Surah Al Kafiroon 109:1-6

Say (O Muhammad (SAW) to these Mushrikûn and Kâfirûn): “O Al-Kâfirûn (disbelievers in Allâh, in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar)! (1) “I worship not that which you worship, (2) “Nor will you worship that which I worship. (3) “And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping. (4) “Nor will you worship that which I worship. (5) “To you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islâmic Monotheism).” (6)

Revealed in : Makkah

Superiority of this surah

1. Rasulullah s.a.w. is heard reciting suratul kafirun and suratul ikhlas during the voluntary fajr prayer

The Book of Prayers (Kitab Al-Salat)

Muslim :: Book 4 : Hadith 1575

Abu Huraira reported

that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) recited in the two (supererogatory) rak’ahs of the dawn (prayer):” Say: O unbelievers,” (Qur’an, cix.) and” Say: Allah is one” (cxii.).

2. Also in a long hadith of the following, Rasulullah s.a.w recited suratul Kafirun and Suratul Ikhlas in the two rakaahs after tawaf. (I am not putting the hadith here because it is too long.)

The Book of Pilgrimage (Kitab Al-Hajj)
Muslim :: Book 7 : Hadith 2803

3. According to Imam Ahmad, Ibn Umar saw Prophet Muhammad also reciting suratul kafirun and suratul Ikhlas in the two rakaahs voluntary prayer after maghrib.

According to Imam Ahmad (referring to Tafsir Ibn Kathir), Ibn Umar said, “I watched the Prophet s.a.w. twenty four to twenty five times recitiing in the two rakaahs before the morning  prayer and the two rakaahs after the sunset prayer on approximately ten or twenty different occasions “say Al Kafirun” and “He is Allah one”..

Summary

Rasullullah recite both the Suratul Kafirun and Suratul Ikhlas in these prayers

1. The sunnah prayer after tawaf

2. The sunnah prayer before fajr prayer

3. The sunnah prayer after maghrib prayer.

The Revelation

The Quraysh despite being the majority relative to the Muslims in Makkah during the time of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. was threatened with the growing of Prophet Muhammad’s teaching. They can see that the Muslims is growing and Muhammad s.a.w. continue to defame their idols.

In a strategy to minimise the spread of Islam, they invited Muhammad saw to worship their idol for  a year and in return they would also worship Muhammad’s God for a year.

Thus Allah revealed this surah and commanded His Messenger saw to disassociate himself from their religion completely.

I worship not that which you worship

i.e. statues and rival gods

Nor will you worship whom I worship

and He is Allah Alone. Who has no partner.

And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping. Nor will you worship whom I worship

I do not worship according to your worship, which means that I do not go along with it or follow it. I only worship Allah in the manner in which He loves and is pleased with.

Nor will you worship whom I worship

Yo do not follow the commands of Allah and His legislation in His worship. rather you have invented something out of the promptings of your own soul.

The lessons for the children here are mainly to hold strongly to the Deen. To not be easily swayed by others and sacrifice their religion. Even for a little while. Even under pretentious. More so to please others. Or are afraid the lost of job and position and glamour and friends.

Allah says ,

Some people set up equals to Allah, loving them as they should love Allah. But those who believe have greater love for Allah… (Surat al-Baqara 2:165)

Be strong in your believe, your iman, my dear children from now on. The real world has many challenges. Hold on strong to your religion for one day we will all go back to face Allah. Think about this and reflect that all in this world are really temporary.

To be your religion, and to me my religion.

This last statement does not mean it is a license for idoltary. Rather it is like a warning of them chosing their religion for they will face the consequences later.

A lesson for all of us to be aware of colluding with disbelievers to the point of living the Deen.

—————————————–

I learnt  a lesson dooing this lesson with the kids. i prepared a worksheet for the children on this surah. There 11 pages altogether. I was to excited and determine to finish up to get their feedback on the workable of the worksheet. But it was tiring, at least for S.

Next time I will break up the worksheet in intervals so they will always be fresh insya Allah. May Allah make it easy for all of us.