Definition of the word Kufr (Kafir) & Kafir

Kufr means to conceal, hide or to cover. Therefore, night is called Kafir, as its darkness covers everything; A farmer is called Kafir as he hides the seed under the soil; and A grave is also called al-kafiro as it hides the dead body. The definition of Kufr also includes concealment, or with-holding of information, provisions, rizq, wealth etc. which Allah has created for the good of all the mankind and which Allah wants to be made freely available.

[Quran 2:254] O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided for you before there comes a Day in which there is no exchange and no friendship and no intercession. And the Kaafireen – they are the Zalimeen/wrongdoers.

[Quran 4:37] Who are stingy and enjoin upon people stinginess and conceal what Allah has given them of His bounty – and We have prepared for the Kafireen a humiliating punishment –

Therefore kafir would be anyone who does not let the faculties of oneself or others develop and exposed; anyone who conceals the fundamental, basic truth, values, faculties given by God Almighty; who covers/hides his own or other peoples’ potentials or does not permit these to be used, utilized, developed or exposed for the greater good of the mankind.

These meanings of Kufr as hiding, concealing or covering by inclusion also incorporate the meaning of denying, refusing or rejecting Haq, Allah’s Ayaat.

[Quran 39:32] So who is more unjust than one who lies about Allah and denies the truth when it has come to him? Is there not in Hell a residence for the Kafireen?

[Quran 7:179] We have destined many men and jinn for hell. They have hearts but do not understand, eyes but do not see. They have ears but do not hear. Those are like Animals; Nay, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless.

Those who do not use their faculties and reasoning (Aqal), they are not only considered as Kafir by Quran, in the eyes of Allah they are worse than animals in their path- as we all know that the path of animals is just to survive. We humans are given faculties and reasoning and intellect in order to utilize these faculties, not just to survive.

Kufr In Regards to Allah’s Ayaat in Quran

[Quran 4:150-151] Indeed, those who do Kufr in Allah and His messengers and wish to discriminate between Allah and His messengers and say, “We believe in some and disbelieve in others,” and wish to adopt a way in between -Those are the Kafireen, truly. And We have prepared for the Kafireen a humiliating punishment.

We deny and reject Allah Ayaat in Quran, when we don’t spend time to understand these Quranic Ayaat, when we do not utilize our own faculties to think and ponder on these Quranic Ayaat, when we don’t believe in these Ayaat or when we do not follow these Ayahs in complete submission. By following only the scholars and not spending time and attention on Quranic Ayaat ourselves, we may be reading these Ayaat, we may be following what others would have told us w.r.t. their understanding of the divine guidance, but by not utilizing our own faculties in understanding the Quranic Ayaat ourselves and by following someone else blindly, we are actually being a Kafir.

After understanding these ayahs, we then have to submit with our whole being in compliance to these God-Given rules mentioned in these Ayaat, we have to follow these Ayaat in complete submission to God Almighty and then & only then we would be called Muslim or else it would be Kafir.

[Quran An-Naml 27:81] And you cannot guide the blind away from their error. You will only make hear those who believe in Our Ayaat- so they are Muslims.

Kufr in Regards to Allah’s Ayaat- Creations- 

As we all know, Allah’s many creations scattered all around us in science and universe, including our own human body, is also termed as Allah’s Ayaat in Quran. We deny/reject (do kufr) these Allah’s Ayaat when we do not utilize all our faculties, our 6 senses, our faculties of thinking and reflecting to seek knowledge; when we do not aim to use our faculties to uncover the hidden truth (haq) hidden behind these Ayaat of God almighty; and when we do not use our faculties and resources for the greater good of the mankind and society.

[Quran 2:17-20] Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness they could not see. Deaf, dumb and blind – so they will not return. Or like a rainstorm from the sky within which is darkness, thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps in dread of death. But Allah is encompassing of the Kafireen. The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Every time it lights for them, they walk therein; but when darkness comes over them, they stand. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.

It was because of reflecting and thinking on these Ayaat that pursuit of knowledge used to be considered as a holy activity by the earliest Muslims (Muslims of Golden Era). By not utilizing our faculties in pursuit of knowledge across all walks of life, by not using the acquired knowledge and wisdom for the greater good of the mankind, Allah’s creations, and society, we basically reject/deny these Ayaat of God Almighty- This is the definition of Kufr by Quran.

[Quran 2:39] And those who do Kufr and deny/reject/conceal Our Ayaat – those will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.”

Conclusion

The concept of Kufr means the act of concealing, rejecting and denying Allah’s Ayaat. If Someone is not utilizing all of his/her God-Given faculties, the six senses including the faculties of reasoning and intellect in pursuit of Allah’s Ayaat, then that person is in fact rejecting, denying and concealing Allah’s Ayaat. May Allah give us Hidayah to become true Momin, with firm Emaan on Allah and to be Muslims (in complete submission to and) as per Quranic guidance. Ameen