What Are the Types of Major Disbelief (Kufr Akbar)?
Disbelief (kufr) is divided into two categories: major disbelief (Kufr Akbar) and minor disbelief (Kufr Asghar). Major disbelief refers to a type of kufr that eternally subjects a person to the punishment of Hell. But is Kufr Akbar only one type, or does it have different forms? As Imam Ibn Qayyim (MABH) stated, Kufr Akbar has five types:
1. Disbelief by Denial (Kufr Takdhib):
This occurs when a person considers the Divine Prophets as liars and denies their truth. This type of disbelief is rare. Allah, the Exalted, mentions regarding Pharaoh and his people: {وَجَحَدُوا بِهَا وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَا أَنْفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَعُلُوًّا} [An-Naml: 14] Translation: “They denied the signs unjustly and arrogantly, while their souls were certain of them.”
And addressing the Prophet (MABH), Allah says: {فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يُكَذِّبُونَكَ وَلَٰكِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ} [Al-An‘am: 33] Translation: “They do not deny you, but the wrongdoers deny the signs of Allah.”
2. Disbelief out of Arrogance (Kufr Ibaa’ wa Istikbar):
Like the disbelief of Iblis, Iblis did not deny Allah’s command, but he refused out of arrogance. Those who recognize the truthfulness of a Prophet and the legitimacy of what Allah brought through him but, out of pride and arrogance, refuse to obey and submit, belong to this category. Most enemies of the Prophets fall into this group, often saying to them: {إِنْ أَنْتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُنَا} [Ibrahim: 10] Translation: “You are only human beings like us!”
3. Disbelief by Turning Away (Kufr ‘Irad):
This occurs when a person turns away from the Prophet (MABH) with the ears and heart—neither believing him to be truthful nor calling him a liar, neither loving him nor hating him, and having no inclination toward what he was sent with. For example, one of the leaders of Thaqif said to the Prophet (MABH): “I will not speak to you at all! If you are truthful, you are too great for me to answer, and if you are a liar, you are too low for me to speak to you.” [1]
4. Disbelief by Doubt (Kufr Shakk):
This type occurs when a person does not confidently affirm or deny the truth but doubts the veracity of the Prophet (MABH). Such doubt cannot persist unless the person turns away from observing the clear signs of the Prophet’s truthfulness, because by examining the evidence, especially when all the proofs are considered, doubt disappears, just as the sun clearly indicates the day.
5. Disbelief by Hypocrisy (Kufr Nifaq):
This occurs when a person outwardly shows faith with their tongue but denies it inwardly. This is called major hypocrisy (Kufr Akbar).
Note: The above classification is specifically about major disbelief (Kufr Akbar) and should not be confused with the general manifestations of disbelief, which can be verbal, actionable, or related to belief.
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