should Muslims have non-Muslim friends?

Submitted by Lactantius Jr (United Kingdom), Jun 18, 2008 at 10:03

To sTs

In saying, "There is nowhere in Islam or Quran or Hadith that says don't take non-Muslims as friends," you contradict the Sahi Hadith of Bukhari and the Qur'an. "O you who believe! Take not my enemies And your enemies as friends offering them (Your) love even though they have disbelieved in that Truth (i.e. Allah, Prophet Muhammad and this Quran) which has come to you." Sahi Bukhari 59:572

Islam is very clear in teaching there is no equality between Muslims and non-Muslims, and hence no basis for a relationship of peers, those who do not submit to Islam being required to exist in dhimmitude, that is, servile subjugation to Muslims. The Qur'an describes non-Muslims as "the worst of creatures" Surah 98:6 plainly commanding Muslims not to take non-Muslims as friends. "O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people."

Surah 5:51 "Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah..." Surah 3:28 "O you who believe! do not take for intimate friends from among others than your own people, they do not fall short of inflicting loss upon you; they love what distresses you; vehement hatred has already appeared from out of their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater still; indeed, We have made the communications clear to you, if you will understand." Surah 3:118 "O ye who believe! Choose not your fathers nor your brethren for friends if they take pleasure in disbelief rather than faith. Whoso of you taketh them for friends, such are wrong-doers" Surah 9:23

These are plain words sTs and can be checked online at http://www.quranbrowser.com/ where 10 English translations of the Qur'anic Arabic can be consulted, together with transliterated Arabic, most of the English translations rendering "Awliyaah" as "friends;" are Pickthall, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Hilali-Khan, Shakir, Sher Ali, Arberry, Rodwell and Sale, wrong to do so?

With kind regards and best wishes Lactantius Jr.

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