I am not sure of the question that Mr Ali is attempting to answer in this section. The Qur'an is very clear that Muslims cannot be friends with Jews and Christians. Muhammad, being a master of situational ethics, had proper relations with both communities only when it served his purposes. When these people did not convert to Islam and were no longer of any use to Muhammad, his attitude towards, and treatment of, them changed dramatically.
Can we be the friends of Christains and Jews? An allegation thrown by Christianity that carries no weight. If you read the response you will see that the writer of the allegation is lacking in knowledge of the Quran and History of Islam.
"Thou shalt certainly find the Jews and those who associate partners with God to be the most vehement in enemity against the believers. And thou shall assuredly find those who say, 'We are Christains', to be the nearest of them in love to the believers. That is because amongst them are the savants and monks and because they are not proud" (chapter 5 verse 83)
First, we are Christians, not "Christains". Second, we need to have a correct quote from the Qur'an:
Sura 5:82-83
Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians": because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant. : And when they listen to the revelation received by the Messenger, thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognise the truth: they pray: "Our Lord! we believe; write us down among the witnesses.
This verse should not be construed to prohibit or discourage just or benevolant treatment of the Jews, Christains and other disbelievers.
This verse says, in effect, that Jews, Pagans, and Christians who do not convert to Islam are the enemy.
Elsewere the Quran says:
"Allah forbids you notrespecting those who have fought against you on account of your religion and who have not driven you forth from your homes, that you be kind to them and act equitably towards them; surley Allah loves those who are equitable" (Chapter 60 verse 9)
The verse says:
Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumstances), that do wrong.
Thus it is only the Jews and the Christains who are at war with the Muslims whom the Quran forbids to be taken for friends.
Not exactly. According to Syed Maududi's commentary
Administering a severe warning at this blunder Allah has taught the believers the lesson that no believer should, under any circumstances and for any motive, have relations of love and friendship with the disbelievers, who are actively hostile to Islam, and a believer should refrain from everything which might be helpful to them in the conflict between Islam and disbelief. However, there is no harm in dealing kindly and justly with those disbelievers, who may not be practically engaged in hostile activities against Islam and persecution of the Muslims.
In other words, you hate those who disagree with you AND oppose you more than those who simply disagree with you. Dealing "kindly and justly" with someone is not the same as being their friend!
Moreover, the word Oliya (friends) signifies not only friends but helpers and protectors also, and may thuse be rendered as "protecting friends"; and surley Muslims cannot take Jews and Christains as their "protecting friends". Their only protecting friends are God and the Prophet Muhummad (saw) as we'll as their own brethren in faith, Allah says in the Holy Quran:
Who is "Muhummad"?
"your friend is only Allah and his messenger and the believers who observe prayer and pay the Zakat And worship God alone" (chapter 5 verse 56)
So, in this case a Muslim cannot be friends with Jews and Christians but can only have God and believers who observe prayer and pay Zakat (or other Muslims) as friends. Right? What are you attempting to say?
So the expression used:
"...they are friends to one another..." (chapter 50:52)
Means that the Christains and the Jews forget their diffrences and becom eunited in their opposition to Islam and the Holy Prophet. Truly has the Prophet Muhummad (saw) said i.e.,:
"all disbelief forms one community" viz.
Meaning all disbelievers , however inimical to one another, are like one community when opposed to Islam.
So all Jews and all Christians are always against Islam and can never be the friends of a Muslim. Is that what you are saying?
So there is no Contradiction to the Verse of the Holy quran:
So you have to understand there is no contradiction in the verses which relate to the Christians and the Jews as being the friends of the Muslims, because, they refer to diffrent events. It is just a matter of your lack of knowledge of Islamic history.
But the question is: can Muslims be friends with Jews and Christians who DO NOT wish to convert to Islam? The answer, according to what you have given us, is NO.
At the time of the Holy Prophet Muhummad (saw)the Kafirs in Mecca were our enemy who could we trust them? and at the same time the Jews became thier allies, so as far as the Quran statement is concerned:
"Thou shalt certainly find the Jews and those who associate partners with God to be the most vehement in enemity against the believers..." (Chapter 5 verse 83)
This clearly refers to the Meccan and Jewish alliance at the time of the Prophet Muhummad (saw) wereas the rest of the verse:
"And thou shall assuredly find those who say, 'We are Christains', to be the nearest of them in love to the believers. That is because amongst them are the savants and monks and because they are not proud" (chapter 5 verse 83)
This clearly refers to the Christains who not only took the Muslims as refugees, but were we'll spoken of by Muhummad (saw) himslef when predicted the victory of the Christains in the "land nearby" over the Persians..
NO!!!! Read the next Ayah:
And when they listen to the revelation received by the Messenger, thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognise the truth: they pray: "Our Lord! we believe; write us down among the witnesses.
This refers to Christians who convert to Islam!!!
In conclusion, I give you Sura 5:51:
O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust.
Your friend in Christ,
Andrew Vargo
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