36TH EDITION OF VOICE OF THE MIMBARR: MYSTERY OF _KUFR_ (DISBELIEF) IN HUMAN CIRCLE II- BY DR. RAZAQ BOLAWAYE

23-02-1445 AH/08-09-2023 CE

Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim...

The last edition looked the covenant Allah on human beings regarding unifying Allah for worship in essence, lordship and names/attributes. The implication is manifest in  making Allah _(SWT)_ the point of aHittraction of worship and adoration. 

Of what is capable of putting _Iman_ to fair assessment is a litmus examination of the other side of faith - _Kufr_ . The view is to enable the bearer of faith appreciate to innumerable favour of staying afloat with Iman as a driving force of his life.

There are six main variables of _Kufr_ anyone of which throws a bearer outside the confinement of Islam. These include:

i. _At_ _Takdhib_ (Utter Dispute of Iman) - This involves disregard the clear signs of Allah in respect to the motive of accountability and its capability of making non-sense of the whole efforts of bearer. This is portrayed as consternation and disregard for stewards. Allah _(SWT)_ declares in the noble Qur'an 7:147 that: "Those who reject Our Signs and the meeting in the Hereafter, -- vain are their deeds: can they expect to be rewarded except as they have wrought?"

ii. _Kufr_ with words of mouth such as seeking help from others like the dead and other principalities.

iii. Making mockery of Allah, the Messenger and the Divine Book under whatever pretence amounts to disbelief. Qur'an 9:65 flaws them when it says: "And if you question them, they declare (with emphasis): "We were only talking idly and in play." Say: "Was it Allah, and His Signs, and His Messenger, that you were mocking?"

iv. _Al-Istikbaru_ _wal_ _Imtina'u_ 'an _Ta'ati_ _Llah_ (Feeling big and Refusal to heed Allah's injunction). The person in this category is as good as Shaytan in his disobedience to Allah. Shaytan'd misfortune began when he refused to respect Prophet Adam _(AS)_ on the ground of knowledge (Qur'an 2:34

v. Contradicting the Religion of Allah, not giving to its knowledge and awareness, not working with it, seeking not what _Taohid_ (Unity of Allah) is and what it is not. This make the bearer worse than an animal in his thought of nothing but food and feeding the flesh.

vi. Slaughtering on principalities other than Allah, Prostrating before other things, Sourcery making and teaching it to others. Qur'an 22:78 make this clear when it says that Allah makes exceptions among people to follow His way. The way adopted for man is no other than unity of worship ordained for Prophet Ibrahim (AS) which include Salat establishment, Zakat and  trailing the path of Allah to attain felicity. 

The above six variables are summarized in the challenges and mockery posted to disbelievers in their state of confusion in Qur'an 46:4-5. It offers that: "Say: "Do you see what it is you invoke beside Allah? Show me what it is they have created on earth, or have they share in the heaven? Bring me a Book (revealed) before this, or any remnant of knowledge (you may have), if you are telling the truth! And who is more astray than one who invokes, besides Allah, such as will not answer him to the Day of Judgment, and who (in fact) are unconscious of their call (to them)?"

In the contrary, why is a man foot-dragging in the way of harnessing safe faith (Iman) except if not for hypocrisy which is not only counter productive to his success but also making him a subject of mockery mentioned in the above verses? It is on this noted that fixing to the ultimate motto of Iman is advised as deposited in the noble Qur'an 6:162. As it should be fixed in the mouth of each Muslim, the verse reads: "Say: surely my Salat, my Sacrifice, my life and my hereafter are all (dedicated to) Allah _(SWT)_ .

It is our fervent appeal to Allah to guide and guard our journey in life for us not to wander into _Kufr_ in  actions, deeds, dispositions, speech, thoughts, reactions and wherewithal. This would lead us to some capable vitiates of Iman in the next edition. Till then, wishing us happy moment of reading. Ma'as Salaamah.

DR. RAZAQ BOLAWAYE UTHMAN,

Imam Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Ipaja Branch, Lagos State.

- Nigeria