Can Muslim be friends with Christians?

We read in the Qur’an 5:51:

“O you who believe! Do not take Jews and Christians as your patrons/guardians (awliya). They are patrons/guardians of their own people. He among you who will turn to them for patronage is one of them. Verily Allah guides not a people unjust.”

And upon this verse I heard and read many comments like:

“Whereas Jesus taught his followers to do good to enemies, the Qur’an forbids even friendship with Christians.”

Is that so? Is this verse really forbids Muslims even friendship with Christians? Certainly NOT! Friends in Arabic is Assdika أصدقاء  not awliya أولياء … And there is a difference between awliya أولياء and assdika أصدقاء. Walī (Arabic: ولي‎, plural Awliyā’ أولياء), is an Arabic word meaning “custodian”, “protector”, “helper”, or authority as denoted by its definition “crown”. “Wali” is someone who has “Walayah” (authority or guardianship) over somebody else. For example, in fiqh, a father is wali of his children. In Islam, the phrase ولي الله  walīyu l-Lāh can be used to denote one vested with the “authority of God”:

 إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ

“Only Allah is your Vali and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow”. (Qur’an 5:55)

Texts from the Qur’an taken in isolation some time indeed never gave the true understanding. Like the Bible, the Qur’an must be taken in context and cannot be read in isolation. A little further on in Chapter 5, verse 57 clarifies the point about allies and protectors:

“O ye who believe! do not take as allies and protectors those who take your religion for a mockery or sport,- whether among those who received the Scripture before you, or among those who reject Faith; but fear ye Allah, if ye have faith (indeed).” (Qur’an 5:57)

Which I’m sure is something most people would understand, irrespective of their faith. There is really no point hanging around or taking allies and protectors of anyone who just wants to poke fun at you, your beliefs and in so doing, your very integrity. Of what benefit would that be?

Verse 69 of the same chapter, the Qur’an states:

“Verily, those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Sabians, and the Christians – all who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds – no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve.”

This is surely one of the most pluralistic verses found in Holy Scripture, effectively implying that anyone who sincerely believes in God and follow the faith of the People of the Book, God will accept them.

Let’s read the verse 5:51 again:

“O you who believe! Do not take Jews and Christians as your patrons/guardians (awliya). They are patrons/guardians of their own people. He among you who will turn to them for patronage is one of them. Verily Allah guides not a people unjust.”

As I noted above this verse is often quoted to show that Islam is intolerant.

Qur’an is a complete book of guidance to the Truth and while studying various issues it should be kept in mind that a particular issue may be discussed over several chapters or several verses in the same chapter. A complete understanding can only be achieved by understanding the whole issue as presented over all the verses and chapters and not by looking at only part of the Qur’an. God specifically warns us against doing just that, upholding part of the Book while disregarding the rest.

“… Then is it only a part of the Book that ye believe in, and do you reject the rest? but what is the reward for those among you who behave like this but disgrace in this life?…” (Qur’an 2:85)

To understand the issue of befriending or taking the Jews, Christians or people of any other faith as allies, we have to study all the concerned verses from the Qur’an collectively.

Let us look at some other verses about this issue. The following two verses regulate relations with any people, regardless of faith:

As for such [of the unbelievers] as do not fight against you on account of [your] faith, and neither drive you forth from your homelands, God does not forbid you to show them kindness and to behave towards them with full equity: for, verily, God loves those who act equitably. (Qur’an 60:8)

God only forbids you to turn in friendship towards such as fight against you because of [your] faith, and drive you forth from your homelands, or aid [others] in driving you forth: and as for those [from among you] who turn towards them in friendship; it is they, they who are truly wrongdoers! (Qur’an 60:9)

From the above verses, we learn that we are only discouraged from befriending those who fight Muslims because of their religion. Now let’s go back to the verse immediately after 5:51, to see if it sheds some further light on the issue.

And yet you can not see how those in whose hearts there is disease vie with one another for their good will (the hostile Jews and Christians), saying [to themselves], “We do fear lest a change of fortune bring us disaster.” But God may well bring about good fortune [for the believers] or any [other] event of His own devising, whereupon those [waverers] will be smitten with remorse for the thoughts which they had secretly harboured within themselves-  (Qur’an 5:52)

During the time of the Prophet when the Jews and Christians were in open conflict with the Muslims, there were some Muslims who were more concerned about maintaining there alliances with the Jews and Christians at the expense of the Muslim community. The above verse is referring to such situations where Muslims with doubts in their hearts will ally themselves with the enemy.

Chapter 5 Verse 57 of the Qur’an makes it clear again, who are not to be taken as friends;

“O ye who believe! do not take as allies and protectors those who take your religion for a mockery or sport,- whether among those who received the Scripture before you, or among those who reject Faith; but fear ye Allah, if ye have faith (indeed).” (Qur’an 5:57)

And God teaches us throughout the Qur’an that there are righteous Jews and Christians. As such there is no prohibition for Muslims to be friends with Jews, Christians or people of any other faith who are of good character.

Some Quranic verses referring to the righteous Jews and Christians:

Of the people of Moses there is a section who guide and do justice in the light of truth. (Qur’an 7:159)

And We caused Jesus, the son of Mary, to follow in the footsteps of those (earlier prophets), confirming the truth of whatever there still remained of the Torah; and We sent him the Gospel, wherein there was guidance and light, confirming the truth of whatever there still remained of the Torah, and as a guidance and admonition unto the God-conscious. (Qur’an 5:46)

Verily, those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Christians, and the Sabians – all who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds-shall have their reward with their Sustainer; and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve. (Qur’an 2:62)

Not all of them are alike: Of the People of the Book are a portion that stand (For the right): They rehearse the Signs of God all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration. They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous. (Qur’an 3:113-114)

And there are, certainly, among the People of the Book, those who believe in God, in the revelation to you, and in the revelation to them, bowing in humility to God. They will not sell the Signs of God for a miserable gain! For them is a reward with their Lord, and God is swift in account. (Qur’an 3:199)

The following verse from the Qur’an capsulates this issue:

O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (Qu’ran 49:13)

And argue not with the People of the Scripture unless it be in (a way) that is better, save with such of them as do wrong; and say: We believe in that which hath been revealed unto us and revealed unto you; our God and your God is One, and unto Him we surrender. (Qur’an 29:46)

“…and you will certainly find the nearest in friendship to those who believe (to be) those who say: We are Christians; this is because there are priests and monks among them and because they do not behave proudly.” (Qur’an 5:82)