Friendship makes people intimate. The lives of those who become friends are intimately connected with each other. But can Muslims be friends with non-Muslims?
A Muslim can lay down his life with a smile for his fellow Muslim. There are many examples of this in the history of Islam.
Muslims take their friends in their lives as a blessing. One person’s happiness makes another person happy. One person’s sadness makes the other sad.
When the Muslims left Mecca and migrated to Medina. At that time the Companions of Ansar in Madinah helped their friends coming from Makkah with their property and houses.
This is friendship. But the question is – Can Muslims be friends with non-Muslims? Today’s article answers this question.
Can Muslims be friends with non-muslims?
Muslim be can not friends with non-Muslims. It is clearly prohibited in the Qur’an and Hadith. We will discuss the references to the Qur’an and Hadith in sequence.
Muslims are given a philosophy of life that is completely different from that of non-Muslims.
If Muslims engage in close friendships with non-Muslims, the deed of faith of Muslims will diminish.
Even if you do not accept non-Muslims as friends, you must treat them well. You have to talk to them.
Always show good character. So that non-Muslims do not have a bad idea about Islam.
Muslim and Non-Muslim friendship – what does the Quran say??
There are several verses in the Holy Quran that Muslims be can not friends with non-Muslims. We are citing some verses below. These verses clearly prohibit accepting non-Muslims as friends.
لَّا يَتَّخِذِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ فِى شَىْءٍ إِلَّآ أَن تَتَّقُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ تُقَىٰةً ۗ وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسَهُۥ ۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Translation: The believers should not make friends with the disbelievers except the believers. And whoever does that, has nothing to do with Allah. But if you have any fear of them. And Allah is warning you about Himself and to Allah is the return. (Surah Al-Imran: Verse 28)
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ بِطَانَةً مِّن دُونِكُمْ لَا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالًا وَدُّوا۟ مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ ٱلْبَغْضَآءُ مِنْ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِى صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ ۚ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Translation: O believers, do not take anyone other than yourselves as intimate friends. They will not fail to destroy you. They wish you severe harm. Enmity is evident on their faces. And what their hearts conceal is more terrible. Indeed, I have made the verses clear for you. If you realize (Surah Al-Imran: Verse 118)
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجْعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَٰنًا مُّبِينًا
Translation: O believers, do not take the disbelievers as friends except the believers. Do you wish to establish clear evidence against yourselves for Allah’s sake? (Surah An-Nisa: Verse 144)
Can a Muslim be friends with a Christian?
Muslims cannot be friends with Christians. Because Christians are infidels and Muslims are believers in one God. Their beliefs and the beliefs of Muslims are different.
The worldview of Muslims and the worldview of infidels are different. Non-Muslims think about the world. Muslims think about the afterlife.
So if Muslims accept non-Muslims as friends, non-Muslims’ philosophy of life will gain acceptance among Muslims and Muslims will forget their aims and objectives.
Can a Muslim be friends with a Hindu?
It is not right for Muslims to be friends with Hindus because Muslims have to preserve their culture. This is possible since they are connected at the highest level in their society.
Muslims will live by Qur’an and Sunnah but non-Muslims do not live by Qur’an and Hadith, so if Muslims associate with them, Muslims will turn away from Qur’an and Hadith.
The life ideal of non-Muslims will continue to gain acceptance in the lives of Muslims. That is why it is not right to accept non-Muslims as lifelong friends.
But treat them well. They should be treated with respect. Do business with them honestly and above all respect and honor them as human beings.
Why Can’t Muslims be friends with non-muslims?
Allah knows best what is the main reason why can’t Muslims be friends with non-Muslims. But we can say some reasons. It will be from our thoughts.
I do not claim that these thoughts are 100% perfect and accurate. However, here are some reasons. The philosophy of life given to Muslims is different from that of infidels.
When the Muslims accept the infidels as intimate friends, the poison in the hearts of the infidels will gradually infiltrate the Muslims.
In this, the faith of Muslims will be polluted. The materialistic thinking of non-Muslims will distract Muslims from thinking about the Hereafter.
Since non-Muslims do not obey Allah Ta’ala, they can indulge in any crime at any time. Now if Muslims are their friends then crime will increase among Muslims like non-Muslims.
For example, let’s say a Muslim believes that extramarital intercourse with another Muslim girl is not permissible. It is forbidden. Its punishment is very severe in Islam.
But non-Muslims do not believe this. If a non-Muslim meets a Muslim, he will want to have intercourse only if he agrees. It leads Muslims to destroy their faith.
There may be many other reasons for the same. As a result, Muslims cannot accept non-Muslims as friends.