10 Characteristics of Unbelievers in Islam That Muslims Must Know

We often hear the word unbeliever from the Qur’an. In Islam itself, unbeliever has the meaning of denying Allah’s grace. As Muslims, we must know the characteristics of unbelievers. This is not only as a sign for us to the people around us, but it also prevents us from becoming unbelievers unconsciously. The following are some characteristics of unbelievers that we need to know:

1. Refusing Islamic sharia

An unbeliever that denies Allah’s grace will surely also refuse Islamic sharia. Even though he knows the great benefits from the uphold of Islamic sharia, he will keep refuse Islamic sharia. This has also been explained by Allah in His words,

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْاْ إِلَى مَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ وَإِلَى الرَّسُولِ رَأَيْتَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَنكَ صُدُوداً

“When it is said to them: Come to (obey) the law that Allah has sent down and to the law of the Prophet! Certainly, you see the hypocrites blocking (human) as strong as possible from (approaching) you.” (QS. An-Nisa: 61)

In Al-Baqarah verse 6 and 7, it is also explained that no matter how we explain about Islam to unbelievers, they will never accept it.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَأَنْذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنْذِرْهُمْ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ

“Indeed, the unbelievers, it is the same for them, you give warning or you do not give warning, they will not believe.”

2. Worshiping other than Allah

Another main characteristic of an unbeliever is worshiping other than Allah SWT. Therefore, they are called cover up because they cover the truth that they actually know that Allah is the only God that is worthy to be worshiped.

Allah Azza wa Jalla said:

وَمَنْ يَدْعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ لَا بُرْهَانَ لَهُ بِهِ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الْكَافِرُونَ

“And whoever worships another God besides Allah, even though there is no verse for him about it, then indeed, the counting is on his Rabb’s side. Indeed, those unbelievers have no luck.” [Al-Mu’minun/23: 117]

3. Believing in fortune-telling

The Prophet mentioned that those who believe in fortune-telling do not belong to the group of Muslims. The unbelievers really like fortune-telling, even each of their activities seems to have to use fortune-telling first then it can be done.

لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ تَطَيَّرَ أَوْ تُطُيِّرَ لَهُ أَوْ تَكَهَّنَ أَوْ تُكُهِّنَ لَهُ أَوْ سَحَّرَ أَوْ سُحِّرَ لَهُ

“It does not belong to our group, whoever thinks bad luck or justifies people who think bad luck, or whoever comes to fortune tellers or justifies their words, or whoever does magic or justifies it.”

4. Arrogant

It is not only difficult to accept the truth of Islam, but unbelievers are also very arrogant and haughty. They always feel the truest and the greatest so that they never admit the truth of Allah. Even Allah mentioned that satan also belongs to the group of unbelievers. Allah said,

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلاَئِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلاَّ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَى وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الكَافِرِينَ {34}

“And (remember) when We said to the angels: “Prostrate to Adam,” then they prostrated except iblees; he was reluctant and takabur (arrogant) and he belonged to the group of unbelievers.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 34)

5. Denying Allah’s grace

Most of unbelievers actually know the greatness and the power of Allah. They also enjoy every grace that is given by Allah, however they always deny that Allah who gives that grace. Allah said in the Qur’an,

“They know the graces of Allah, (however) then they deny it and most of them are unbelievers.” (QS. An-Nahl/16: 83)

Muhajid said that the meaning was the words of someone, ‘This is the wealth that is inherited by my ancestor’. Aun bin Abdullah said, “That is what they said, ‘If it was not because of fulan, of course it would not be like this’.” And according to the interpretation of Ibn Qutaibah, “They said, ‘This is the blessing of our worships’ intercessions’.” (Kitabut Tawheed, Shaykh Muhammad At-Tamimi)

6. Always teasing Muslims

Another characteristic of unbelievers is always trying to invite Muslims to become unbelievers like them. He will try to make a Muslim follow the teachings that he embraces. It is not only now, this phenomenon will keep continue until the doomsday. Allah said,

وَدُّوا لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُوا فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَاءً

“They want you to be unbelievers as they have become unbelievers, then you become the same (with them).” [An-Nisa/4: 79]

7. Like to see Muslims in hardship

Unbelievers really like to see a Muslim in hardship. Therefore, we are forbidden to make good friends and even take leaders from unbelievers if they are hostile. Allah Azza wa Jalla said,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا بِطَانَةً مِنْ دُونِكُمْ لَا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالًا وَدُّوا مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ الْبَغْضَاءُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِي صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ ۚ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ

“O believers, do not take people who are outside your circle to become your trusted friend (because) they do not stop (causing) mudharat for you. They like what makes you difficult. The hatred from their mouths has been real, and what is hidden by their hearts is even greater.” [Ali Imran/3: 118]

8. Loving the world

Unbelievers also really love the world and forget the afterlife. Even most of them do not believe in the afterlife. Therefore, most of the world’s products such as entertainment world are mostly filled by unbelievers and this is one of the ways to bring down Muslims.

Allah Azza wa Jalla said:

يَعْلَمُونَ ظَاهِرًا مِنَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ الْآخِرَةِ هُمْ غَافِلُونَ

“They only know what was born from the life of the world; while about the afterlife (life), they are neglectful.” [Ar-Rum/30: 7]

9. Hostile the Prophet

Allah SWT said:

مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّـلّٰهِ وَمَلٰٓئِکَتِهٖ وَ رُسُلِهٖ وَجِبْرِيْلَ وَمِيْكٰٮلَ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَدُوٌّ لِّلْكٰفِرِيْنَ

“Whoever becomes the enemy of Allah, His angels, His Prophets, Jibril, and Mikail then indeed Allah is an enemy for unbelievers.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 98)

10. Hypocrite

Unbelievers are surely hypocrites because they hide the truth. Unbelievers always lie and do damage.

Allah Ta’ala said,

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَلَا تُطِعِ الْكَافِرِينَ وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ

“O Prophet, fear Allah and do not obey (the wishes) the unbelievers and the hypocrites.” (QS. Al-Ahzab: 1)

Those are the 10 characteristics of unbelievers in Islam that Muslims must know. Hopefully we are kept away from the characteristics of unbelievers and are always in the protection of Allah SWT. Aamiin.