DO YOU KNOW THE FIRST INFIDEL IN THE WORLD?
By Dr. Max Shimba, Servant of Jesus Christ the Great God (Titus 2:13)
Introduction
Who are the infidels?
Do you know who the first infidels in the world were?
The term “kafiri” (infidel or unbeliever) is not originally Islamic—it appears in the Holy Bible long before Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, was born, and long before Islam or the Qur’an existed. The word kafiri existed in Scripture centuries before the Arabs of the 7th century (such as Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali) emerged as followers of Islam.
Thus, Muslims merely found the word already in use among the people who read and taught from the Holy Bible.
In fact, nowhere in the Qur’an are Christians called kafirs (infidels). Rather, the Qur’an describes Christians as those who fear God and are learned (Surat al-Ma’idah 5:82).
To confirm that the word kafiri is biblical, let us examine several scriptural references.
Biblical References to the Word “Infidel”
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Ezekiel 34:28–31 – God Himself assures Israel that they shall no longer be prey to the infidels (the nations).
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Nehemiah 5:8–9; 5:17; 6:16
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Lamentations 1:3; 1:10; 5:2
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1 Timothy 1:8–11
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Jude 1:4
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1 John 4:1–6
These texts demonstrate that the term “infidel” or “unbeliever” was in use long before Muhammad’s birth, before the Qur’an was written, and before the rise of Islam.
The Meaning and Use of “Kafiri”
The word kafiri is Arabic and literally means “a rejecter” or “one who opposes.”
In other words, it refers to a person who rejects or opposes the word of God.
Whenever there is an initial divine statement (a preceding statement), and a later person or doctrine contradicts it, the contradictor becomes a kafiri—a rejecter of divine truth.
Today, Muslims often refer to Christians as kafirs, saying, “These infidels trouble us” or “Let us fight the infidels.” But biblically and historically, that accusation is misplaced.
Questions for Reflection
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Between Christians and Muslims, who truly fits the description of kafiri (one who rejects divine truth)?
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Between Christian faith and Islam, which came first in history?
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Between Jesus Christ and Muhammad, who contradicted the other’s teaching?
A Brief Historical Context: Jesus and Muhammad
Jesus Christ is the founder of the Christian faith.
According to Hebrews 12:2, He is “the author and finisher of our faith.”
It has been over 2,000 years (since A.D. 33) since Jesus ascended into heaven, while the Islamic calendar (Hijri year 1436 at the time of writing) begins with Muhammad’s movement centuries later. Muhammad was born around A.D. 570—well after the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Therefore, Jesus and the Christian message preceded Muhammad and Islam.
The teachings of Jesus are the preceding (original) statements, while Muhammad’s later assertions are contradictory statements—making them, by definition, kafiri (opposing truths).
The Foundational Christian Statement: Jesus is the Son of God
In John 9:35–38, Jesus Himself declares that He is the Son of God.
This is an original divine claim—a preceding statement.
If any later teaching declares, “Jesus is not the Son of God,” that is a contradictory statement—an act of rejection of divine revelation—and thus the speaker is, by definition, a kafiri.
Who First Declared That Jesus Is the Son of God?
According to Luke 1:26–35, it was not a human being who first called Jesus the Son of God, but God Himself, speaking through the angel Gabriel.
This declaration is confirmed again in:
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Matthew 3:13–17 – At Jesus’ baptism, the Father declares, “This is my beloved Son.”
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Matthew 17:1–5 – At the Transfiguration, the same divine voice affirms the Sonship of Jesus.
These are divine preceding statements, proclaimed by God long before Muhammad’s birth (A.D. 570) or the beginning of Islam (A.D. 610).
Therefore, when the Qur’an or any Islamic teaching denies that Jesus is the Son of God, such denial opposes God’s original declaration and falls under the biblical definition of kafiri—a rejecter of divine truth.
The First Infidel in the World
When God created humanity, He gave a clear command:
Genesis 2:16–17 – “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
This is the original divine statement.
But then the serpent contradicted God, saying:
Genesis 3:1–4 – “You will not certainly die.”
Here, the serpent (Satan) directly opposed God’s word—making Satan the first infidel (kafiri) in the world.
Thus, anyone who rejects God’s revelation—such as denying that Jesus is the Son of God—aligns with the same spirit of rebellion as Satan and becomes a kafiri.
The Qur’an’s Contradiction
The Qur’an states in Surat al-An‘am 6:101:
“He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have a son when He has no wife?”
This verse misunderstands the divine nature, reducing it to human reasoning. It assumes that God needs a physical wife to have a Son—an anthropomorphic limitation foreign to biblical theology.
The Bible, however, teaches that believers are children of God not by flesh or blood, but by faith and divine adoption (John 1:12–13).
Hence, the Qur’anic view opposes the earlier divine revelation and becomes, by biblical definition, a kafiri statement.
Children of God vs. Children of the Devil
1 John 3:10 declares:
“In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest.”
Those who reject their identity as children of God demonstrate spiritual parentage under the devil.
Similarly, Islamic tradition (Hadith Sahih Muslim, Vol. 4) refers to Muhammad’s wives as “Ummul Mu’minin”—the Mothers of the Faithful.
But does calling them “mothers” literally mean they gave birth to all Muslims? Of course not.
This exposes the inconsistency of literalizing divine sonship while metaphorically interpreting human motherhood in Islam.
Conclusion
Christianity predates Islam.
Therefore, Islamic doctrines that oppose the preexisting truths of the Gospel are, by theological and historical definition, kafiri—rejections of divine revelation.
Consequently, Islam, Allah, Muhammad, and Jibril (Gabriel)—by their denial of Jesus’ divine Sonship—stand in contradiction to the Word of God and thus fall under the biblical category of kafiri (infidels).
Reflect deeply—and take a stand for truth.
May you be blessed abundantly.
Dr. Max Shimba
Servant of Jesus Christ, the Great God (Titus 2:13)
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