Linguistic Reflections on Surah Al-Kafirun (3)

تأملات بيانية في سورة الكافرون

Linguistic Reflections on Surah Al-Kafirun and Its Meaning (Part Three)

Translated by: Reza Ervani bin Asmanu

This article, “Linguistic Reflections on Surah Al-Kafirun and Its Meaning,” is part of the Tadabbur al Quran in English category

وقد جعل الله مُرتكِبَ الكبيرة مُؤمنًا؛ قال تعالى:

Allah still considers the one who commits a major sin to be a believer. Allah Almighty says:

﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِصَاصُ فِي الْقَتْلَى ﴾ [البقرة: ١٧٨]،

“O you who have believed, prescribed for you is legal retribution for those murdered.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 178).

فلم يُخرج القاتلَ من الذين آمنوا، وجعله أخًا لولي القصاص فقال:

In this verse, Allah does not exclude the killer from the group of believers. In fact, He calls him the “brother” of the guardian of retribution, saying:

﴿ فَمَنْ عُفِيَ لَهُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ شَيْءٌ فَاتِّبَاعٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَأَدَاءٌ إِلَيْهِ بِإِحْسَانٍ ﴾ [البقرة: ١٧٨]؛

“But if one is pardoned by his brother in any way, then there should be a suitable follow-up and payment to him with good conduct.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 178).

والمرادُ: أخوة الدين، بلا ريب،

What is meant by “brother” here is brotherhood in faith, without a doubt.

وقال تعالى:

Allah also says:

﴿ وَإِنْ طَائِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا ﴾ إلى قوله: ﴿ إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ﴾ [الحجرات: ٩، ١٠]؛

“And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two.” … up to His saying: “The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers.” (Surah Al-Hujurat: 9–10).

انتهى من “شرح الطحاوية” باختصار.

(End of the summarized excerpt from *Sharh al-Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah*).

وملخص الفروق بين الكفر الأكبر والكفر الأصغر:

Summary of the Differences Between Major and Minor Kufr:

1. Major kufr expels a person from Islam and nullifies all deeds, whereas minor kufr does not expel from Islam nor nullify all deeds, but decreases their value in proportion to the sin and exposes the doer to punishment.
2. Major kufr condemns its doer to eternal residence in Hell, whereas minor kufr — if it leads the doer to Hell — will not keep him there eternally. Allah may forgive him so that he never enters Hell at all.
3. Major kufr necessitates complete enmity between its doer and the believers, making it impermissible to love or show loyalty to him even if he is a close relative. Minor kufr does not prevent loyalty absolutely; rather, the person is loved and shown loyalty in proportion to his faith, and hated and opposed in proportion to his disobedience. ¹

المنهج الحق في السورة:

The True Methodology in This Surah:

في هذه السورة الكريمة رسم للمنهج الحق الذي ندعو الله – تعالى – أن يثبِّتنا عليه حتى نلقاه، ومن هنا فلا مجال للتردد، إما أن تكون من أتباع النبي المصطفى – صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم – وإما أن تسلك سبيلًا غير هذا السبيل، والعياذ بالله – تعالى –

In this noble surah is a depiction of the true path, upon which we ask Allah Almighty to keep us firm until we meet Him. There is no room for hesitation: either you are among the followers of the chosen Prophet ﷺ, or you take a path other than his — and that is a path to ruin, Allah’s refuge is sought.

فالنبيُّ الكريم دعاه ربُّه أن يقول للكافرين بصراحة تامة: أنه لا يعبد ما يعبد هؤلاء المشركون من أصنام وأوثان وأنصاب وأهواء، وأن عبادته تكون لله وحده، ولهذا فإن الله – تعالى – يغضب على كلِّ مَن اتخَذ مِن دون الله تعالى ندًّا.

The noble Prophet was commanded by his Lord to tell the disbelievers explicitly that he does not worship what these polytheists worship — idols, statues, false deities, and desires — and that his worship is solely for Allah alone. Allah Almighty is angered by anyone who sets up a rival to Him in worship and devotion.

وقد جاء في الأثر عن الحسن بن علي بن أبي طالب – رضي الله عنهما وعن الصحابة أجمعين – قوله:

It is narrated in an athar from al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib radhiyallahu ‘anhuma — and from all the Companions — that he said:

إنْ لم تُطعك نفسُك فيما تحملها عليه ممَّا تكره، فلا تُطعها فيما تحملك عليه ممَّا تهوى،

“If your soul does not obey you in compelling it towards what it dislikes, then do not obey it in what it urges you towards from its desires.”

فهذا يُثبت ضرورة التشبُّث بالحق في جميع الأحوال.

This statement affirms the necessity of holding firmly to the truth in all circumstances.

To be continued in the next part, in shaa Allah

Source: Alukah

1. Quoted with slight adaptation from “Aqidah al-Tawhid wa Bayan Ma Yudhadduha min al-Shirk al-Akbar wal-Asghar” by Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan.