Infidel

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For other uses, see Infidel (disambiguation).

An infidel (literally, "one without faith") is one who doubts or rejects central tenets of a religion, especially those regarding its deities. More generally, an infidel is one who doubts or rejects a particular doctrine, system, or principle. The word infidel derives its meaning from the Latin root infidēlis[2]; a notion of being unfaithful or treacherous.

In Islam, the Arabic word kafir (كافر) refers to a person who denies Allah or the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It can also refer to non-Muslims, often in a derogatory sense^[1], and is usually translated into English as "infidel" or "unbeliever". The Turkish equivalent of "kafir" is giaour.
In Judaism, heathens (pagan gentiles) are called acum (עכו"ם, an acronym of Ovdei Cohavim u-Mazzaloth עובדי כוכבים ומזלות literally "Star-and-Constellation Worshippers"). Heretical Jews may be called minim ("sectarians"), the name used in the Talmud for early Christians. Unlike in Islamic use, the Hebrew kofer (כופר, cognate of the Arabic "kafir") is usually applied to apostate Jews. The other term, mainly for atheists is "epikoros" (אפיקורוס, literally, an "Epicurean").
In Roman Catholic Christianity, the word "heretic" is preferred to "infidel". It refers to those who do not believe in the divinity of Jesus, such as pagans and atheists, but also to monotheists such as Muslims and Jews.^[2]
In Hinduism and Sikhism, the word "Malechh" is used for non-hindus.

The term "heretic" (one who falls astray from true doctrine) and "infidel" (one who does not believe doctrine at all) may not necessarily hold the same meaning.