Center for the Study of Political Islam International

Who Are The Kafirs?

January 20, 2025

The division of humanity into groups of people according to the model "US vs. THEM," where the US has a positive image, and the THEM a negative one, is one of the signs of a political ideology. The presence of these meanings is revealed using the method of political discourse analysis.

A characteristic feature of Islamic primary texts is the abundance of text dedicated to Kafirs (non-Muslims). It makes up 51% of the primary doctrine (1). This fact alone indicates the political nature of Islam.

The original meaning of the word "Kafir," is "one who hides or keeps silent about the truth." A Kafir denies Islam as the only existing truth on Earth. Even if a person has never expressed his opinion about Islam, he is still a Kafir because he does not profess Islam.

The Islamic doctrine is dualistic in its content. This means that on the same topic you will find explanations that are opposite in meaning. This is the confusing principle inherent to the Islamic doctrine. Attempts to give an unambiguous description of this text will be in vain. It contains both non-violent and violent verses about any given subject. Both are true.

So, is Islam non-violent or violent? The answer is both.

This duality is also evident in the topic of Kafirs. In addition to non-violent statements, the Koran says that a Kafir can be deceived, hated, enslaved, ridiculed, tortured and killed. A Kafir is anyone who does not accept Allah as the only god and Mohammed as his messenger. The word "Kafir" is not neutral; on the contrary, it has a derogatory meaning.

The emergence of such views in society will inevitably lead to a noticeable division along religious and political lines, accompanied by an increase in "justified" violence.

📖 Doctrinal quotes

Koran (2):

86:15 Lo! they plot a plot (against thee, O Muhammad) And I plot a plot (against them). So give a respite to the disbelievers. Deal thou gently with them for a while.

83:34 - 36 This day it is those who believe who have the laugh of disbelievers, On high couches, gazing. Are not the disbelievers paid for what they used to do?

5:33 The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom;

2:191 And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers.

23:97-98 And say: My Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from suggestions of the evil ones, And I seek refuge in Thee, my Lord, lest they be present with me,...

📚Sources

  1. https://www.cspii.org/learn-political-islam/methodology/statistical-analysis-political-islam/amount-text-devoted-kafir/
  2. Pickthall, Marmaduke. 1930. The Meaning of The Glorious Koran, An Explanatory Translation, New York: Alfred A Knopf.

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#Political_Islam #Kafirs #Koran

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