Kufr

Many people believe, that kufr means disbelieving in Allah and/or

denying Allah's existence.

Kufr in Arabic means covering and concealing something.

In shar’i terminology kufr is the attribute of everyone who rejects

something that Allah has commanded us to believe in, 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.

Kufr – which is the opposite of eemaan or faith – may take the form of
feelings in the heart, such as hating Allah or His signs, or His Messenger
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him); this contradicts love and
faith which support the actions of the heart. Kufr may also take the form
of spoken words, such as insulting Allah, or it may be an outward
action, such as prostrating to idols, or offering sacrifces to someone
other than Allah. Just as faith takes the form of actions of the heart,
words on the tongue and outward physical actions, so too kufr may take
the form of actions of the heart, words on the tongue and outward
physical actions.

The texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah indicate that faith is not valid and is
not accepted unless two conditions are met – which are what are
implied by the testimony that there is no god except Allah. These two
conditions are submission to Allah alone (Tawheed), and denouncing
and shunning all kinds of kufr and shirk.

A person cannot denounce or shun anything unless he knows what it is.

From this we understand the importance of knowing what Tawheed is,
so that we may act accordingly and attain Tawheed, and knowing what
kufr and shirk is so that we may avoid them and steer clear of them.
Kufr seperates into major kufr, which excludes one completely from al-
Millah and minor kufr. There are many types of major kufr. Among
them are:

Kufr by Inkaar

Disbelief out of denial. This applies to someone who denies with both
heart and tongue.

Allah (swt) says: They recognize the favors of Allah, yet they deny them.
Most of them are disbelievers. (Nahl 16/ 83)

And Pharaoh said, "O eminent ones, I have not known you to have a
ilah other than me. Then ignite for me, O Haman, [a fre] upon the clay
and make for me a tower that I may look at the God of Moses. And
indeed, I do think he is among the liars." (Al-Qasas 28/38)

The people who rejected zakat during the caliphate of Abu Bakr (ra) also
committed the kufr of inkaar.

People who deny a pillar of Iman (Qadr) also committed the kufr of
inkaar:

Ata' bin Abi Rabah said, "I went to Ibn 'Abbas and found him drawing
water from the well of Zamzam. The bottom of his clothes was wet with
the water of Zamzam and I said to him, 'They talked about Al-Qadar
(some denied it).' He asked, 'Have they done this?' I said, 'Yes.' He said,
'By Allah! This Ayah was revealed only about them, ("Taste you the
touch of Hell!" Verily, We have created all things with Qadar.). They are
the worst members of this Ummah. Do not visit those who fall ill among
them or pray the funeral prayer for those among them who die. If I saw
one of them, I would pluck out his eyes with these two fngers of mine."
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir 7/483, Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim 10/3321)

Kufr at-Takdhiib (Disbelief by Denial)

Takdhib: the belying or rejecting what is well-established and

commonly known in the deen, such as, the obligation of the fve daily
prayers, fasting during Ramadan, the hijab for the woman, and the
prohibition of alcohol, stealing, murder, fornication, and homosexuality.
(It is important to note that simply doing a prohibition or neglecting an
obligation does not constitute kufr unless one deems the sin permissible, for
deeming the sins permissible -even if he doesn't commit this sin- is, in essence,
rejecting what Allah revealed, and the one who rejects what Allah has revealed
can’t be considered a Muslim.)

This kufr may sometimes take the form of disbelief in the heart and
sometimes it takes the form of outward or apparent rejection, which
means concealing the truth and not submitting to it outwardly, whilst
recognizing it and knowing it inwardly, such as the Jews’ rejection of
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Allah says of
them:
“Then when there came to them that which they had recognised, they
disbelieved in it.” (al-Baqarah 2:89)

He also says:
“But verily, a party of them conceal the truth while they know it.” (al-
Baqarah 2:146)

That is because rejection only happens which a person knows the truth
and refuses it.

Allah says:
“It is not you that they deny, but it is the Verses (the Qur’aan) of Allah
that the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) deny.” (al-An’am 6:33)

"Who doth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie concerning Allah,
or denieth the truth when it cometh unto him? Is not there a home in
hell for disbelievers?" (al-Ankabut 29/68)

Kufr al-Iba' w’al Istikbar ma'at Tasdiq also called Kufr al Kibr
(Disbelief by Rejecting and Pride to Submit)

Whoever turns away verbally from that which the Messenger has
brought is like one who says “I will not follow him.” The one who turns
away by his actions is like one who runs away from hearing the truth
which he brought, or puts his fngers in his ears so as not to hear, or
who hears it but turns away in his heart and refuses to believe, and who
refuses to act upon it. He has disbelieved in the sense of the kufr of
turning away.

The kufr of turning away in arrogance, is the kufr of Iblees of whom

Allah says:
"And when We said unto the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam,
they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He demurred through pride, and so
became a disbeliever." (al-Baqarah 2/34)
And Allah says:
“They (hypocrites) say: ‘We have believed in Allah and in the
Messenger (Muhammad), and we obey,’ then a party of them turn away
thereafter, such are not believers.” (al-Noor 24/47)

So Allah has stated that those who do not act in accordance with faith
are not believers, even if they utter the words of faith. The kufr of
turning away means that one ignores the truth and does not learn it or
act in accordance with it, whether it is the matter of words, actions or
beliefs.

Allah says:
“But those who disbelieve, turn away from that whereof they are
warned.” (al-Ahqaaf 46/3)

It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah b. Mas'ud that the Messenger

of Allah (saw), observed: He who has in his heart the weight of a
mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise. A person (amongst his
hearers) said: Verily a person loves that his dress should be fne, and his
shoes should be fne. He (the Messenger) remarked: Verily, Allah is
Graceful and He loves Grace. Pride is disdaining the truth (out of self-
conceit) and contempt for the people. (Sahih Muslim 1/93; No. 91)

Pride was the plight of Nimrod too:

Have you not looked at him who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord
(Allah), because Allah had given him the kingdom? When Ibrahim said
(to him) : "My Lord (Allah) is He Who gives life and causes death." He
said, "I give life and cause death." Ibrahim said, "Verily! Allah causes the
sun to rise from the east; then cause it you to rise from the west." So the
disbeliever was utterly defeated. And Allah guides not the people, who
are Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.). (Al-Baqarah 2:258)

Pride was also the downfall of the Firawun (Pharaoh):

And they belied them (those Ayat) wrongfully and arrogantly, though
their inner (ownselves) were convinced thereof. So see what was the end
of the Mufsidun (disbelievers, disobedient to Allah, evil-doers, liars).
(An-Naml 27:14)
Kufr ash-Shak (Disbelief by Doubt) and it is Kufr az-Zan (Disbelief
by Lacking of Conviction)

The kufr of doubt, which means hesitating with regard to following the
truth and being uncertain as to whether it is true, because what is
required is certainty of faith (yaqeen) that what the Messenger brought
is truth with no hint of doubt in it. Whoever thinks that what he brought
may not be true has disbelieved, in the sense of kufr of doubt, as Allah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And he went into his garden while in a state (of pride and disbelief),
unjust to himself. He said: ‘I think not that this will ever perish.
And I think not the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought
back to my Lord, (on the Day of Resurrection), I surely, shall fnd better
than this when I return to Him.’
His companion said to him during the talk with him: ‘Do you disbelieve
in Him Who created you out of dust (i.e. your father Adam), then out of
Nutfah (mixed semen drops of male and female discharge), then
fashioned you into a man?
But as for my part, (I believe) that He is Allaah, my Lord, and none shall
I associate as partner with my Lord.’” (al-Kahf 18/35-38)

Kufr al-I'raad (Deviating from the Truth Knowingly)

Disbelief due to avoidance. This applies to those who turn away and
avoid the truth. It means to turn away from the deen of Allah (swt) and
refuse to learn it.

About I'raad Allah says:

"But whosoever turns away from My Reminder verily, for him is a life of
hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.
He will say: "O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had
sight (before)." (Allah) will say: "Like this, Our Ayat (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) came unto you, but you
disregarded them, and so this Day, you will be neglected (in the Hell-
fre, away from Allah's Mercy)." (Ta-Ha 20:124-126)

"But those who disbelieve turn away from that whereof they are
warned." (al-Ahqaf 46/3)

And Allah (swt) 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 Judgement). (Kahf 18/57)
Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahaab mentioned ten things that make you a
kaafr. He mentioned I’raad as the tenth:
Tenth: Turning away from Allaah’s Religion, not learning it or
implementing it (is an act of disbelief). The proof for this is Allah’s
saying: “And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the
ayaat (signs/verses) of his Lord, then turns away from them. Verily, We
shall extract retribution from the criminals.” (Nawaaqid Al-Islam)

Kufr an-Nifaq (Hypocritical Disbelief)

The kufr of hypocrisy. This takes the form of not believing in the heart
and not acting, whilst submitting outwardly in order to show off to
people. This is like the kufr of Ibn Salool and the other munaafqeen of
whom Allah says:
“And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: ‘We believe in
Allaah and the Last Day,’ while in fact they believe not.
They (think to) deceive Allaah and those who believe, while they only
deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!
In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allaah has
increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to
tell lies.
And when it is said to them: ‘Make not mischief on the earth,’ they say:
‘We are only peacemakers.’
Verily, they are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive not.
And when it is said to them (hypocrites): ‘Believe as the people
(followers of Muhammad, Al-Ansaar and Al-Muhajiroon) have
believed,’ they say: ‘Shall we believe as the fools have believed?’ Verily,
they are the fools, but they know not.
And when they meet those who believe, they say: ‘We believe,’ but
when they are alone with their Shayaateen (devils — polytheists,
hypocrites), they say: ‘Truly, we are with you; verily, we were but
mocking.’
Allaah mocks at them and gives them increase in their wrong-doing to
wander blindly.
These are they who have purchased error for guidance, so their
commerce was proftless. And they were not guided.
Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fre; then, when it
lighted all around him, Allaah took away their light and left them in
darkness. (So) they could not see.
They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the Right Path).
Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder, and
lightning. They thrust their fngers in their ears to keep out the stunning
thunderclap for fear of death. But Allaah ever encompasses the
disbelievers (i.e. Allaah will gather them all together).
The lightning almost snatches away their sight, whenever it fashes for
them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand
still. And if Allaah willed, He could have taken away their hearing and
their sight. Certainly, Allaah has power over all things.” (al-Baqarah
2:8-20)

And Allah (swt) says:

Verily the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of Hell. You will fnd
no one to help them. (An Nisaa 4/ 145)

Kufr al Jahl

This means kufr occasioned by ignorance. Islam or the teachings of

Islam are denied on the basis of ignorance.

Ibn Qayyim said the following: “Islam is, actualizing the oneness of
Allah, worshiping Him solely, not associating anything to Him, having
Iman in Allah and His Rasul (prophet) and subject to things which the
Rasul had brought along. The slave who does not actualize these is not
Muslim. If this individual who does not actualize these is not a stubborn
(meaning the one who rejects knowingly) Kafr then he is an ignorant
Kafr. These individuals who are evaluated as ignorant, even though
they do not persist against the truth, they go through Kufr because of
their ignorance. Not being stubborn does not prevent them from being
Kafr. It is because Kafr is the one who rejects the Tawhid of Allah and
denies the prophet of Allah; by persistence, by ignorance or by
following those who are stubborn. Those Muqallid (blind followers) of
the stubborn individuals go through Kufr because of following the
stubborn ones although they do not persist. It is Fard (obligatory) upon
a slave to believe that those who do not submit to Islam are Kafr.”
(Tariq’ul Hijratayn, 17th degree, 411)

Kufr of istihlaal

Disbelief out of trying to make haram into halal and visa versa. This
applies to someone who accepts as lawful (halal) that which Allah has
made unlawful (haram) like alcohol or adultery. Only Allah (swt) 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 boundries of faith.

If a person drinks alcohol, he is not a kafr, but when he says alcohol is

halal, he is a kaafr, even if he doesn't drink alcohol. Because he has
committed the kufr of Istihlaal.

The mushrik Arabs used to eat dead meat and invite the Muslims to eat
it also. Allah (swt) sent down this verse stating that they will become
mushrikeen just like them if they obey them (in making haram into
halal):
Eat not (O believers) of that (meat) on which Allah's Name has not been
pronounced (at the time of the slaughtering of the animal), for sure it is
Fisq. And certainly, the Shayatin do inspire their friends (from
mankind) to dispute with you, and if you obey them, then you would
indeed be Mushrikun. (Al-An'am 6:121)

They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their
lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful
or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by
Allah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam
(Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded to worship
none but One Ilah. None has the right to be worshipped but He. Praise
and glory be to Him, (far above is He) from having the partners they
associate (with Him)." (At-Tawbah 9:31)

Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H) said: “Whenever a person makes halal what is
haraam by consensus or makes haraam what is halal by consensus or
replaces the Sharee’ah that is agreed upon by consensus, then he is a
Kafr by the agreement of the scholars of Fiqh.” (Al-Fataawa, Vol. 3/267)

Kufr of istihzaa

This is the kufr of mocking and derising Allah, the Prophet (saw) or the
deen.

Allah (swt) says:

If you ask them (about this), they declare: "We were only talking idly
and joking." Say: "Was it at Allah, and His Ayat (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger that you were
mocking?" Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after you had
believed. If We pardon some of you, We will punish others amongst you
because they were Mujrimun (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners,
criminals, etc.). (At-Tawbah 9/65-66)

Just to be in the company where people are mocking the deen, makes
one leaving the fold of Islam.

In this regard, Allah says:

And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this Qur'an) that
when you hear the Verses of Allah being denied and mocked at, then sit
not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you
stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them. Surely,
Allah will collect the hypocrites and disbelievers all together in Hell.
(An-Nisa 4:140)

Kufr of disobedience

Shaitan was guilty of this as mentioned in the ayah below

And (remember) when We said to the angels; "Prostrate to Adam." So

they prostrated except Iblis (Satan). He was one of the jinns; he
disobeyed the Command of his Lord. Will you then take him (Iblis) and
his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are
enemies to you? What an evil is the exchange for the Zalimun
(polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc). (Al-Kahf 18:50)

The kufr of lying on Allah or His Rasool (saw)

Allah says:
And who does more wrong than the one who invents a lie against Allah,
while he is being invited to Islam? And Allah guides not the people who
are Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers) folk. (As-Saff
61:7)

Rasulullah (saw) said;

Whoever tells a lie against me intentionally, then (surely) let him occupy
his seat in Hell-fre. (Sahih Bukhari, Vol 1, Book 3, Hadith #108)
Kufr of istibdaal

Kufr of replacing the Shariah with man-made laws or of trying to

substitute Allah's Laws. This could take the form of:

1-Rejection of Allah's law (Shariah) without denying it

2- Denial of Allah's law and therefore rejecting it, or
3- Substituting Allah's laws with man-made laws.

Allah (swt) says:

Or have they partners with Allah who have instituted for them a
religion which Allah has not allowed. (Shuraa 42/8)

Allah (swt) 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 Allah will never prosper. (Nahl 16/116)

There is ijma among the Muslims that whosoever replaces the Shariah is
a kafr. The following fatwas of the classical scholars explains further:

Ibn Taymiyyah said: “And it is known from the deen (of Islam) by
necessity and by the consensus of all Muslims that whoever legalizes to
follow other than the deen of Islam or a Shariah other than the Shariah
of Muhammad (saw), he is a Kaafr. And his kufr is similar to that of the
one who believes in some part of the book (Quran) and reject some of
it.” (Majmua al-Fataawa 28/524)

Ibn Katheer (d. 774H) said: “So whoever leaves the clear Shari’ah, which
was revealed to Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, the Seal of the Prophets, and
takes the Hukm to other than it from the laws of Kufr which are
abrogated, he has disbelieved. So what about the one who takes the
Hukm to the ‘Yasiq’ (the law of the Tartars which mixed Shari’ah
rulings with invented rulings) and puts it before it?! Whoever does that,
he has disbelieved by the Ijmaa’ of the Muslims.” (Al-Bidaayah wa
Nihaayah, Vol. 13/119)

The kufr of walaa - allegiance

Taking sides with the enemies of Islam. It means to give your allegiance
to the enemies of Islam.
You will not fnd any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day,
making friendship with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger,
even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or
their kindred (people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and
strengthened them with Ruh (proofs, light and true guidance) from
Himself. And We will admit them to Gardens (Paradise) under which
rivers fow, to dwell therein (forever). Allah is pleased with them, and
they with Him. They are the Party of Allah. Verily, it is the Party of
Allah that will be the successful. (Al-Mujadalah 58/22)

Ibn Hazm stated in al-Muhalla (11/138): "What is correct is that His

statement, the Most High, "And if any amongst you takes them as
Auliya', then surely he is one of them." (The Quran 5:51), should be
understood on the basis of its apparent meaning. The person being
referred to is a disbeliever from the generality of disbelievers, and no
two Muslims disagree regarding this."

O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliya'
(friends, protectors, helpers, etc.), they are but Auliya' to one another.
And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya', then surely he is one of
them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimun
(polytheists and wrongdoers and unjust). (Al-Ma'idah 5:51)

Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab gathered ten actions that negate one's
Islam, the eighth one of which states: "Assisting the disbelievers (against
the believers) and supporting them against the believers (is from the
actions that negates of one's faith). The Proof being the statement of
Allah, "And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya', then surely he is
one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimun
(polytheists and wrong-doers and unjust). (al Maidah 5:51)" (Nawaaqid
Al Islaam by Muhammed Ibn Abdul Wahaab)

Abdul Latif bin Abdur Rahman bin Hassan Aal-Sheikh stated:

"Whosoever helps the disbelievers or draws them to the country of Ahl
al-Islam, then such is a manifest apostate by consensus." (Ad-Durrar
8/326)

Ibn Hazm states that: “Whoever joins the ‘land of war’ and disbelief, of
his own free will and in defance of whoever amongst the Muslims calls
him to his side, is by virtue of this act an apostate, by all the laws of
apostasy, in Islam. Whoever is able to kill him must do so. His property
is unprotected, his marriage null and void, all his rights are swept away.
But whoever fees to the ‘land of war’ for fear of oppression, who
neither opposes the Muslims in anything nor bears any malice towards
them, and who was not able to fnd any refuge among the Muslims, is
free of any guilt since he was compelled to leave. As for someone who
takes the Muslims as his enemies, offering his help and his service to the
disbelievers, he is a disbeliever. But those who would emigrate to non-
Muslim lands in search of wealth or prosperity to live under their
protection, while they were able to go to live amongst the Muslims in
their own land, but still do not withdraw themselves from the
disbelievers; such people are not far from the fold of disbelief, and we
can fnd no possible excuse for them, so we ask Allah’s Forgiveness. As
for the person who lives in the land of Karmathians by his own free will,
he is without doubt a disbeliever, because they are avowed enemies of
Islam, disbelievers and apostates who only long for the destruction of
the Muslims. Concerning those who live in a land where some heretic
tendencies, leading to disbelief, are manifested, they are not considered
disbelievers, as Islam is supreme in the land where it is possible to
practice Islam openly; to confrm the message of the Prophet
Muhammad (saw), read the Qur’an, establish the prayer, perform the
fast of Ramadan and fulfll one’s obligations entirely. The words of the
Prophet (saw), “I am not responsible for any Muslim who stays among
mushrikeen” should clarify what we have said so far. It is clear that the
Prophet (saw) refers here to the ‘Dar ul-Harb’. (Ibn Hazm, al-Muhalla’:
(13/139-140)

The kufr of black magic

Allah says:
They followed what the Shayatin (devils) gave out (falsely of the magic)
in the lifetime of Sulaiman (Solomon). Sulaiman did not disbelieve, but
the Shayatin (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things
that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Harut and Marut, but
neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had
said, "We are only for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic
from us)." And from these (angels) people learn that by which they
cause separation between man and his wife, but they could not thus
harm anyone except by Allah's Leave. And they learn that which harms
them and profts them not. And indeed they knew that the buyers of it
(magic) would have no share in the Hereafter. And how bad indeed was
that for which they sold their ownselves, if they but knew. (Al-Baqarah
2:102)

Jundub (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “The hadd
(prescribed punishment) for the practitioner of magic is a blow with the
sword (i.e., execution)." (Sunan Tirmidhi (4/60) No. 1460, Sunan al-
Daraqutni (4/120) No. 3204, Mustadrak al-Haakim (4/401) No. 8073, al-
Sunan al-Kabir al-Bayhaqi (8/234) No. 16500, al-Mu'jam al-Kabir al-
Tabarani (2/161) No. 1665)

The kufr of tashbeeh

The kufr of making Allah (swt) similar to His creation, the resembling of
Allah to the creations in one way or another, such as, claiming Allah is
an idol, the sun, moon, a human, or that Allah has a size or form or
exists in a direction, location, or time.

There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.
(ash-Shura 42:11)

The kufr of tamthil

To give Allah's names and attributes to a man.

Allah says:
"And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him." (Al-Ikhlas 112:4)

And:
Verily, Allah! With Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends
down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person
knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land
he will die. Verily, Allah is All-Knower, All-Aware (of things). (Luqman
31:34)

The kufr of ta'til

The denial of Allah’s Attributes, such as, for one to claim that Allah does
not know everything, or to claim that Allah is not the Creator of
everything.
The kufr of ridda (apostasy)

Apostasy is to leave Islam

"That is because they believed, then disbelieved, therefore their hearts are
sealed so that they understand not." (Munafqun 63/3)

Kufr ul-'Inaad

Disbelief out of stubborness. 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 (swt) says:

Throw into Hell every stubborn disbeliever. (Qaaf 50/24)

Kufr ul-Kurh

Disbelief out of detesting any of Allah's (swt) commands.

Allah (swt) 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 Allah has revealed so He has made their actions fruitless.
(Muhammed 47/8-9)

Kufr ta’weel

This means kufr by way of interpretation. The kufr is not committed by

outright rejection, but is rendered by means of interpretation. A belief or
teaching of Islam is distorted or given an interpretation or meaning
other than what was the meaning ascribed to it by Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam).

That was the kufr of those who refused to give Zakah during the time of
Abu Bakr (ra). They said, according to this ayah: Take Sadaqah from
their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and
invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security
for them. (Tawbah 9/103) Zakah has to be given to Rasulullah (saw), as
Rasulullah (saw) has died we don't give Zakah.

Abu Bakr (ra) fought against those who refused to give Zakah with this
interpretation and took their wealth as booty.

Another example for kufr by the way of interpretation was mentioned

from al Qurtubi. He said in the tafseer of verse 93 of Surah al Maidah:
“Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on
them for what they ate (in the past), if they fear Allah (by keeping away
from His forbidden things), and believe and do righteous good deeds,
and again fear Allah and believe, and once again fear Allah and do good
deeds with Ihsaan (perfection). And Allah loves the good-doers.”
(Maidah 5/93)

It was narrated from ‘Ali bin Abee Taalib (ra) that a group in ash-Shaam
drank alcohol and said: Alcohol is halal for us, while misinterpreting
this ayah. ‘Ali bin Abee Taalib (ra) and ‘Umar (ra) agreed on how to
judge them and said: ‘They have to repent; if they repent and accept the
prohibition of alcohol they will be lashed, and if they insists on saying
that it is lawful they will be killed.’ This was mentioned by al Qina at
Tabari." (Qurtubi, Ahkam al Quran, Maidah 5/93)
(Don't confuse this incident with the incident of Qudaamah ibn Mazun (ra).
Although it's a similar story, the incident with the group of people in ash-
Shaam and Qudaamah ibn Mazun (ra) are different incidents.)

Abu Haamid al-Ghazaali said: It is essential to point out another

principle, which is that if a person holds a view that is contrary to a
mutawaatir text and claims that it is just an alternative interpretation,
but his view that is based on misinterpretation is far removed from the
linguistic meaning, and is not close at all, rather it is very far-fetched,
this is tantamount to kufr and the one who holds that view is a liar, even
if he claims to base his view on his own interpretation. An example of
that is what I have read in the words of some of the Baatinis, that Allah,
may He be exalted, is One in the sense that He grants and creates
oneness, and He is All-Knowing in the sense that He grants knowledge
to others and creates it, and He exists in the sense that He brings others
into existence. But as for Him being One in Himself, or existing or being
All-Knowing in the sense that this is His own attribute, that is not
correct according to their view. This is blatant kufr, because interpreting
oneness as creating oneness cannot be an alternative interpretation at
all, and it has no basis in the Arabic language, and it is not possible to
interpret it in this way at all. These are all examples of words of disbelief
described as alternative interpretations. (Faysal at-Tafriqah p. 66, 67)
Ibn al-Wazeer said: Similarly, there is no difference of opinion regarding
the kufr of one who rejects that which is well-known and well-
established to all, and tries to conceal it with the excuse of giving his
own interpretation with regard to something that cannot be interpreted
in any way other than its apparent meaning, such as the heretics in their
misinterpretation of all the divine names, and even of the entire Qur’an
and all the rulings of Islam, and matters of the hereafter such as the
resurrection and Paradise and Hell. (Eethaar al-Haqq ‘ala al-Khalq p.
377)

If there is a way that something can be interpreted in a different way,

then misinterpreting this very thing is not kufr.

Ibn Hajar said: The scholars said: Anyone who reaches a wrong
conclusion but may be excused for his misinterpretation is not a sinner,
provided that his interpretation may be valid from a linguistic point of
view and that he has some measure of knowledge. (Fath al-Baari 12/304)

Kufr al-Asghar (the Minor Disbelief)

This type of Kufr comprises any act that the Book and the Sunnah has
called kufr, but do not reach the level of major Kufr and does not take
one outside the fold of Islam.

One form of minor kufr is Kufr an-Ni'mah (Disbelief Manifesting itself

in Ungratefulness for Allah's Blessings or Favors).

Allah says:
"Allah coineth a similitude: a township that dwelt secure and well
content, its provision coming to it in abundance from every side, but it
disbelieved in Allah's favours, so Allah made it experience the garb of
dearth and fear because of what they used to do." (an-Nahl 16/112)