Can you explain the verse of Quran [5:57] please? I have a close friend who is a non-muslim (a hindu by birth but an agnostic in practice). Although he never asked me to follow his idealism or showed any hostile attitude towards my religious practices, I know for a fact that he has certain dis-likeness for religious beliefs, in particular Islam. And no matter how hard I tried to make him understand the beauty of Islam he seemed he want to cling to his negative understanding on Islam and tried to avoid any discussion regarding the issue of religion. Also, he did say some stuffs once or twice that I did not like at all, but later apologised for them as well. So based on this verse, should I not keep any close friendship with him anymore? please keep in mind that, he is the best friend of my university life and is normally a peaceful and non violent guy. And there are even some occasions when he asks me himself if I had prayed my salat or shouldn’t I be going for my salat now etc etc.

Sallamualaikum Warahmatu Allah Wabarakatuh,
As born muslims, we are not doing —- (I am speaking about myself and others I know in my community, city or state) —our job properly to invite, to inform and educate others about the Light, the Mercy, the Tolerance that Islam brought to humanity. Islam is one of the biggest bounties that Allah ( the Creator/ God/ Lord) have given us. Islam did not come for only certain people, it came for all. To taste the real understanding of Islam, is like tasting Pure Honey from real natural source, that is a healing, grace and mercy for the heart and to have love and concern for all mankind, regardless of their origin, color, faith, or status. Real understanding of Islam does not promote hate, hatred, hypocrisy, double standards, violence, terror, ….etc, In Islam, there is no compulsion or coercion, you do not push sb to become a muslim, you can talk to them about Islam, through sharing conversation, thru your own conduct in family and society, thru your respect and right to your neighbors, regarless of their beliefs, your respect to human beings regardless of their age, treat your elders and parents nicely and gently, your wives with affections, your kids with care and frienship, …etc
Islam is the last completed commandments that came from God, for all humanity, Wonder, why half of the Rabbis 1400 yrs ago or so, in Medina in Arabia, became Muslims when they heard of the comings and teachings of the last Prophet ( Peace be upon him), because, he was mentioned in their Holy original scriptures, that came through the prophets and messengers, from the same Allah ( God) to Moses and Jesus ( Grace Greetings on them), the word “”Muhammadin “” was mentioned there.
Prophet Muhammed ( Peace be upon him) was sent as Mercy to All Creation. his name means the praised one, praised worthy, the meaning of praise, etc…all that has to do with praise and greafulness. He is the beloved of Allah ( Glory to him).
You never translate sb “s name to another language and give a close one meaning of the name, the name stays the same. you don”t call Bob in Spanish “”Batista” or Bobos, let alone Nice One, no one will know who you referring to, ( this was just a simple easy example, that you don’t change sb ‘s name cos of language, it might have a slight pronunciation, but the name stays the same).
if you want to get to the bottom line of all things, the purpose of our existence, to be happy and appreciate what you have, you have to learn about islam, and know who is the Owner of all things that we see and don’t.
we cannot as human beings take things for granted and be grateful and thankful. know we come with nothing, and we ‘ll leave with nothing. Every human being on the face of the earth, regardless what they believe now, or faith they follow heartdly or leisurely, has a chance why alive to be the best person and the best muslim, far better than most muslims by birth. if you are looking for the truth, this is it. if we are looking for sth else, this is not it.
May God guide us all, ( the only one who can), not me or I, or anybody else) .
Ameen Ameen Ameen

I was just wondering if every muslim I pass on the street hates me or if I can feel comfortable asking a muslim to borrow some sugar and the like.

This response is what I hoped for, that some might hate and some might not let me borrow sugar, like some of all groupings!, but it isnt forbidden by all muslims.

It makes me feel better, we can be friends but If the end time comes and you have a boat and I need a lift and you do not give me one though you have space, then to me you will turn out to be not a true friend at all.

Heather of no religion.

This is 2014, not the 7th century. With what is going on in the world today, this is no time to be saying that Muslims can not be friends with non Muslims. If I were young, I would be fighting ISIS in Iraq.

And, if we are not friends with others then how else can be converts?

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

There are numerous ayat which make it clear that Jews and Christians who do not enter Islam are disbelievers. From an article on this very website,

The Mujahid Hadith

The second hadith (record of the words or actions of the Prophet ﷺ) is from Mujahid, also about the conversion of Salman to Islam and the subsequent revealing of the verse “Surely those who believe…” In this account:

Salman told the Prophet ﷺ about those Christians and what he had seen of their works, and he replied, “They did not die upon Islam.” Salman said, “The whole earth darkened around me,” and he recounted their spiritual rigors. Then this verse was revealed, so the Prophet ﷺ summoned Salman and told him, “This verse has been revealed about your companions.” Then he added, “Whoever dies upon the religion of Jesus and in submission [lit. “upon Islam”] before he hears of me is in goodly state. But whoever hears of me today and does not believe in me has perished,” (Tabari, 1.323).

Tabari comments:

Therefore, the correct interpretation (ta’wil) of the verse is what we have just mentioned from Mujahid and Suddi; that those who believe of this Umma [community], and those who were Jews, and the Christians, and Sabaeans: whoever believed—of the Jews, Christians, and Sabaeans—in God and the Last Day, “their wage awaits them with their Lord; no fear shall be upon them, nor shall they sorrow.” The interpretation we first mentioned [in his Qur’anic exegesis a few pages earlier, that “whoever believes in and acknowledges the Resurrection after death on Judgement Day, and does good deeds, obeying God, shall have their reward with their Lord”] is closest to the literal content of the text, for Allah (exalted is His praise) has not chosen one segment of humanity above the rest in rewarding good works when they are accompanied by true faith. [Tabari, 1.320, 323–24, trans. Keller]

Ibn Kathir also states in his Tafsir:

[After narrating that the verse was revealed as mentioned by Suddi] The faith of the Jews was that of whoever adhered to the Torah and the sunnah [tradition] of Moses (upon whom be peace) until the coming of Jesus. When Jesus came, whoever held fast to the Torah and the sunnah of Moses without giving them up and following Jesus was lost.

The faith of the Christians was that whoever adhered to the Evangel and precepts of Jesus, their faith was valid and acceptable until the coming of Muhammad ﷺ. Those of them who did not then follow Muhammad ﷺ and give up the sunnah of Jesus and the Evangel were lost.

The foregoing is not contradicted by the hadith relating that the verse “Surely those who believe, those of Jewry, the Christians, and the Sabaeans—whoever has faith in Allah and the Last Day…” (2:62), was followed by Allah’s revealing: “Whoever seeks other than Islam as a religion shall never have it accepted of him, and he shall be of those who have truly failed in the next life,” (Qur’an 3:85), for the hadith merely confirms that no one’s way or spiritual works are acceptable unless they conform to the Sacred Law of Muhammad ﷺ now that he has been sent with it. As for people prior to this, anyone who followed the messenger of his own time was guided, on the right path, and was saved. [Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Adhim, 1.283, trans. Keller]

http://www.virtualmosque.com/islam-studies/islamic-law/opposition-to-islams-finality-with-recourse-to-the-quran/

As explained, 2:62 refers to the Muslims before the advent of the final Messenger sallahuaalayhiwasalam.

Great article! I have to say I did find it but disturbing when I read verses like 5:51 but that is because I am a lay person. If one does not know the context the verses were written as well as the understanding of the Arabic Fuhsa then it is a known fact that we lose a lot of the meaning in the English translation – that is why the original language of the Quran is maintained and not converted to another language unlike the unfortunate Bible of today which has been based on Koine Greek or Latin translations, and not the original Aramaic translation. And we can see how one word like Awliyaa can have such an impact on muslims and non-muslims alike. If we clumsily translate it as ‘friend’ then lay people like me will believe it as such, and this creates more damage than good in the long run. Islam is for everyone, it is not just for the Arabs, the Africans and Indians. Allah (SWT) has made Islam for everyone and anyone – we are all invited to it! Doesn’t matter if you’re white, Polynesian, Inuit, Far Eastern, Aborigine or a Native American! I mean if we took the verses literally and we weren’t allowed to make friends with the non-muslims then how will Allah’s Message spread? How many of us would have actually turned to Islam had it not been for our Muslim friends??? Now there is wisdom behind making our close companions muslims after all we think alike and can respect each other’s actions. BUT that doesn’t mean we shun our non-muslim friends if they are respectable to you and your faith. Also we need to realise that not all Muslims will think like us and not all non-muslims will act as druggies and drunkard nightclubbers! I mean there have been times when I felt more nervous praying whilst in the company of “mildly practising muslims” than in the company of decent non-Muslim friends…sounds weird and I am sorry to say that but that has been my experience. Basically be very careful whom you choose as your friends as they can affect you mentally, spiritually, financially, morally and physically.
Also may the brother of this wonderful article write the references regarding Imams At-Tabari and Al-Qurtubi’s opinions of the verse 5:51. Much appreciated!

And on a final note Ali (ra) once said, “Every human is either your brother in faith, or your equal in humanity”.