FatwaFederal TerritoriesSocial & Contemporary Issues
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-924: ADAKAH DILARANG MENGGUNAKAN GELARAN ‘KAFIR’ KEPADA ORANG BUKAN ISLAM?
Is it prohibited to use the title kafir for non-Muslims?
Short answer
The term kafir appears in the Quran and hadith and refers to those who reject faith, so it is an accurate label and not in itself an insult.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Social & Contemporary Issues
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The term kafir appears in the Quran and hadith and refers to those who reject faith, so it is an accurate label and not in itself an insult. Banning the word outright in daily life is not the correct approach. Using terms such as non-Muslim in social interaction is acceptable as a wise method of dawah. Muslims are forbidden from addressing disbelievers with insulting or mocking names.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Mengharamkan langsung penggunaan istilah 'kafir' dalam kehidupan seharian bukanlah tindakan yang tepat.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-924: ADAKAH DILARANG MENGGUNAKAN GELARAN ‘KAFIR’ KEPADA ORANG BUKAN ISLAM?”, 13 August 2025. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/6345-irsyad-hukum-siri-ke-924-adakah-dilarang-menggunakan-gelaran-kafir-kepada-orang-bukan-islam. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/is-calling-non-muslims-kafir-prohibited/