Kāfir — non-Muslim (كافر kāfir sing.; كفّار kuffār pl.)

Disbelievers, Atheist

وَآمِنُوا بِمَا أَنْزَلْتُ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا مَعَكُمْ وَلَا تَكُونُوا أَوَّلَ كَافِرٍ بِهِ ۖ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا وَإِيَّايَ فَاتَّقُونِ {41}

And believe in what I have Revealed, a ratification of what is with you, and do not become the first ‘كَافِرٍ’ disbeliever by it, and do not be exchanging My verses for a small price; and from Me you should be fearing [2:41]

العياشي: عن جابر الجعفي، قال: سألت أبا جعفر (عليه السلام) عن تفسير هذه الآية في باطن القرآن وَ آمِنُوا بِما أَنْزَلْتُ مُصَدِّقاً لِما مَعَكُمْ وَ لا تَكُونُوا أَوَّلَ كافِرٍ بِهِ، قال: «يعني فلانا و صاحبه و من تبعهم و دان بدينهم، قال الله يعنيهم: وَ لا تَكُونُوا أَوَّلَ كافِرٍ بِهِ يعني عليا (عليه السلام)

Al Ayyashi, from Jabir Al Ju’fy who said,

‘I asked Abu Ja’far^-asws about the interpretation of this Verse in the esoteric (hidden meanings) of the Quran – And believe in what I have Revealed, a ratification of what is with you, and do not become the first disbeliever by it [2:41]. He^-asws said: ‘It Means so and so and his companion, and the ones who follow them, and make a religion by their religion. Allah^-azwj Said Meaning them and do not become the first disbeliever by it – Meaning (disbelieving in) Ali^-asws.^[1]

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[1] تفسير العيّاشي 1: 42/ 31.