Who is an unbeliever?

The Holy Quran uses the word Kufr to denote people who cover up or hide realities. The Quran uses this word to identify those who denied Allah's favors by not accepting His Dominion and Authority. Kufr thus is an antonym for Iman (faith) or disbelief in Allah and a Kafir is a non-believer. This type of Kufr is called AL-KUFR UL AKBAR or major kufr. There are many types of Al-Kufr ul Akbar:

1. Kufrul-'Inaad: Disbelief out of stubbornness. This applies to someone who knows the truth and admits to knowing the truth and admits to knowing it with his tongue, but refuses to accept it and refrains from making a declaration. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says: Throw into Hell every stubborn disbeliever [Surah Qaaf (50), Ayah 24]

2. Kufrul-Inkaar: Disbelief out of denial. This applies to someone who denies with both heart and tongue. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says: They recognize the favors of Allah, yet they deny them. Most of them are disbelievers. [Surah Nahl (16), Ayah 83]

3. Kufrul-Kibr: Disbelief out of arrogance and pride. The disbelief by the devils (Iblees) is an example of this type of Kufr.

4. Kufrul-Juhood: Disbelief out of rejection.This applies to someone who acknowledges the truth in his heart, but rejects it with his tongue. This types of kufr is applicable to those who calls themselves Muslims but who reject any necessary and accepted norms of Islam such as Salaat and Zakat. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says: They denied them (OUR SIGNS) even though their hearts believed in them , out of spite and arrogance. [Surah Naml (27), Ayah 14]

5. Kufrul-Nifaaq: Disbelief out of hypocrisy.This applies to someone who pretends to be a believer but conceals his disbelief. Such a person is called a MUNAFIQ or hypocrite. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says: Verily the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of Hell. You will find no one to help them. [Surah An Nisaa (4), Ayah 145].Al Qaeda and their allies are of these kind.Their predecessors,the Hypocrites, led to the splintering of Islam into many parties soon after Prophet Muhammad's death.

6. Kufrul-Istihaal: Disbelief out of trying to make Haram into Halal. This applies to someone who accepts as lawful (Halal) that which Allaah has made unlawful (Haram) like alcohol or adultery.Only Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has the prerogative to make things Halal and Haram and those who seek to interfere with His right are like rivals to Him and therefore fall outside the boundaries of faith.Al Qaeda and the Taliban's drug trade in Afghanistan and Pakistan fall within this category.They have created innovations that make them rivals of Allah.

7. Kufrul-Kurh: Disbelief out of detesting any of Allah's subhanahu wa ta'ala commands. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says: Perdition (destruction) has been consigned to those who disbelieve and He will render their actions void. This is because they are averse to that which Allaah has revealed so He has made their actions fruitless. [Surah Muhammed (47), Ayah 8-9]

8. Kufrul-Istihzaha: Disbelief due to mockery and derision. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says: Say: Was it at Allaah, His signs and His apostles that you were mocking? Make no excuses. You have disbelieved after you have believed. [Surah Taubah (9), ayah 65-66]

9. Kufrul-I'raadh: Disbelief due to avoidance. This applies to those who turn away and avoid the truth. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says: And who is more unjust than he who is reminded of his Lord's signs but then turns away from them. Then he forgets what he has sent forward (for the Day of Judgment) [Surah Kahf (18), Ayah 57]

10. Kufrul-Istibdaal: Disbelief because of trying to substitute Allah's Laws. This could take the form of:

(a) Rejection of Allah's law (Sharee'ah) without denying it

(b) Denial of Allah's law and therefore rejecting it, or

(c) Substituting Allah's laws with man-made laws. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says: Or have they partners with Allah who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not allowed. [Surah Shuraa(42), Ayah 8] Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says: Say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely (that) is lawful and this is forbidden so as to invent a lie against Allah. Verily, those who invent a lie against Allaah will never prosper. [Surah Nahl (16), Ayah 116]