafir in the legal sense is a kafir in the spiritual sense, because not every non-Muslim has rejected the truth knowingly. Furthermore, some people may be Muslims in the legal sense, but kafir in the spiritual sense; for example, scholars who knowingly lie and obfuscate truths about the religion.
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December 13, 2017 @ 5:40 pm
I hate that most people think that kafir is a derogatory term against non-muslims, almost no one understands the real meaning of this word :/
December 14, 2017 @ 12:50 pm
Well it is derogatory. But it’s more complex than simply “ew you’re not the same as me” and it’s not a term intended for insult. It just has a negative connotation because of what it potentially signifies about the person’s spiritual state.