Surah Al-Kafiroon (chapter 109 of the Qur’an) was revealed in Makkah. The main themes of this Surah are:
a) Disavowal of the deeds of the disbelievers
b) Importance of maintaining the purity of Islam by not mixing it with falsehood
c) Muslims’ relationship with non-Muslims with regard to religion
SUMMARIZED INTERPRETATION OF SURAH AL-KAFIROON:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
[In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.]
1) قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ
[Say (O Muhammad, to the pagans of Makkah): “O Al-Kâfirûn (disbelievers in Allah, in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar)!]
Surah Al-Kafiroon addresses every disbeliever on the face of the earth; however, these statements are particularly directed towards the disbelievers of the Quraysh during the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It has been narrated that the pagans of Makkah, in their ignorance, invited the Prophet to worship their idols for a year and they would (in turn) worship Allah for a year. Therefore, Allah revealed this Surah. [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
2) لَا أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ
[“I worship not that which you worship,]
Although the pagan Arabs believed in the existence of Allah, they used to ascribe partners to Him in worship. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) called them to abandon their false beliefs and invited them to worship none but Allah. They, however, rejected his call. In verse 2 of this Surah, Allah commands the Prophet to declare himself free from their beliefs and deeds.
3) وَلَا أَنتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ
[“Nor will you worship that which I worship.]
4) وَلَا أَنَا عَابِدٌ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ
[“And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping.]
In this verse Allah commands the Prophet to inform the disbelievers of Makkah that he does not worship according to their ways of worship, nor will he follow their ways in future; rather, he worships Allah as He should be worshipped.
5) وَلَا أَنتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ
[“Nor will you worship that which I worship.]
6) لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ
[“To you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islamic Monotheism).”]
As the disbelievers of Makkah were not ready to abandon idol worship, Allah commands the Prophet to stay away from their false beliefs and wrong deeds. Allah says elsewhere in the Qur’an (interpretation of the meaning):
“And if they deny you, say: ‘For me are my deeds and for you are your deeds! You are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what you do!’” [Al Qur’an 10:41]
This is because no one is responsible for another person’s deeds. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“If you disbelieve, then verily, Allah is not in need of you; He likes not disbelief for His slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you. No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you what you used to do. Verily, He is All-Knower of that which is in (men’s) breasts.” [Al Qur’an 39:7]
CALLING OTHERS TO ISLAM IS AN OBLIGATION UPON THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY:
Allah sent Prophets and Messengers in all ages to preach and propagate Islamic Monotheism. All of them called people to worship none but Allah. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): ‘Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taaghoot (all false deities).’” [Al Qur’an 16:36]
The fundamental message of all Prophets and Messengers was the same. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“He (Allah) has ordained for you the same religion (Islamic Monotheism) which He ordained for Nooh (Noah), and that which We have revealed to you (O Muhammad), and that which We ordained for Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses‎) and ‘Isa (Jesus).” [Al Qur’an 42:13]
This series of Prophethood came to an end with the arrival of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allah is Ever All Aware of everything.” [Al Qur’an 33:40]
As Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was the last and final Prophet, it is obligatory upon everyone to follow the message with which he was sent (i.e. Islamic Monotheism). Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.” [Al Qur’an 3:85]
It is obligatory upon the Muslims to convey the message of Islam to others. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“You (true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma’rûf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah.” [Al Qur’an 3:110]
Calling others to Islam requires wisdom. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Invite to the way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur’an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better.” [Al Qur’an 16:125]
In the course of calling others to Islam, every Muslim should keep in mind that guidance lies in the hand of Allah alone. Therefore, he should not worry whether a person accepts Islam or not. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Truly, on Us (Allah) is (to give) guidance.” [Al Qur’an 92:12]
“Verily, you (O Muhammad) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.” [Al Qur’an 28:56]
“Then, if they turn away, your duty is only to convey (the Message) in a clear way.” [Al Qur’an 16:82]
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MUSLIMS & NON-MUSLIMS:
Islam is the religion of mercy and justice. The Muslims’ attitude towards non-Muslims should be based on the latter’s attitude towards Islam, because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity.
It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, that Allah forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the Zâlimûn (wrong doers – those who disobey Allah).” [Al Qur’an 60:8-9]