BELIEVE and DISBELIEVE
It is impossible to translate Arabic into other languages without knowing the Arabic grammar.
The Holy Qor-aan uses two words (003:150) belief and its antonym disbelief frequently. The derivates from the root ا م ن convey having belief, faith, peace, tranquility or orderliness. The derivates from the root ك ف رِ show disbelief, denial, disorder, disowning, rejection or refusal.
Each Arabic root has many derivate words; see Translation-1 With Author’s Whims. Each word has specific meanings; see Preciseness – Hallmark of the Arabic. Accordingly, the verb, in the past tense, for a single individual, in masculine gender in 3rd person from the root اٰ م ن is اٰمَنَ.
The word اٰمَنَ (aa-ma-na = v., past., s., m., 3rd person) means a man who believed in the Holy Qor-aan and entered the Faith of Iss-laam, Islaam or Islam. It also encompasses the following.
- He sincerely, totally and wholeheartedly believed embraced the Faith, turned Faithful.
- He admitted, affirmed, approved, concurred, confirmed, corroborated, evidenced, seen, testified or witnessed to be a Moslem.
- He was given peace, made safe, protected, provided, rescued, saved and given security.
The word اٰمَنُوۡا (aa-ma-noo = v., past., m., pl., 3rd person = meaning They believed) is the plural of aforesaid word for single male. It means all above; see our Commentary Islam – 101 and the Note to 003:150. When the Holy Qor-aan used this verb in the past tense as in verse 004:061 it was inaccurate to have translated it as ‘they believe’ in the present tense like many authors did.
The above two are from the fourteen derivate words just in the past tense. There are over 60 other words from the same one root including the following.
يُّؤۡمِنُ (yo-may-noo = he believes) is the verb in the present tense showing precisely the singular or solitary doer in the masculine gender in the 3rd person.
نُّؤۡمِنَ (nou-may-na = we believe) is the verb in the present tense showing precisely the plural or multiple doers in both genders in the 1st person.
يُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ (yo-may-noon = they believe) is the verb in the present tense showing precisely the plural or multiple doers in the masculine gender in the 3rd person.
اٰمَنَّا (aa-mun-na = we believed) is the verb in the past tense showing precisely1st person in plural.
الۡاِيۡمَانِ (ee-maa-n = belief, faith; total confidence; trust) is one of many forms of nouns.
اٰمِنًا (aa-may-nun = in peace or in an inviolate place of peace, safety, security which is devoid of disturbance and turmoil) is what is equivalent to an adjective in English language.
The same way the other word كَفَرَ (ka-fa-ra = v., past., s., m., 3rd person = he disbelieved) is verb, in the past tense, for a single one in masculine gender and in 3rd person from the root ك ف ر .
The meanings from the root ك ف ر (like detailed in our Note 002:007) is as following.
- To abuse, deny, fail, misuse, reject or refuse to appreciate, thank, use or utilize any of the God-given abilities, blessings, capacities, capabilities, gifts, opportunities afforded and talents endowed.
- To breach faith or be ‘Disdainful of the bounties of Allah’ [M Zafrulla Khan] or do acts that show the doer as an ingrate, renegade, ungratefulness or utterly thankless.
- To deny God’s grace by teaching, learning or spreading acts to create illusions, cheating or committing other crimes including the falsehood, fakery and magic.
- To deny, disobey, reject, refuse to follow or renounce the faith, belief in Allah, the Holy Qor-aan, Islaam and become Moslem.
- To become a blasphemer, disbeliever, faithless, heretic, impious, infidel, ingrate, non-believer, pagan, rejecter of, resistor to, or unbeliever in God.
Grammar variations pack further emphasis in above meanings that reflect being a confirmed, proven, real or total ingrate. They could also indicate becoming exceedingly, extremely, greatly, highly, persistently, totally or wholly unappreciative, ungrateful or thankless.
كَفَرَ (ka-fa-ra = v., past., s., m., 3rd person = He disbelieved) means that he abused, denied, failed, misused, rejected or refused to appreciate, thank, use or utilize the God-given abilities, blessings, capacities, capabilities, gifts, opportunities afforded and talents endowed. The word includes the meanings that he became a blasphemer, faithless, heretic, impious, infidel, ingrate, non-believer, pagan and rejecter of or resistor to or unbeliever in God)
كَفَرُوۡا (ka-fa-roo = v., past, pl., 3rd person) means They disbelieved or did as detailed above for many males such as stated among others in verses 002:007, 002:040, 002:162, 003:092, 004:057, 005:011.
The above two are from the fourteen derivate words in the past tense only. There are over 60 other words from the same one root including the following.
يَكۡفُرُ (yuck-fo-ro = v., pres., m., pl., 3rd person) means He disbelieves.
تَكۡفُرۡ (tuk-foor = v., pres., f., pl., 2nd person) means You single female or group disbelieve.
نَكۡفُرُ (nukfo-ro = v., pres., pl., 1st person) means we deny, reject or refuse to believe.
يَكۡفُرُوۡنَ (yuk-fo-roo-na = v., pres., m., pl., 3rd person) means they disbelieve, deny, refuse, reject or act ungratefully. The Holy Qor-aan generally refers to those who do aforesaid acts relative to Allah, the Holy Qor-aan and Islam
كَافِرٍ (kaa-fay-rin = n., m., s) means a single male disbeliever, non-believer or unbeliever.
كَافِرَةٌ (kaa-fay-ra-toon = n., f., s) is a female including a group or association who is disbeliever, faithless; unappreciative; ungrateful; heretic, infidel, resistors to God or unbeliever – 003:014)
الۡكٰفِرِيۡنَ (kaa-fay-reen = n., pl) are those many deniers, faithless; ungrateful, non-appreciating, thankless, unappreciative who abuse, misuse, refuse, fail to use, or gratefully acknowledge and utilize any of the God-given blessings, gifts, opportunities or talents provided to them. 002:099)
الۡکُفۡرَ (koof-ra = n) means disbelief; abuse, denial, failure, misuse, rejection or refusal – 003:053)
كُفَّارٌ (koof-faa-roon = n., pl., superlative form) means Those who really and truly… disbelieve, abuse, deny, fail, misuse, reject or refuse to appreciate, thank, use or utilize any God-given graces. 002:277)
كُفۡرًا (koof-run) or كُفۡر(koof-ray) is a noun that means apostasy, denial, disbelief, ingratitude, lack of appreciation, refusal, rejection, unbelief, ungratefulness. 004:138, 004:156)
004:072
The Holy Qor-aan 004:072
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا خُذُوۡا حِذۡرَكُمۡ فَانْفِرُوۡا ثُبَاتٍ اَوِ انْفِرُوۡا جَمِيۡعًا
Yaa-auy-yo-hul-la-zee-na-aa-ma-noo-kho-zoo-hiz-ra-koom Fun-fay-roo-tho-baa-tin-aa-win-fay-roo-ja-me-aa
Listen, you all who have believed! Take your precaution Then strike alone or attack all together
The Holy Qor-aan has used the Phrase Yaa-auy-yo-hul-la-zee-na-aa-ma-noo many times
** Note 004:072. This verse has verbalized one rule to resolve any criminal or communal campaign, conflict, combat or competition.
First and the foremost step must be to take precaution. Implementing defensive measures before striking at a problem is a must. Acing alone or all together must be the next step.
Striking alone by today is sophisticated. In warfare, spying individually, developing elite attackers in special forces or flying solo to drop atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is a norm.
Charging together by now is concerted attacks by several branches of Armed Forces and even multi-national alliances as in WWI, WWII and events like Normandy Invasions.