The word Kafir is inducing many Muslims to, not integrate themselves with other non-Muslims.
The word Kafir and justification for punishment for kafirs have been used extensively by various Islamic rulers against non-Muslims during last 1300 or so years of Islamic history. Non-Muslims were levied taxes known as Jizya to force them into submission to Islam, also indescribable violence towards Kafirs and many times justification of violence against non-Muslims or Kafirs were carried out by Islamic invaders. The word Jizya comes from Persia when Arabic Islam invaded the Sassanid empire. Arabic Muslim invaders adopted the Sassanid system of taxes and levied a special tax on those who didn’t accept their rule. The people on whom this tax was levied were called dhimmi. The word Kafir thus holds to be the most racist and derogatory term ever used in the history of the world.
Islam makes a very strong distinction between Muslims and non-Muslims. The distinction often creates islands of Muslim communities wherever Islam is practiced. Ultimately the goal of Islamic rulers is to make everyone subservient to Islam. The six principal articles of faith as per Islam are God, His messengers, angels, revealed books, day of resurrection (Kayamat) and destiny. Anyone who doesn’t believe in them or has an alternate system of beliefs is called kafir.
Unless the definition of Kafir is resolved there won’t be any integration between Muslim and Non-Muslim communities.
The word kafir is a pejorative and derogatory term usually used for non-Muslims. It is almost used as abuse by Muslims. While many educated Muslims also want to remove this term from all Islamic texts, but the extremist Islamic clerics want to continue usage of this term. All Islamic conquests against non-Muslims or Kafirs have been religiously motivated due to hatred spawning from this word. There is another term called ‘Mushriq’ which means a polytheist. There is another related term used which is known as ‘Takfir’, which means a person falsely claiming to be a Muslim. Sometimes people use the term ‘Kufr’ also which is also similar to ‘kafir’.
In Quran, the word Kafir or its adjectives or plural terms are used 420 times in total. The first usage of this term was in Mecca when the locals didn’t believe in the message of Mohammed. The usage of this term varies in different situations academically. However, the practical application of this term especially against non-Muslims has been consistent throughout the history of political Islam whether it is conquering Levant, Persia, Indian Subcontinent, Far East or anywhere else.
The believers in Islam are called Muminin. Towards the end of the Quran, Muminin are called upon to destroy Kafir. That was the basis of all Islamic conquests in the Middle East and also the Far East. Now the same attitude is seen in Muslims in Europe and also beginning to be seen in the USA and Canada. The people of the book, Jews and Christians are also considered kafirs because it is assumed in the Quran that they are different than Muminin. The theological concepts of Christianity lie in Trinity which is somewhat rejected by the Quran. There are many interpretations by various Islamic scholars, that people of the book are pardoned as long as they pay Jizya. But others were considered heretic and were called Mushriq, which refers to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, and many other communities and as such they have to be punished by sword and death. Even in Islamic countries, anyone who is branded a Kafir is punishable by death. For example, Islamic violence against Hindu, Buddhist, Yezidi, Christians, Ahmadiyya in Islamic countries is barbaric, to say the least, but it’s justified.
We see the application of this term used exploitatively against all non-Muslims. But the worst was reserved for Hindus, Buddhists, and other eastern faiths. Most Indonesians were also called Mushriks because they believe in a Hindu text Ramayan. Now in Indonesia also there is a campaign against Hindus as they are branded as Kafirs.
During Mughal times, in India, a tax called Jizya was applied on all non-Muslims. The barbarism of Taimur, Aurangzeb, Akbar, Babur stemmed from the fact that Quranic verses (9.1-15) were used to justify the acts of violence against kafirs until they submitted to Islam. This was the same formula used in all conquests of Islam against Levant, Persia, Afghanistan, Central Asia, India, South East Asia and so on. I have mentioned the Islamic conquest in detail in my first book on Sattology.
This word is inducing many Muslims to, not integrate themselves with other non-Muslims. A small child in a Muslim family is trained to not mix with Kafirs. Therefore, those children when they grow up never integrate with other non-Muslim population in a non-Muslim country. Even though a Muslim family may live in a very safe democratic country but they will always keep themselves aloof from other non-Muslim people because they are trained to fear the loss of identity if they mix too much. Also, a fear of becoming a Mushriq or mixed belief is instilled in them right from childhood.
For democratic societies where people of multiple faiths live, it is highly recommended to take the following steps to ensure the integration of Muslims and Non-Muslims:
I will highly recommend Islamic and other religious scholars to think on this topic and come with solutions in conjunction with non-Muslim religious beliefs from Hindu, Buddhist, Christians, Sikhs, and Jews for lasting peace and confidence between different communities. Unless this definition is resolved there won’t be any integration between Muslim and Non-Muslim communities. Because there will always be one section that will hate others and another section having no confidence of security.
Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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I saw the image in google and wanted to see the article, and what I saw was barbarities then I was going to comment to probably say that the author should learn first and then create the article because the world is full of ignorant people, but I saw the comments of people, and I am proud of that.
Unfortunately, the only thing racist in this article is the article itself.
"kafir" came from the word "cover" in English, With the Arabic version being "kufr" and when it becomes an adjective it becomes: "kafir".
So a kafir is someone who covers himself from other religions by not believing in them.
Or more simply, for a Muslim, "kafir" means "non-muslim", for a Christian, "non-christian", for a Jewish, "non-jewish", etc...
It's not like an insult or a racist word.
You are definitely a kafir.
The person who made this article? Absolutely is!
What are you crying about Kafir means someone who is not Muslim and denies the truth it is not like your Hindu nazi caste system.
What are you ranting about? it seems that as a hindu nazi you are projecting your own racist religion and its caste system and practices on to others.
Stupid guy, caste system isn't our word, it came from Portugese. We called it Varna System, which means there are naturally four types of different humans based on their Karma. If you're meat eater, ignorant, laborer, works for salary then you fall on the Shudra category, if you're a farmer or own a farm or run a business then you're a Vaishya, if you're a administrator or in army then you are a Kshatriya, and if you are a learned man, devotee, teacher, vegetarian then you are a Brahmana. Understand before you criticize mindlessly.
Hitler and Nazi are quite close to you people. They were all descendants of Christian faith and hated Jews, just like yours does.
I don't remember that once in a history did any Hindu kings or ruler butchered other people based on their faith calling them Kafirs or Heathens.
Kafir, for muslims, is a non-believer in Mohammad and his vision of his god. For me, it is the opposite. They do not believe in my vision of God. For me, they are kafir.
It all boils down to how you look at things. But it would be better if this word is removed as it is derogatory.
Kaffir:
Kafir word has to go, root cause of divide among Hindus and Muslims .. Chinese have banned it! It is used 420 times in the book but the interpretation what the book intended and what maulvis say contradicts the greatest Paigbar Saheb PBUH ?
So explanation by few folks here is not going to solve the alienation and hatred issue that this concept with communal interpretation brings for the Non Muslims.. Why should we live with this tag of “Kaffirs” ?
Quran humare sabhyata; jo ki Bhartiye hai ka ek Pak Book aur Knowledge hai and every desh bhakt bows to it ...
The Rig Veda, which is more than 2000 years old as far as written history is concerned and many times more as per oral history says
‘Ekam Sat, Viprah Bahudaa Vadanti'
meaning
'The Truth, is One. The wise call it by many names'
Ye Allah, Thomas the Apostle
aur Shiv/ Vishnu ki bhoomi hai let’s preserve this.. The Idea Of India is very beautiful. .. Read more in my next book “ India: An Unbroken Civilization” to be launched in Sep 2019 ?
Murrica, bitches! Happy 4th you Mussie motherfuckers, hope JSOC eliminates you all!
What are you blathering, stupid fool? This site is for nuanced observations.
The day when they stop calling me a kafir is the day when I stop calling them camel piss drinkers.
First of all, the word "kafir" is not racist by any means.
It came for the English word "cover", "kufr" in Arabic, and when it becomes and adjective it becomes "kafir"
And simply, "kafir" means "non-muslim", or if you're a Christian then it means "non-christian", if you're a jew, then it's "non-jew".
Plus, no one usually uses that word, we call you by your religion, Christian: "masihi", Jew "yahudi" etc... (or an atheist if you don't believe in a religion).
So the one being racist here is You unfortunately.
I'd also like to let You know, Islam is not an Arab-only religion, its for whoever believes in it, so calling us "camel piss drinkers" is kinda stupid, especially since drinking such thing is haram for us, not sure if it's an okay thing for you.
Good article on the topic with historic context.
The book 'The infidel next door' is based on how a Muslim boy, the son of an imam and a son of a Hindu priest who is seen as a 'kafir' by him grow up next door to each other and their tumultuous relationship. The book holds back no stones to say why they find it difficult to stay next to each other and find it difficult to integrate. Recently released by Utpal Publications, it is a gem and talks of a prohibited topic with sensitivity and depth about how Hindus and Muslims in India think. I encourage everyone to read it.
I would really very much yearned to read that book, but then it is banned the sales and distribution in my country.Being in possession of that book, if caught, could give you up to 5 years in detention under the once ISA acts.