O You Who Believe

36)

"O you who have believed, take not those who have taken your religion in ridicule and amusement among the ones who were given the Scripture before you nor the disbelievers as allies. And fear Allah, if you should [truly] be believers."

[Al-Maidah 5:57]

This verse, in complement to some previous verses delivers the same and one of the most prominent meaning as Allah guides the believers to maintain some distance with those that displease Allah and take Islam as a joke.

Allah forbids His believing servants from having Jews and Christians as friends, because they are the enemies of Islam and it's people. Allah then states that they are friends of each other and He gives a warning threat to those whoever befriends them is one of them.

In various locations in Qur'an, Allah mentions that in the hearts of the non-believers, a disease of doubt, hesitation and hypocrisy. After knowing the truth about oneness of Allah and even seeing the proofs Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) brought, the disbelievers remained disbelieving. Not only that, but they used to manipulate the minds of the believers and they would mock and ridicule the believers for believing in something which is not visually obvious. Indeed, Allah cannot be seen by beings in this life but a believer's heart can see and feel Allah as a believer's heart is a stream of light; the light is Allah.

In the time of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasallam), a new way of calling to prayer introduced; Azaan (call of Allah). This method of calling believers to prayer had never been used in any other religion so the Jews, Christians and other enemies of Islam would mock the believers and Islam and they amused themselves through ridiculing the principles of Islam.

In a poisonous surrounding, it doesn't take long before the poisons seeps in us. Hence surrounding ourselves with those sincere believers who struggle for Allah is the ultimate advice.

Allah forbids or rather warns about taking the following as our allies; those people of the Scripture who ridicule Islam and disbelievers.

If Allah decides for the light to travel in their heart and they repent and hold onto the rope of Allah then they are among us. However if their destination is to stay in the dark then we must not make any kind of compromise when it comes to our religion.

Allah does not forbid kindness and good behaviour with these people as Allah clearly commands righteous and good attitude towards all people. Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) said:

"May I point out to you the person who is forbidden for the fire or on whom the fire of Hell is forbidden? The fire is forbidden to touch everyone who is closer to the people, soft, lenient and is kind-hearted."

[Tirmidhi]

Hence showing the best possible behaviour to a non-believer is not prohibited but rather allying with them and obeying them is forbidden.

Obeying them includes following all sorts of trends they introduce, the clothing, lifestyle, haraam food etc. Hence there is a clear distinction between obeying and being good to them. Islam guides believers to show good attitude even to the enemies of Islam but till a certain limit. We must not cross that limit Allah has set and not obey them in their ways.

Allah clearly states in Surah Kafirun:

"For you is your religion and for me in my religion."

[Al-Kafirun 109:6]

At the end, Allah reminds us that before crossing the limits set by Allah, a believer should fear Allah. To be a true believer, one should fear Allah. Indeed, those who cross limits of Allah are transgressors. We must stay within the secure limits provided by Allah and fear Him.

Things we learnt:

> To not take the mocking and ridiculing people of the Sctipture as our allies.

> To not take disbelievers as our allies.

> To fear Allah by staying in the boundaries Allah has created for us.

May Allah guide us to the right path.
Ameen.
Wama alayna illal balaghul mubeen.