What’s the difference between Kafir and Mushrik?

[Cetacea]

Kafir or Kuffar(pl.) means infidel(s)
Mushrik or Mushrikun (pl.) or mushrikeen (pl.) means polytheist(s)

I’ve been given different explanations by Muslims. Which one is correct?

a) Kafir refers to a Christian or a Jew. Mushrik refers to someone who is not a Muslim, or a Christian, or a Jew. Hindus, Buddhists, and atheists are mushrikun. Kuffar deserve more respect because they worship the same God. Mushrikun are the worst. Muslims can not eat animals slaughtered by mushrikun, nor can they marry mushrikun.

b) Kafir and Mushrik are interchangeable. They all mean non-Muslims.

[sanwin25]

Pardon my french Cat, but who really gives a shite anymore ?

[Arabian Princess]

Sanwin, she asked so she want to learn .. if you dont want to .. dont spoil the thread .. just dont open it! :rolleyes:

Cetacea,
both explanation is wrong ..

Mushrik = comes from shirk (which means accomponying something to Allah), so who ever beleives in more than one God is a mushrik.

Kafir = comes from kufur (means not beleiving - and here reffered to Islam), so kufur could be realted to any non beleiver (a mushrik is a kafir, but all kafirs are mushrikeen)

[IceTea]

I agree with AP.

Below verse stating the punishment for the Kuffar and Mushrikeen:



Those who reject (Truth), 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.

[Cetacea]

Originally posted by Arabian Princess
Kafir = comes from kufur (means not beleiving - and here reffered to Islam), so kufur could be realted to any non beleiver (a mushrik is a kafir, but all kafirs are mushrikeen)
AP, did you mean NOT all kafirs were mushrikeen?
Kafir – anyone who is not a Muslim - Christians, Jews, atheists, agnostics, Hindus, Buddhists
Among the Kafirs, those who believe in multiple gods are mushrikeen – Hindus, Buddhists and those who worship the sun, the moon, trees, flowers, mountains and oceans.

Is that about right?


Originally posted by IceTea
Those who reject (Truth), 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.
Ice Tea, thanks for helping me understand the true meaning of Islam – a religion of peace. It does explain the beheading of an innocent civilian. Could you tell me which surah and ayah this is from so next time when people tell me about your peaceful religion, I can show them this paragraph.

[Arabian Princess]

Originally posted by Cetacea
AP, did you mean [b]NOT all kafirs were mushrikeen?
Kafir – anyone who is not a Muslim - Christians, Jews, atheists, agnostics, Hindus, Buddhists
Among the Kafirs, those who believe in multiple gods are mushrikeen – Hindus, Buddhists and those who worship the sun, the moon, trees, flowers, mountains and oceans.

Is that about right?

Yup thats right

[Wanderer]

Originally posted by IceTea
Those who reject (Truth), 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.


Actually, those who mislead others - blinding their eyes with myth and preventing them from true progress are the worst of creatures.

[IceTea]

Originally posted by Cetacea


Ice Tea, thanks for helping me understand the true meaning of Islam – a religion of peace. It does explain the beheading of an innocent civilian. Could you tell me which surah and ayah this is from so next time when people tell me about your peaceful religion, I can show them this paragraph.

Don't be silly, what true meaning of Islam you are talking about. Allah created the whole universe, the erath, human beings, jinn, angels, etc for the purpose of worshiping Allah. He show humans the straight path (Allah path) and the deviated path (the Satan path) and gave human beings the free will. He created the hell and the heaven for a reason, so after all that don't you think there should be a punishment and a reward for both catagories of people. Is it fair to treat all the same, people who obey their God and follow the straight path and on the other hand people who reject the true faith of Islam (which every child is born with)and disobey their creature??

As for the verse you can refer to 98:6.

[IceTea]

Originally posted by Wanderer
Actually, those who mislead others - blinding their eyes with myth and preventing them from true progress are the worst of creatures.

Maybe you are talking about this life only which is a temporary one. I agree if for example your boss at work preventing you from progress then he is a bad guy.

[Cetacea]

Originally posted by IceTea
Is it fair to treat all the same, people who obey their God and follow the straight path and on the other hand people who reject the true faith of Islam (which every child is born with)and disobey their creature??
So a child born in a small village somewhere in South America who had never heard of Islam should be sent to hell, right?


As for the verse you can refer to 98:6.

Thanks.

[Wanderer]

Originally posted by IceTea
Maybe you are talking about this life only which is a temporary one.

Yup, that's why it is so important that peoples' minds aren't filled with silly old mythologies for which there is no supporting evidence.

[Vamp]

Originally posted by Cetacea
So a child born in a small village somewhere in South America who had never heard of Islam should be sent to hell, right?


No,
Cetacea.. we muslims believe that every child is born a muslim.

We also believe that if any child dies, regardless of the religion the child is brought up to practic, he/she will end up in heaven.

[NaBHaN]

To my understanding a kafir is someone who denies that god exists. and a mushrik is someone who believes in more than one.

anyways who cares.. as long as u're good in life.. and dont harm anyone then am sure the lord who has great mercy wont send u to hell.

whats the point of islam? isnt it to lead us to the right path so that we become better people for ourselves and those around us? if a person is good, but just isnt labeled " muslim" cause that person wasnt born into it... then why should that person be sent to hell.

I refuse to believe that someone who was SO GOOD to everyone arround him/her would go to hell just cause he/she wasnt a muslim.

[Cetacea]

Originally posted by NaBHaN
I refuse to believe that someone who was SO GOOD to everyone arround him/her would go to hell just cause he/she wasnt a muslim.
Thanks Nabhan. I like the way you think. While the fundamentalist Christians and Muslims duke it out and send each other to hell, the rest of us can hopefully live in peace. ;)

[Vamp]

then why should that person be sent to hell.

Because he/she is not a muslim!!

Islam is NOT about just being nice to people arround you and treat them well..etc, its also about worshiping the one Almighty God who is the only one that deserves to be worshiped. Its more like thanking him for all the blessing, and everything you have in this life the correct APPROPRIAT way.

Its a combination of being nice to people and being thankful to Allah.

[sanwin25]

So a good person who spends his/her life doing good and worshipping the God he/she believes in and dies will go to hell because they WERE NOT MUSLIM ?

[Cetacea]

Originally posted by sanwin25
So a good person who spends his/her life doing good and worshipping the God he/she believes in and dies will go to hell because they WERE NOT MUSLIM ?
If Mother Teresa is going to hell, there is no much hope for me. :weep:

[Arabian Princess]

I dont think this is an issue for us to discuss .. Hell and Heaven are under Allah's hand and we know he is fair .. so let him judge us!

[NaBHaN]

Originally posted by DeepBlueSea
Because he/she is not a muslim!!

Islam is NOT about just being nice to people arround you and treat them well..etc, its also about worshiping the one Almighty God who is the only one that deserves to be worshiped. Its more like thanking him for all the blessing, and everything you have in this life the correct APPROPRIAT way.

Its a combination of being nice to people and being thankful to Allah.

what if they never came to realy understand islam the way we do? that they were born into another religion just like we were born into islam . would they still go to hell? why should they go to hell for something they had no control of? the judging should be different in their case..and should be based on their good deeds.

well thats the way i see it.

[Arabian Princess]

why should they go to hell for something they had no control of? the judging should be different in their case..and should be based on their good deeds

Nabhan, its like you are teachng Allah how to judge!
you are not the one who decides on what to be Judged .. its Allah ..

[NaBHaN]

Originally posted by Arabian Princess
Nabhan, its like you are teachng Allah how to judge!
you are not the one who decides on what to be Judged .. its Allah ..

am not teaching allah how to judge.. astaghfir allah!! dont misunderstand.. am just posting my view of how muslims should think. THATS ALL. most muslims on this board seem to think they have it all figured out. no one knows for sure how each person will be judged.. so its best to not pin point on who will go to heaven or hell.

[MoonChild]

For perspective, it's a debate that rages amongst Christians too - most of whom ALSO think they have it "all figured out" as Nabs says - but in the end no one really KNOWS do they?

personally, I think those who are smugly self-satisfied that they've got God figured out and can predict who He will send to Hell - are going to be in for a real shock about 5 min after they die ;)

It's just too bad we don't get to watch :p

[Enigma]

I agree with AP. We don't know so we cannot sit here and tell people that they're going to hell.

You just do your best in life and leave the rest up to Allah....

And he is ever the merciful, the forgiving.

[IceTea]

Originally posted by Wanderer
Yup, that's why it is so important that peoples' minds aren't filled with silly old mythologies for which there is no supporting evidence.

You need to think about your destination after this temporary life which you think it's the end for you as a human being, wake up form your dream before it's too late, you never know when angel"Esraeal" will visit you to take your soul.