A Translator Translating and Proofreading Articles of Kufr

13-12-2021 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu’alaikum. I’m sorry for asking another question, but it’s really urgent. I work as a translator and sometimes i have to translate and proofread articles (that are going to be published in journals that can be read by many people) that contain kufr words (for example there’s one article that explains the types of curses and one of them is blasphemous in Islam as they mock Prophet Jesus; and also it is said in the article (the writers quote another writer for it) that Prophet Jesus in considered god in Christianity). Of course I hate them with all my heart. Do I commit kufr if I translate or proofread them when I have the choice to reject them although most of the times i don’t have the courage to do so?Thank you.

---

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Your mere translation of expressions of Kufr (disbelief) is not Kufr even if you can refrain from translating them, as long as you do not approve of disbelief and you do not acknowledge or are satisfied with it.

The scholars have unanimously agreed that the one who reports Kufr while he does not believe in it or approve of it is not a Kafir.

Ibn Muflih said in al-Furoo’:
“A person who relates Kufr that he heard of and which he does not believe in does not become a Kafir (disbeliever); perhaps this is a consensus among the scholars.” [End of quote]

For more benefit that reporting (narrating) a statement of disbelief does not make one a disbeliever, please refer to Fatawa 352756, 449032, and 91710.

Allah knows best.