Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam Alikum, Those who dont believe in allah as the only almighty are called as kafirs correct? Are the Christians and Jews also termed as kafirs in the holy quran.

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Answer:

Who are the disbelievers?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His  forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The literal meaning of ‘kufr’ is ‘to deny’, and thus ‘kaafir’ is one who denies.

Indeed those who do not believe in Allah Subhanah as the One and Only Omnipotent Creator and Sustainer of the Universe is a ‘kaafir’; but there are many more denials that make one a ‘kaafir’ in Islamic terminology.

One who disbelieves in Allah Subhanah Alone is a ‘kaafir’.

One who disbelieves in any (even one) of Allah’s Prophets is a ‘kaafir’.

One who disbelieves in the Angels is a ‘kaafir’.

One who disbelieves in any (even one) of Allah’s Revealed Books is a ‘kaafir’.

One who disbelieves in any Aayah of the Holy Quran is a ‘kaafir’.

One who disbelieves in the concept of the Hereafter is a ‘kaafir’.

One who disbelieves in the concept of Divine Decree (Qadr) is a ‘kaafir’.

The Jews and the Christians, although they are termed People of the Book in the Quran, have also been called ‘kaafirs’ or disbelievers by Allah Subhanah. The Jews denied Prophet Isa (a.s.) and the Injeel that was revealed to him; and subsequently they denied the Last Prophet, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws) and the Quran that was revealed to him; and thus they did ‘kufr’ with Allah’s Prophets and Allah’s Revelations.

Similarly, the Christians denied Prophet Mohamed (saws) as a Messenger of Allah, and denied the Quran that was revealed unto him, and were thus guilty of ‘kufr’.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 98 Surah Bayyinah verse 6: Those who did ‘kufr’ 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.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan