Difference between revisions of "Infidel" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
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==In Islam==
 
==In Islam==
{{main|kafir}}
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''Kafir'' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: {{lang|ar| كافر }} ''{{ArabDIN|kāfir}}''; plural {{lang|ar|  كفّار }} ''{{ArabDIN|kuffār}}'') is an Arabic word meaning an unbeliever, a person who hides, denies, or covers the truth. In cultural terms, it is a derogatory term<ref>[http://www.islamonline.net/livefatwa/english/Browse.asp?hGuestID=8zOFOr]</ref> used to describe an unbeliever, non-Muslims, a Muslim of a differing sect, or an [[Apostasy in Islam|apostate]] from Islam. It is usually translated into [[English language|English]] as "infidel" or "unbeliever".
In [[Islam]], the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word ''[[kafir]]'' ('''كافر''') refers to a person who inwardly or outwardly denies [[Allah]] and/or the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]]. Because the term is considered derogatory,<ref name = "Brill">Bjorkman, W. "Kafir." ''[[Encyclopaedia of Islam]]''. Brill, Brill Online.</ref> Muslim scholars discourage its usage due to the Quran's command to use kind words.<ref name="Islamonline.net">{{Cite web|url=http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=1123996016352&pagename=IslamOnline-English-AAbout_Islam/AskAboutIslamE/AskAboutIslamE|title=''General Fatwa Session''|accessdate=2007-02-23|publisher=[[Islamonline.net]]|year=2005|author=Sheikh Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Al-Shinqiti|work=Living Shariah > Live Fatwa|format=HTML}} The scholar quotes Al-Baqarah 2: 83.</ref> It is even a punishable offence to use this term against a Jew or a Christian, under Islamic law.<ref name = "Brill"/>
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Some distinguish between Kafir and non-Muslims, as Kafir is used by the Qur'an for people, who were guilty of rejection or non-acceptance of the truth, even after it has become fully apparent to them, while ''non-Muslim'' is primarily a term implying a person, who does not ascribe to the Islamic faith.<ref>Moiz Amjad, ''Non-Muslims & Kaafirs'', [http://www.understanding-islam.com Understanding-Islam.com], [[Al-Mawrid]].[http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=question&qid=1642]</ref>, such has been historically used to identify [[Hindus]], [[Buddhists]], [[Zoroastrians]], and followers of non-denominational religions or local, pagan traditions.
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According to a consensus of Islamic scholars [[People of the Book]] &mdash; that is to say [[Christian]]s, [[Jew]]s (including [[Samaritan]]s) and "[[Sabians]]" &mdash; are  ''kafir'' (infidels) because even if they are considered recipients of divine revelation from God, the Qur'an literally stamps them with the term ''Al-Ladheena Kafaru'' (those who have become Kafir) / ''Walaqad Kaffara'' (Surely they have become kafirs).
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'''[[Ibn Taymiyah]]''' says:
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:Not believing in God and His Messenger, whether that is accompanied by denial or it is not accompanied by denial but rather doubt, or turning away from faith out of jealousy or arrogance, or because one is following whims and desires that prevent one from following the message. So kufr is the attribute of everyone who rejects something that God has commanded us to believe in, after news of that has reached him, whether he rejects it in his heart without uttering it, or he speaks those words of rejection without believing it in his heart, or he does both; or he does an action which is described in the texts as putting one beyond the pale of faith.
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'''[[Ibn Hazam]]''' said in his book al-Fasl:
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:Rejecting something for which there is sound proof that there can be no faith without believing in it is kufr, and uttering words for which there is proof that uttering them is kufr. Doing any action for which there is proof that it is kufr is also kufr.
  
 
==The Crusades==
 
==The Crusades==
 
The [[Crusades]] of Medieval times were an attempt to take back what the Christians considered to be their holy land from the [[Muslims]]. The most important of these lands was [[Jerusalem]]. “Taking the Cross” meant for European noblemen to take arms for the [[Pope]] against the Infidel of [[Arabia]], also known as the [[Saracen]]. To take the cross meant a complete pardon for past [[sins]] and favor gained in the eyes of the church. Although the crusades were for some a religious endeavor, for others it was a political move.
 
The [[Crusades]] of Medieval times were an attempt to take back what the Christians considered to be their holy land from the [[Muslims]]. The most important of these lands was [[Jerusalem]]. “Taking the Cross” meant for European noblemen to take arms for the [[Pope]] against the Infidel of [[Arabia]], also known as the [[Saracen]]. To take the cross meant a complete pardon for past [[sins]] and favor gained in the eyes of the church. Although the crusades were for some a religious endeavor, for others it was a political move.
  
The Crusades occurred between the years of 1096 and 1291. There were eight crusades in all. The first crusade was called for by [[Pope Urban II]]. Prior to the first crusade, the [[Byzantine Empire]] ([[Orthodox Christians]]) and their Islamic neighbors, the Saracens, had a relatively stable relationship with occasional small skirmishes. While the Saracens were in control of the holy city of Jerusalem, Christians were allowed to make [[pilgrimages]] there. However the coming of a new, more warlike and fearsome group of Muslims, the [[Seljuk Turks]], took over control of Jerusalem and began to persecute the Christians there.
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The Crusades occurred between the years of 1096 and 1291. There were eight crusades in all. The first crusade was called for by [[Pope Urban II]]. Prior to the first crusade, the [[Byzantine Empire]] ([[Orthodox Christians]]) and their Islamic neighbors, the Saracens, had a relatively stable relationship with occasional small skirmishes. While the Saracens were in control of the holy city of Jerusalem, Christians were allowed to make [[pilgrimages]] there. However the coming of a new, more warlike and fearsome group of Muslims, the [[Seljuk Turks]], took over control of Jerusalem and began to persecute the Christians in the city.
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==

Revision as of 13:24, 29 October 2007



An infidel (literally "one without faith") is an offensive English word meaning "one who doubts or rejects central tenets of a religion or has no religious beliefs," especially in reference to Christianity or Islam.[1][2][3][4] When used in an Islamic sense it serves as a translation of the Arabic word kafir (literally "one who denies the blessings of God") referring to all non-Muslims.[5][6]

Etymology

First used in Middle English circa 1460 (adjective, noun), from the Middle French infidèle, and from Latin infidelis "unfaithful," later "unbelieving," In the 15c. meaning "a non-Christian" (especially a Saracen); later "one who does not believe in religion" (1526). Also used to translate Arabic kafir, from a root meaning "to disbelieve, to deny," strictly referring to all non-Muslims but virtually synonymous with "Christian"; hence, from a Muslim or Jewish point of view, "a Christian".[5]

In Christianity

In Roman Catholic Christianity, the term "infidel" is an ecclesiastical term referring to one who does not believe in the divinity of Jesus or one who has not been baptized. A heretic, in contrast, is an individual who believes in the divinity of Jesus, but also knowingly holds beliefs that contradict Catholic dogma, while a schismatic is an individual who does not hold beliefs contrary to Catholic dogma, but denies the authority of the Catholic Church.[7]

In Islam

Kafir (Arabic: كافر kāfir; plural كفّار kuffār) is an Arabic word meaning an unbeliever, a person who hides, denies, or covers the truth. In cultural terms, it is a derogatory term[8] used to describe an unbeliever, non-Muslims, a Muslim of a differing sect, or an apostate from Islam. It is usually translated into English as "infidel" or "unbeliever".

Some distinguish between Kafir and non-Muslims, as Kafir is used by the Qur'an for people, who were guilty of rejection or non-acceptance of the truth, even after it has become fully apparent to them, while non-Muslim is primarily a term implying a person, who does not ascribe to the Islamic faith.[9], such has been historically used to identify Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, and followers of non-denominational religions or local, pagan traditions.

According to a consensus of Islamic scholars People of the Book — that is to say Christians, Jews (including Samaritans) and "Sabians" — are kafir (infidels) because even if they are considered recipients of divine revelation from God, the Qur'an literally stamps them with the term Al-Ladheena Kafaru (those who have become Kafir) / Walaqad Kaffara (Surely they have become kafirs).

Ibn Taymiyah says:

Not believing in God and His Messenger, whether that is accompanied by denial or it is not accompanied by denial but rather doubt, or turning away from faith out of jealousy or arrogance, or because one is following whims and desires that prevent one from following the message. So kufr is the attribute of everyone who rejects something that God has commanded us to believe in, after news of that has reached him, whether he rejects it in his heart without uttering it, or he speaks those words of rejection without believing it in his heart, or he does both; or he does an action which is described in the texts as putting one beyond the pale of faith.

Ibn Hazam said in his book al-Fasl:

Rejecting something for which there is sound proof that there can be no faith without believing in it is kufr, and uttering words for which there is proof that uttering them is kufr. Doing any action for which there is proof that it is kufr is also kufr.

The Crusades

The Crusades of Medieval times were an attempt to take back what the Christians considered to be their holy land from the Muslims. The most important of these lands was Jerusalem. “Taking the Cross” meant for European noblemen to take arms for the Pope against the Infidel of Arabia, also known as the Saracen. To take the cross meant a complete pardon for past sins and favor gained in the eyes of the church. Although the crusades were for some a religious endeavor, for others it was a political move.

The Crusades occurred between the years of 1096 and 1291. There were eight crusades in all. The first crusade was called for by Pope Urban II. Prior to the first crusade, the Byzantine Empire (Orthodox Christians) and their Islamic neighbors, the Saracens, had a relatively stable relationship with occasional small skirmishes. While the Saracens were in control of the holy city of Jerusalem, Christians were allowed to make pilgrimages there. However the coming of a new, more warlike and fearsome group of Muslims, the Seljuk Turks, took over control of Jerusalem and began to persecute the Christians in the city.

Notes

  1. "Infidel," The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
  2. "Infidel," Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
  3. "infidel." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Answers.com 23 Jul. 2007.
  4. "'Infidel' has been used by Christians and Muslims to name the people outside their religious group, the ones who do not have faith (fides in Latin)." George Weckman, "The Language of the Study of Religion: A Handbook," 2001, Xlibris Corporation ISBN 0738851051 pg. 64-65.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Etymology of "infidel" by the Online Etymology Dictionary
  6. Etymology of "kaffir" by the Online Etymology Dictionary
  7. 1910 Catholic Encyclopedia [1]
  8. [2]
  9. Moiz Amjad, Non-Muslims & Kaafirs, Understanding-Islam.com, Al-Mawrid.[3]

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