Historical Background

The history and causes of becoming a Disbeliever are rooted in mental attitudes and environmental influences that obscure the truth. Historically, during the pre-Islamic era, the term was closely linked to Ancient Arabian thought. It did not necessarily denote intellectual ignorance but rather insolence, arrogance, and a refusal to submit to a higher authority due to a sense of self-importance.

During that time, Arabian society viewed material wealth as a source of immortality, trapping them in arrogant behavior that became the precursor to disbelief. As the Qur’an was revealed, the meaning of disbeliever evolved to become the antithesis of faith (iman) and gratitude (shukr). A person is described as a disbeliever when they intentionally close their heart, deny Allah’s guidance, and fail to acknowledge the blessings they have received.

Characteristics of a disbeliever

• Hearts Filled with Envy They harbor a deep-seated desire for Muslims to lose the blessing of faith and become like them. This envy is not passive; it drives them to launch propaganda and deception to tarnish the image of the believers. While they may occasionally act helpful for personal gain, the Qur’an reveals that the hatred hidden in their hearts is far greater than what their mouths utter.
• Attachment to Worldly Interests Their condition is worsened by an obsession with worldly status and comforts. They perceive faith as a threat to their lifestyle, leading them to shut their eyes and ears to the truth. This spiritual degradation causes the heart to feel constricted, eventually becoming hardened and “locked” against guidance.
• Arrogance Arrogance is the primary characteristic of a disbeliever, mirroring the behavior of satan, who felt superior and refused to submit to the truth. This manifests as blind fanaticism toward one’s group, personal logic, or excessive nationalism. Consequently, they fall into falsehood, denying the Unseen and the Hereafter because they worship materialism and attribute existence solely to nature or time.
• Blind Following They are characterized by a refusal to accept facts from Allah and His Messenger in favor of maintaining ancestral traditions. This “blind following” extends beyond spirituality into a lifestyle oriented toward self-gratification. This causes humans to lose their fitrah (natural disposition), falling to a level lower than animals living only to consume without understanding the purpose of creation.

Causes of Disbelief

1. Internal Factors

• Pride and Haughtiness: Refusing to accept the truth even after recognizing it because of a sense of superiority.
• Negligence of Blessings: Forgetting Allah during times of ease, leading to ingratitude for blessings.
• Wrong Intentions: A lack of desire to seek the truth or a deliberate choice to close one’s heart.
• Intentional Denial: Knowingly rejecting the existence of Allah, His prophets, and His teachings.

2. External Factors

• Ancestral Traditions: Holding so firmly to family traditions that they override the truth.
• Environmental/Family Influence: Being raised in an environment that does not recognize Islam, leading one to follow those beliefs unless they actively seek the truth through education or outreach.

Impact of Disbelief in the Islamic Perspective

Spiritual Impact

In Islamic belief, rejecting divine values has a direct impact on an individual’s inner state, such as:

• The loss of spiritual proximity to the Creator.
• A decrease in inner peace and tranquility.
• Difficulty in finding a transcendent meaning to life. However, Islam also affirms that the door to change and repentance is always open.

Social Impact

From the perspective of Islamic ethics, if divine values are not used as a moral foundation, there are concerns regarding:

• A crisis of justice.
• The dominance of materialism over human values.
• The erosion of morality within society. Despite this, Islam continues to emphasize the importance of peaceful coexistence and upholding justice for all members of society, regardless of their religion.

The Dimension of the Hereafter

In Islamic teachings, every choice regarding faith carries consequences in the afterlife. However, the final decision remains within the absolute justice and wisdom of God.

Conclusion

The concept of disbeliever in the Qur’an is essentially a mental and spiritual condition where an individual consciously covers or denies the truth due to arrogance and excessive attachment to the material world. Rooted in the prideful attitude of Iblis, it is fueled by ingratitude and blind adherence to tradition. While this state leads to spiritual degradation and potential social crises, Islam remains a religion that champions justice and harmony, always keeping the door of guidance open for those who wish to return to their original nature.

Source

Putra, Sudarmadi, M.Ud. (2021): KARAKTERISTIK ORANG KAFIR. STIM Surakarta. https://www.stimsurakarta.ac.id/2021/03/06/karakteristik-orang-kafir/mimbar-dosen/

Nissa, Wafiyatun. (2025). HIDAYAH ALLAH SWT TERHADAP ORANG-ORANG KAFIR (Perspektif Tafsir Fi Ẓhilalil Qur’ān). UNIVERSITAS ISLAM NEGERI RADEN INTAN LAMPUNG. https://repository.radenintan.ac.id/41687/

Muhaemin. (2021): KAFIR DALAM AL-QUR’AN Studi atas Penafsiran Mahmud Yunus dalam Tafsir Al-Qur’an Al-Karim. Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) “Sunan Kalijaga” Yogyakarta, Indonesia. https://jurnalsuhuf.kemenag.go.id/suhuf/article/download/671/242/