Right Translations

Submitted by Lactantius Jr (United Kingdom), May 13, 2011 at 16:53

To STS

Looking again at your assertion of "wrong translations." and at your denials that Muslims are forbidden to take non-Muslims as friends, I have looked at several Qur'anic Surah in the translation by Hilali and Kahn, together with their exegesis by Ibn Kathir, one of Islam's greatest Qur'anic expositors, and at the "Question and Answer" website http://www.islamqa.com which quotes what top Salafi scholars, have to say about taking kaffirs as friends. Fatwa no. 59879 at http://islamqa.com/en/ref/59879 is lengthy and very telling in how the Salafi scholars interpret various Qur'anic Surah, and to keep my email of reasonable length, limit what it says to the question which is asked, followed by the first few words of the answer, and refer those who are interested in seeing all of the lengthy reply, to http://islamqa.com/en/ref/59879

Q "In the Quraan, it says we can not take the Kuffaar as awliyaa, but what does that mean?............................................

A. Allaah has forbidden the believers to take the kaafireen (disbelievers) as friends, and He has issued a stern warning against doing that…………………………………..

Regarding the Qur'anic translation I have referred to, Dr Muhammad Taq-ud-Din Al Hilali and Dr Muhammad Musin Khan are scholars at Islamic University Madinah, their translation of the Qur'an is titled "Interpretation of the Meanings of The Noble Qur'an" their translation being subsidised by the Saudi Royal family and published by the King Fahd printing complex, Madinah, and this is the Qur'an often distributed to hajjis in Saudi Arabia http://www.tinyurl.com/6bnofk3 it is available online at http://tinyurl.com/5rgx9qj

As for Qur'anic tafsir, Ibn Kathir was probably Islam's greatest Qur'anic expositor, his tafsir can be seen online at http://www.tafsir.com and also at http://www.qtafsir.com and I quote it underneath several of Hilali and Khan's interpretations of various Surah's, and in most cases, Ibn Kathir along with Hilali and Khan interpret the Qur'an as Allah forbidding Muslims to take non-Muslims as FRIENDS or enter into FRIENDSHIP with them (underlined and BOLD emphasis mine), and note that this prohibition even extends beyond Christians, Jews, pagans and hypocrites, to fathers, sons, brothers and kindred people!!

"O you who believe! Take not as (your) Bitanah (advisors, consultants, protectors, helpers, FRIENDS, etc.) those outside your religion (pagans, Jews, Christians, and hypocrites) since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you…………………." Surah 3:118 Hilali and Khan

"O you who believe! Take not as (your) Bitanah (advisors, helpers) those other than your own, since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you………….." Tafsir of Ibn Kathir on 3:118 http://tinyurl.com/5vffnwd

"So take not Auliya' (protectors or FRIENDS) from them, till they emigrate in the Way of Allah (to Muhammad…………………………"Surah 4:89 Hilali and Khan

"So take not Awliya' from them, till they emigrate in the way of Allah………………" Tafsir of Ibn Kathir on 4:89 http://tinyurl.com/6hvu7jo

"Those who take disbelievers for Auliya' (protectors or helpers or FRIENDS) instead of believers, do they seek honour, power and glory with them?...........Surah 4:139 Hilali and Khan

"Those who take disbelievers for FRIENDS instead of believers, do they seek honour with them……" Tafsir of Ibn Kathir on 4:139 http://tinyurl.com/6c8h7h3

"O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliya' (FRIENDS, protectors, helpers, etc.), they are but Auliya' to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya', then surely he is one of them………………" Surah 5:51 Hilali and Khan

"O you who believe! Do not take FRIENDS from the Jews and the Christians, as they are but friends of each other. And if any among you BEFRIENDS them, then surely, he is one of them………." Tafsir of Ibn Kathir on 5:51 http://tinyurl.com/5s73kqd

"You (O Muhammad) will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, making FRIENDSHIP with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people)…………." Surah 58:22 Hilali and Khan

"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…………" Tafsir of Ibn Kathir on 58:22 http://tinyurl.com/6fvdngu

"O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies (i.e. disbelievers and polytheists, etc.) as FRIENDS showing affection towards them, while they have disbelieved in what has come to you of the truth (i.e. Islamic Monotheism, this Qur'an, and Muhammad), and have driven out the Messenger (Muhammad) and yourselves (from your homeland) because you believe in Allah your Lord! If you have come forth to strive in My Cause and to seek My Good Pleasure, (then take not these disbelievers and polytheists, etc., as your FRIENDS). You show FRIENDSHIP to them in secret, while I am All-Aware of what you conceal and what you reveal. And whosoever of you (Muslims) does that, then indeed he has gone (far) astray, (away) from the Straight Path ." Surah 60:1 Hilali and Khan

"O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies as protecting FRIENDS, showing affection towards them, while they have disbelieved in what has come to you of the truth, and have driven out the Messenger and yourselves because you believe in Allah, your Lord! If you have come forth to strive in My cause and to seek My good pleasure. You show FRIENDSHIPto them in secret, while I am All-Aware of what you conceal and what you reveal. And whosoever of you (Muslims) does that, then indeed he has gone (far) astray from the straight path.)" Tafsir of Ibn Kathir on 60:1 http://tinyurl.com/63ayn6l

So, this is what Qur'anic expositors and interpreters/scholars, ancient and modern, have to say about Allah's prohibition of taking non-Muslims as friends.

Compare and contrast this with the Lord Jesus Christ's words, spoken when He was asked which was the greatest commandment,

"Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?" Jesus answered: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, Love others as much as you love yourself. All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

With kind regards and best wishes

Lactantius Jr

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