VOLUME 1 / LESSON NO: 3 - ISLAMIC FAITH & INFIDELITY
Q 1: What is Islamic faith?
A. Islamic faith is to firmly believe that the Holy Prophet Hazrat Mohammed (PBUH) is a true Apostle and his every word and deed is also true. Whoever believes so is a Muslim.
Q 2: Can one be a Muslim who recites the Kalemah without understanding its meaning?
A. One who believes that Islam is the true religion and expresses his intention of embracing Islam with his tongue by reciting the Kalemah – will be considered a Muslim: even if there is no one to make him understand the meaning of the Kalemah or he does not understand it due to some handicap.
Q 3: What are those who do not believe in Islam, called?
A. Such people are called "infidels" (kaafir).
Q 4: Who is called a renegade (murtad)?
A. An apostate or a renegade is the wretched one who embraces Islam but even then speaks blasphemous words against Islam and is adamant not to renounce his blasphemy.
Q 5: Who are hypocrites?
A. Hypocrites are those who embrace Islam and claim to be Muslims but deny Islam from their heart.
Q 6: Who are polytheists (mushriks)?
A. Polytheists are those wretched ones who worship different objects except Allah or consider someone or something as partners in Allah's absolute kingdom and power.
Q 7: Which communities are polytheists (Mushrik) in the world?
A. For example, Hindus who worship idols and consider them partners in Allah's infinite Kingdom and eternal power, Christians, Jews, Parsis, etc., who believe either in duality of God or in trinity. All such people are "Mushriks".
Q 8: Are there any "Mushriks" (polytheists) in Muslims?
A. God forbid! How can a Muslim be a "Mushrik"? For, he firmly believes in Oneness of the true God i.e. Allah! Contrary to this, a Mushrik is one who considers one or the other human being or thing as a partner of Allah. No Mushrik can be called a Muslim and no Muslim can be described as a Mushrik.
Q 9: What about those people who term Muslims as "Mushriks"?
A. Some misguided and disgruntled groups of people have surfaced who call Muslims "polytheists" and "heretics" on one pretext or the other. Muslims must avoid and disassociate themselves from such misguided elements, in order to save their faith.
Q 10: Can we call an infidel as infidel or not?
A. A Muslim should be called a Muslim and an infidel should be called an infidel. There is no valid reason in forbidding one to call an infidel as "Kaafir". Allah Almighty Himself calls infidels as "Kaafir" in the Holy Qur’an i.e. "Qul Yaaa Aieyu-Hal Kaaferoon" (Say you [Mohammed] O' infidels!).