Tafseer Surah Kaafiroon

Translation

1. Say: O disbelievers!
2. I do not worship that which you worship.
3. Nor do you worship that which I worship.
4. And I shall not worship that which you have worshipped.
5. Nor do you worship that which I worship.
6. To you be your religion, and to me my religion.

Virtues

Hazrat Aisha Radhiallahu anha narrates that the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam said : "The two best Surahs to be recited in the Sunnah Salaah of Fajr are Surah Kaafiroon and Surah Ikhlaas. (Ibn Hishaam)

Many Sahabah narrate that they observed the Prophet Sallallahu alihi wasallam reciting these two Surahs frequently in the Sunnah Salaahs of Fajr and Maghrib.

Hazrat Ali Radhiallahu anhu narrates that once a scorpion bit the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam. He asked for some water and salt and began applying it to the affected area reciting Surah Kaafiroon, Surah Falaq and Surah Naas as he did so.

Circumstance of Revelation

A number of non-Muslims of Makkah came to the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam and attempted to bribe him. They offered to make him the wealthiest man in Makkah and marry him to the woman of his choice on condition that he did not speak against their idols. If the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam refused this they were willing to compromise : "You could worship our gods for one year and we could worship your God the next."

The Prophet Sallallahu alaihi was clearly commanded in this Surah to abstain from any such compromise.

Verse 1

Disbelievers here refer to all those who refuse to accept Allah as the one and only God and the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wasallam as the final messenger of God.

Verse 2 - 5

There is a repetition of two sets of verses here. Why?
The commentators have given different answers to this question :

The first verses explain the present condition and the second the future. In other words, it is not possible at this stage that I worship your idols and you worship my God. Similarly in the future it will not be possible for us to worship each others deities while we remain faithful to our own beliefs.

In the first verses reference is made to Gods, meaning that neither party worships the others deities. In the second set of verses the reference is to the mode of worship. In other words, worshipping Allah in Islam is different from worshipping idols in method. This is precisely the meaning of the founding kalimah of Islam. When we say Laa illaha illallah Muhammadur Rasoolullah we actually acknowledge that only Allah is the one true deity and the true method of worship is the one taught to us by the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasllam.

Repetition is indeed intended and both sets of verses mean the same thing. The verses were repeated to emphasize that there can never be a compromise between Islam and disbelief (kufr) and to finally silence the Quraish who were continuously attempting to bribe the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam.

There is no repetition in verse 2 and verse 4 because the verb tenses are different. This is reflected in the translation made above. The meaning would then be that the idols of the non-Muslims change from time to time. The idols which they had worshipped in the past are discarded in favour of new idols which appeal more to their desires.

Verse 6

It does not mean that the non-Muslims' disbelief is acceptable to Allah. It means that the non-Muslims will answer and be punished for their disbelief.

Lessons

In this Surah there appears to be no scope for compromise in Islam. However, did the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam not make a peace treaty with the Jews of Madinah and compromise with the Qureish at Hudaibiyah? Outwardly there appears to be a contradiction here.

A deeper study reveals that this is not the case. There is no contradiction. The type of compromise which Surah Kaafiroon prevents applies to a fundamental principle of Islam - tawheed or the Oneness of Allah. The compromise made by the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam was of a different type and agreements of this type are acceptable to the Muslims even today. The telling factor to distinguish between the two would be the conditions attached. In a hadith the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam explained this clearly. He said that agreements with the non-Muslims are acceptable provided a haraam thing is not made halaal and vice versa.

Now, if we look at the compromise forbidden in Surah Kaafiroon we see that it necessitated transgression of Islamic principles. It clearly promoted Kufr and Shirk. In the agreement with the Jews of Madinah and the Qureish of Makkah there was no such clause which violated any principle of Islam.

In summary, Islam's policy is clear : Compromise in certain cases of human interaction is acceptable within limits but there can be no compromise in the laws and principles made by Allah.


	Tafseer of Surah Kaafiroon





Translation 1. Say: O disbelievers! 2. I do not worship that which you worship. 3. Nor do you worship that which I worship. 4. And I shall not worship that which you have worshipped. 5. Nor do you worship that which I worship. 6. To you be your religion, and to me my religion. Virtues Hazrat Aisha Radhiallahu anha narrates that the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam said : "The two best Surahs to be recited in the Sunnah Salaah of Fajr are Surah Kaafiroon and Surah Ikhlaas. (Ibn Hishaam) Many Sahabah narrate that they observed the Prophet Sallallahu alihi wasallam reciting these two Surahs frequently in the Sunnah Salaahs of Fajr and Maghrib. Hazrat Ali Radhiallahu anhu narrates that once a scorpion bit the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam. He asked for some water and salt and began applying it to the affected area reciting Surah Kaafiroon, Surah Falaq and Surah Naas as he did so. Circumstance of Revelation A number of non-Muslims of Makkah came to the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam and attempted to bribe him. They offered to make him the wealthiest man in Makkah and marry him to the woman of his choice on condition that he did not speak against their idols. If the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam refused this they were willing to compromise : "You could worship our gods for one year and we could worship your God the next." The Prophet Sallallahu alaihi was clearly commanded in this Surah to abstain from any such compromise. Verse 1 Disbelievers here refer to all those who refuse to accept Allah as the one and only God and the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wasallam as the final messenger of God. Verse 2 - 5 There is a repetition of two sets of verses here. Why? The commentators have given different answers to this question : The first verses explain the present condition and the second the future. In other words, it is not possible at this stage that I worship your idols and you worship my God. Similarly in the future it will not be possible for us to worship each others deities while we remain faithful to our own beliefs. In the first verses reference is made to Gods, meaning that neither party worships the others deities. In the second set of verses the reference is to the mode of worship. In other words, worshipping Allah in Islam is different from worshipping idols in method. This is precisely the meaning of the founding kalimah of Islam. When we say Laa illaha illallah Muhammadur Rasoolullah we actually acknowledge that only Allah is the one true deity and the true method of worship is the one taught to us by the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasllam. Repetition is indeed intended and both sets of verses mean the same thing. The verses were repeated to emphasize that there can never be a compromise between Islam and disbelief (kufr) and to finally silence the Quraish who were continuously attempting to bribe the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam. There is no repetition in verse 2 and verse 4 because the verb tenses are different. This is reflected in the translation made above. The meaning would then be that the idols of the non-Muslims change from time to time. The idols which they had worshipped in the past are discarded in favour of new idols which appeal more to their desires. Verse 6 It does not mean that the non-Muslims' disbelief is acceptable to Allah. It means that the non-Muslims will answer and be punished for their disbelief. Lessons In this Surah there appears to be no scope for compromise in Islam. However, did the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam not make a peace treaty with the Jews of Madinah and compromise with the Qureish at Hudaibiyah? Outwardly there appears to be a contradiction here. A deeper study reveals that this is not the case. There is no contradiction. The type of compromise which Surah Kaafiroon prevents applies to a fundamental principle of Islam - tawheed or the Oneness of Allah. The compromise made by the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam was of a different type and agreements of this type are acceptable to the Muslims even today. The telling factor to distinguish between the two would be the conditions attached. In a hadith the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam explained this clearly. He said that agreements with the non-Muslims are acceptable provided a haraam thing is not made halaal and vice versa. Now, if we look at the compromise forbidden in Surah Kaafiroon we see that it necessitated transgression of Islamic principles. It clearly promoted Kufr and Shirk. In the agreement with the Jews of Madinah and the Qureish of Makkah there was no such clause which violated any principle of Islam. In summary, Islam's policy is clear : Compromise in certain cases of human interaction is acceptable within limits but there can be no compromise in the laws and principles made by Allah.
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