Worst of Creatures: Kafirs in the Quran
One of the most troubling aspects of Islamic theology is its treatment of non-Muslims, particularly those labeled as "kafirs" (disbelievers). While modern Muslim apologists often present Islam as tolerant and respectful of other faiths, the Quran itself paints a dramatically different picture. Non-Muslims are not simply people who happen to hold different beliefs; they are repeatedly described as the worst of creation, destined for eternal torment, and deserving of contempt and violence in this life. Understanding how the Quran characterizes unbelievers is essential to grasping Islam's fundamental worldview.
The Language of Dehumanization
The Quran employs remarkably harsh language when describing non-Muslims. In numerous passages, unbelievers are compared to animals or described as worse than animals, creating a theological framework for dehumanization.
"Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are the deaf and dumb who do not use reason. And if Allah had known any good in them, He would have made them hear. And if He had made them hear, they would [still] have turned away, while they were refusing." (Quran 8:22-23)
The Arabic word translated as "living creatures" is "al-dawabb," which literally means animals or beasts. The passage explicitly identifies certain categories of people—those who do not believe—as the worst of beasts. This is not metaphorical; classical tafsir (Quran commentary) confirms this interpretation.
Even more explicit is this verse:
"Indeed, the worst of creatures in the sight of Allah are those who have disbelieved, and they will not [ever] believe." (Quran 8:55)
Again, the Arabic uses a word for creatures/beasts (al-dawabb) to describe disbelievers. Ibn Kathir, perhaps the most respected classical commentator, confirms that this verse refers to unbelievers as worse than animals because animals at least fulfill their purpose, while unbelievers reject their Creator.
The comparison to animals appears repeatedly:
"And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless." (Quran 7:179)
Notice the progression: unbelievers are compared to livestock, then declared to be even more astray than animals. The verse explicitly states that some people were created for Hell—their fate predetermined, yet they are still blamed for their unbelief.
Vilification Throughout the Quran
Beyond animal comparisons, the Quran contains hundreds of verses vilifying non-Muslims with a relentless intensity. They are described as:
- Blind and deaf: "Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are the deaf and dumb who do not use reason" (Quran 8:22)
- Unclean: "O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean" (Quran 9:28)
- The worst of people: "Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures" (Quran 98:6)
- Partners of Satan: "Satan has overcome them and made them forget the remembrance of Allah. Those are the party of Satan. Unquestionably, the party of Satan—they will be the losers" (Quran 58:19)
- Allies of Satan: "Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of Taghut. So fight against the allies of Satan. Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak" (Quran 4:76)
- Worst in Allah's estimation: "Had these [disbelievers] been the best of creatures in Allah's estimation, He would not have destined them for the Fire" (Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 98:6)
The cumulative effect of this language is to create a sharp binary: believers are the best of creation, favored by Allah; unbelievers are the worst of creation, destined for hell and deserving of contempt.
"You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient." (Quran 3:110)
Theological Implications: Fitrah and Kufr
Islamic theology holds that all humans are born in a state of "fitrah"—a natural disposition toward Islam. According to this doctrine, everyone is born Muslim, and those who end up as non-Muslims have either been corrupted by their parents or have willfully rejected the truth.
"So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know." (Quran 30:30)
The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said: "Every child is born upon fitrah, but his parents make him a Jew, Christian or Magian" (Sahih Muslim 2658). This hadith establishes that Islam is the natural state and all other religions are corruptions.
This theology has profound implications. If everyone is born Muslim and the signs of Allah are obvious throughout creation, then those who reject Islam are not merely mistaken—they are willfully rebelling against known truth. The Quran repeatedly accuses unbelievers of "kufr," a word meaning not just disbelief but deliberate covering up or denial of truth.
"Indeed, those who disbelieve—it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them—they will not believe. Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil. And for them is a great punishment." (Quran 2:6-7)
This passage reveals a disturbing circular logic: some people will not believe because Allah has sealed their hearts, yet they are still deserving of punishment for their unbelief. Classical scholars debated the theological implications, but the text clearly presents a double predestination: some are created for paradise, others for hell.
Social and Legal Consequences
The Quran's vilification of non-Muslims is not merely theological—it has concrete social and legal implications. Several verses command Muslims to maintain social distance from unbelievers and to view them as enemies.
"O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you—then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people." (Quran 5:51)
"O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves, for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason." (Quran 3:118)
"You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred." (Quran 58:22)
These verses establish a fundamental hostility between Muslims and non-Muslims. While some scholars argue they apply only in specific contexts, the classical understanding was that Muslims should maintain a basic separation from and superiority over non-Muslims. This is codified in Islamic law through numerous provisions:
- Non-Muslims cannot hold authority over Muslims
- Muslim men can marry women from the People of the Book (Jews and Christians), but Muslim women cannot marry non-Muslim men
- In Islamic states, non-Muslims must pay the jizya (special tax) and live under restrictions designed to manifest their subjugation (Quran 9:29)
- The testimony of a non-Muslim is worth less than that of a Muslim in Islamic courts
- Unbelievers can be enslaved if captured in war, but Muslims cannot
The Command to Fight Unbelievers
The Quran's dehumanization of unbelievers culminates in commands to fight them until they submit to Islamic rule or are killed.
"Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture—[fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled." (Quran 9:29)
"Fight them until there is no [more] fitnah and [until] worship is [acknowledged to be] for Allah. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors." (Quran 2:193)
"Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are those who have disbelieved, and they will not [ever] believe—The ones with whom you made a treaty but then they break their pledge every time, and they do not fear Allah. So if you gain dominance over them in war, disperse by [means of] them those behind them that perhaps they will be reminded." (Quran 8:55-57)
When unbelievers are described as the worst of creatures and enemies of Allah, violence against them becomes not merely permitted but virtuous. The Quran promises paradise to those who "fight in the cause of Allah" and "slay and are slain" (Quran 9:111).
Modern Implications
While many Muslims today do not actively hate non-Muslims, the Quranic framework remains influential. Pew Research surveys consistently show that majorities in many Muslim-majority countries favor making sharia the law of the land, including provisions that discriminate against non-Muslims. Terrorist groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram cite these same Quranic verses to justify violence against "kafirs."
Even among non-violent Muslims, the belief that Islam is superior to all other religions and that non-Muslims are fundamentally misguided or worse creates barriers to genuine pluralism and equality. The doctrine that Islam is the natural state of humanity and all other religions are corruptions makes true interfaith dialogue nearly impossible—how can there be genuine exchange when one side believes the other is willfully rejecting known truth?
Biblical Contrast: Made in the Image of God
The Christian worldview stands in stark contrast to the Quranic portrayal of unbelievers. While Christianity certainly affirms that people need salvation through Christ, it maintains the fundamental dignity of all people as image-bearers of God.
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27)
This foundational truth—that every human being bears the image of God—is never revoked, even when humans rebel against God. The worst sinner remains an image-bearer, which is why murder is such a serious offense (Genesis 9:6) and why Christians are called to love even their enemies.
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:43-45)
Jesus exemplified this teaching. He ate with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:10-11), spoke with a Samaritan woman (John 4), healed the servant of a Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13), and ultimately died for His enemies: "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
The apostle Paul, writing to Christians in a pagan Roman city, instructs them:
"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." (Romans 12:17-18)
Far from viewing unbelievers as the worst of creatures deserving of death, Christians are called to view them as people loved by God and in need of the gospel. The Christian mission is not to subjugate unbelievers but to offer them the free gift of salvation.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:16-17)
Questions to Consider
- How can Muslims claim Islam promotes tolerance when the Quran explicitly calls unbelievers "the worst of creatures" and compares them to animals?
- If everyone is born Muslim according to Islamic theology, what does this imply about how Muslims view parents who raise children in other faiths?
- How can there be genuine interfaith dialogue when one side believes the other consists of people who are willfully rejecting obvious truth?
- What are the social consequences of a religious system that teaches its followers they are the best of creation while everyone else is the worst?
- If Allah sealed the hearts of unbelievers so they cannot believe, how is it just to punish them for their unbelief?
- How do Muslims reconcile the claim that Islam respects other religions with verses commanding Muslims not to take Jews and Christians as allies?
- Given the Quran's harsh characterization of unbelievers, is it surprising that extremist groups justify violence against "kafirs" using Islamic texts?
- How does the Islamic view of unbelievers as the worst of creation compare with the Christian view of all people as made in the image of God?