Friday 20 May 2011

Quran: do not take non-Muslims as friends?

Bismillah ArRahman ArRaheeem
(In the name of God, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful)


Please note: I have edited and added an extra few sections to this post in order to make it flow better with the other posts in order to discuss the general stuff in relation to the verses of being friends with non-Muslims in this post, and I will discuss specifics of each of verses in the others posts, God willing.


Many verses of the Quran are often quoted by some non-Muslims in order to prove that Muslims and non-Muslims cannot be friends, the reason for this is to try and make Islam look like a religion which is incompatible with modern society or in fact any society in general where people of different faiths live together. However regardless of the person's intentions of quoting these verse I will try and explore what I believe God meant by these verses and their context. The word that is often used in these verses which are translated often as friend is auliya.





Meaning of auliya  (اولياء):

The word auliya (اولياء) used in this verse is a plural of the word "wali", the word wali has many meanings (this is the reason why there are different translations which have translated this word differently), which include:
  • Friend
  • Protector
  • Sponsor
  • Custodian

So the question that now is to be raised is that which meaning is correct? The meaning of the word depends on the context of the verse.




What is a friend?

Since we're talking about friends it makes sense to try and define what a friend is, here is one definition:

friend (a person you know well and regard with affection and trust) "he was my best friend at the university"

This definition is taken from http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=friend








The different view points


There are 2 view points:

  • The first view is that Muslims should not take non-Muslims as friends (however crucially those that hold this view also believe they have to treat all non-Muslims kindly and justly -except for those who are attacking Muslims)
  • The other viewpoint is that Muslims can take take non-Muslims as friends (and have to treat them kindly and justly except for those who attack Muslims)
http://www.khalidzaheer.com/essays/kzaheer/social%20issues/nonmuslim_friends.html










My understanding of this issue


In Islam when looking at a subject you have to look at what other verses in the Quran have to say on the subject, I understand the verses of the Quran in regards to making friends with non-Muslims in light of the verse quoted below which makes it clear if a person fights you because of your religion and drives you away from your houses, then a Muslim can not turn to that person for friendship and support etc, after all what friend what do that to you just because of your faith? However this prohibition is only limited to such people (who are enemies of God and the Muslims) and not to those people who don't fight Muslims.




The Quran 60:8-9 translation by Muhammad Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan:


Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity.It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, that Allah forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the Zalimoon (wrong-doers those who disobey Allah).

This view is also backed by http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0608-3072




Argument

One of the best arguments put forward by scholars on this issue is that:

  • If Islam prohibits having friendship with non-Muslims, then why does God permit marrying some People of the Book? How can you be a husband to your wife if your not allowed to be friends (having affection, intimacy and trust) with your wife?





However I would like to say one thing, please do your own research on this topic to verify whether what I say is correct (since mistakes can happen etc) and see other opinions also and arrive to your own opinion since we are all responsible for the use of our own intellect etc.

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