Does Quran prohibit befriending non muslims?

Clear your misconception: Not to take disbelievers as friends

By: Khurshid imam

One of the prevalent misconceptions among our Muslim brethren is that we should not take ALL non Muslims as friend. This misconception is very harmful as it is one of the obstacles in dawah. People get excuse not to do dawah.

Quran DOES say not to take non Muslims as friends ….. But ALL non Muslims or only certain non Muslims? The beauty of Quran is that explanation of an ayah of Quran is found in another ayah of Quran. So when we conclude anything from Quran then we MUST take all ayah of Quran into consideration.

The Quran speaks about not to take non Muslim friends in following ayah:

a. Surah Al Imran 3-118

b. Surah Nisa 4-89, 139, 144

c. Surah Maidah 5-51

d. Surah Mujadilah 58-14, 22

e. Surah Mumtahanah 60-1, 8, 9

If one analyzes these ayah then it becomes clear that people who are enemies of Muslims and Islam and who all hell bend on working against the mulsims - should not be taken as friend or helper.

Statements of those ayah of Quran that speaks about not taking non Muslims as friends:

a. Surah Al ‘Imran 3: 118 says “don’t take non Muslims as friends as they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you, they are already full of hatred for you…”.

b. Surah Nisa 4 : 89 says not to take those people as friends who have rejected the faith.

c. Surah Mujadilah 58 : 14 refers to these people as one upon whom is the wrath of Allah.

d. Surah Mujadilah 58, Ayah 22 clearly says “You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the last day, making friendship with those who oppose Allah and his messenger, even though they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred…”

e. Surah Mumtahanah 60 explains in details whom not to take as friends. In Ayah 1 Allah says “Take not my enemies and your enemies as friends, showing affection towards them, while they have disbelieved in what has come to you of the truth, and driven out the messenger and yourselves because you believe in Allah your Lord.”.

f. In Ayah 8 Allah says – “Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes…”

g. In Ayah 9 Allah says – “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. ..”

So it is clear from the analysis of Quran that Allah does prohibit us to take those non Muslims as friends who:

1. Are enemies of Islam, working against Muslims and Islam

2. Oppressing Muslims on account of Islam.

3. Driven Muslims out of their home or helped to do so.

4. Rejected the truth after it was presented to them and rebelled against Allah.

i. For rest of other non Muslims we should behave well with them, deal justly with them.