Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Characteristics of Non-Muslims

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The Qur'an, as elsewhere noted, has much to say about the non-believers. It also has a rich and almost entirely negative vocabulary to describe them. They deaf, dumb, and blind, the "worst of creatures." They are proud and stubborn in their defiance of Allah and his apostle. Overall, the impression one gets of these people from the Qur'an is intensively negative and their terrible fate in the fire more well-deserved. Some of these negative verses in context refer to specific groups such as those who broke treaties or have oppressed the believers. Other verses are blanket statements about those who disbelieve, for example Quran 7:177, Quran 18:57, Quran 29:49, Quran 98:6. Muhammad's message had been mocked and rejected by the majority of the Meccans, where he and his followers were persecuted and driven out.

Occasionally the Quran is more conciliatory, notably Quran 60:8 which was traditionally revealed before the conquest of Mecca and according to tradition involved relatively little killing after their leader Abu Sufyan saved himself by seeking Muhammad's forgiveness and accepted Islam. Those verses indicate that some non-Muslims do not have the characteristic of oppressiveness and may be worthy of love, just dealing and friendship. Sometimes non-Muslims are described in only mildly negative ways, such as Quran 9:6 which grants refuge to mushrikeen who seek it "for they are people who do not know".

Qur'an

Friendship and kindness towards those who were not oppressors

It may be that Allah will ordain love between you and those of them with whom ye are at enmity. Allah is Mighty, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Allah forbiddeth you not those who warred not against you on account of religion and drove you not out from your homes, that ye should show them kindness and deal justly with them. Lo! Allah loveth the just dealers. Allah forbiddeth you only those who warred against you on account of religion and have driven you out from your homes and helped to drive you out, that ye make friends of them. Whosoever maketh friends of them - (All) such are wrong-doers.

Non-Muslims are Arrogant and Divided

Nay, but those who disbelieve are in false pride and schism.

Non-Muslims are Close-Minded

As for the Disbelievers, Whether thou warn them or thou warn them not it is all one for them; they believe not.

They desire to deceive Allah and those who believe, and they deceive only themselves and they do not perceive.

There is a disease in their hearts, so Allah added to their disease and they shall have a painful chastisement because they lie.
Qur'an 2:9-10
Such are the men whom Allah has cursed for He has made them deaf and blinded their sight.
Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur'an, or are their hearts locked up by them?
Qur'an 47:23-24

Non-Muslims are Deaf, Dumb and Blind

As for the Disbelievers, Whether thou warn them or thou warn them not it is all one for them; they believe not.
The likeness of those who disbelieve is as the likeness of one who shouts to that which hears nothing, save a call and a cry; deaf, dumb, blind -- they do not understand.

Non-Muslims are Evil

In their hearts is a disease, and Allah increaseth their disease. A painful doom is theirs because they lie.
O ye who believe! spend of that wherewith We have provided you ere a day come when there will be no trafficking, nor friendship, nor intercession. The disbelievers, they are the wrong-doers.
And We prescribed for them therein: The life for the life, and the eye for the eye, and the nose for the nose, and the ear for the ear, and the tooth for the tooth, and for wounds retaliation. But whoso forgoeth it (in the way of charity) it shall be expiation for him. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are wrong-doers.
The similitude of those who were charged with the (obligations of the) Mosaic Law, but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes (but understands them not). Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of God: and God guides not people who do wrong.
Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion - the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: 'They will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me. 'If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked.
No plea had they, when Our terror came unto them, save that they said: Lo! We were wrong-doers.
O Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you as he caused your (first) parents to go forth from the Garden and tore off from them their robe (of innocence) that he might manifest their shame to them. Lo! he seeth you, he and his tribe, from whence ye see him not. Lo! We have made the devils protecting friends for those who believe not.
Evil as an example are people who reject Our signs and wrong their own souls.

Non-Muslims are Greedy

And you will most certainly find them the greediest of men for life (greedier) than even those who are polytheists; every one of them loves that he should be granted a life of a thousand years, and his being granted a long life will in no way remove him further off from the chastisement, and Allah sees what they do.

Non-Muslims are Like Animals

If it had been Our will, We should have elevated him with Our signs; but he inclined to the earth, and followed his own vain desires. His similitude is that of a dog: if you attack him, he lolls out his tongue, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls out his tongue. That is the similitude of those who reject Our signs; So relate the story; perchance they may reflect.
And well ye knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath: We said to them: "Be ye apes, despised and rejected."
Shall I tell thee of a worse (case) than theirs for retribution with Allah? (Worse is the case of him) whom Allah hath cursed, him on whom His wrath hath fallen and of whose sort Allah hath turned some to apes and swine, and who serveth idols. Such are in worse plight and further astray from the plain road.
When in their insolence they transgressed (all) prohibitions, We said to them: "Be ye apes, despised and rejected."
Or thinkest thou that most of them listen or understand? They are only like cattle; - nay, they are worse astray in Path.

Non-Muslims are Perverse

And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. That is their saying with their mouths. They imitate the saying of those who disbelieved of old. Allah (Himself) fighteth against them. How perverse are they!
When thou lookest at them, their exteriors please thee; and when they speak, thou listenest to their words. They are as (worthless as hollow) pieces of timber propped up, (unable to stand on their own). They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies; so beware of them. The curse of Allah be on them! How are they deluded (away from the Truth)!

Non-Muslims are Unclean

O ye who believe! Truly the Pagans are unclean; so let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the Sacred Mosque. And if ye fear poverty, soon will Allah enrich you, if He wills, out of His bounty, for Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.

Non-Muslims are Unintelligent

O Prophet! Exhort the believers to fight. If there be of you twenty steadfast they shall overcome two hundred, and if there be of you a hundred (steadfast) they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are a folk without intelligence.

Non-Muslims are the Worst of Creatures

Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are the deaf and dumb who do not use reason.
Verily those who believe not, among those who have received the scriptures, and among the idolaters, [shall be cast] into the fire of hell, to remain therein [for ever]. These are the worst of creatures.

Quran 8:55-56 is a often quoted as a similar verse, but explicitly concerns treaty breakers.

See Also