Guide-to-Sound-Creed-A-Book-on-Muslim-Creed-and-Faith

332 <strong>Guide</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Sound</strong> <strong>Creed</strong>
Maintaining relations and doing justice are distinct from befriending and
paying loyalty <strong>to</strong> the disbelievers. Maintaining relations may be held as incentives
for inviting the disbelievers <strong>to</strong> accept Islam. Loyalty and friendship may imply
acknowledging their convictions and being content with their faith, which is
considered a means ofnot inviting the disbelievers <strong>to</strong> Islam.
The prohibition ofbefriending the disbelievers does not entail the prohibition
of trading with them, importing beneficial merchandise and industries from
them or getting benefits from their experiments and inventions. The Prophet
{PBUH} hired Ibn Urayqi! Al-Laythi, who was a disbeliever, <strong>to</strong> guide him during
his Hijrah (Emigration) <strong>to</strong> Medina. He also borrowed some materials from some
ofthe Jews. Muslims still import goods and products from non-Muslims. When
we purchase their goods, no reminder of their generosity may be felt. It does not
imply having friendship with or loyalty <strong>to</strong> them. Allah enjoined affection among
the believers and commanded Muslims <strong>to</strong> detest the disbelievers and consider
them as enemies. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
"Indeed, those who have believed and emigrated and fought with
their wealth and lives in the cause of Allah and those who gave
shelter and aided - they are allies ofone another ••• And those who
disbelieved are allies of one another. Ifyou do not do so [i.e., ally
yourselves with other believers], there will be fitnah [i.e., disbelief
and oppression] on earth andgreat corruption."
AI-Hafiz Ibn Kathir {may Allah have mercy on him} said:
(Qur'~: Al-AnfaI: 72-73)
"The meaning ofAllah's saying 'Ifyou do notdo so [i.e., allyyourselves
with other believers], there will be fitnah {i.e., disbeliefandoppression]
on earth and great corruption' (Qur'~: Al-AnfaI: 73). is that ifyou
do not avoid the disbelievers, and befriend the believers instead, a great
dissension will inevitably occur among people, since the believers will
mingle with the unbelievers and thus mischief may proliferate."
People <strong>to</strong> be Befriended or Hated
To classify people who should be befriended or hated, we may mention the
following three categories:
The fust category stands for those who should be sincerely and fully
loved by a Muslim such as the sincere believers, Allah's Prophets,
trustworthy and righteous believers and the martyrs killed in Allah's
cause. First and foremost, the Prophet (PBUH) should be endeared by
all Muslims. He should be preferred <strong>to</strong> one's soul, dearest son, father and