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Fatwa CenterWalking with a Female Christian Friend to Class
Question
This past Thursday, January 25th, a Christian missionary lady recognized me whom I spoke last year twice. She wanted to talk with me. However, I was walking to my class with a Christian friend of mine who was tagging along to show me where is my class located. I told the Christian missionary lady that I have to go to my class. My friend saw the Christian missionary lady and asked me if I know her? I told her "Yeah," but that's all. My Questions:-Is it appropriate for me to ask my Christian friend or to ask a Muslim female to walk with me every Thursdays to my class?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, you should not befriend a Christian woman (or girl) as Allah says (what means): {You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those - He has decreed within their hearts faith and supported them with spirit from Him. And We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him - those are the party of Allah. Unquestionably, the party of Allah - they are the successful.} [Quran 58:22]
Moreover, the Prophet forbade us from befriending other than Muslims and mixing with other than pious people, as he said: "A man follows the religion of his friend; so each one of you should examine whom he takes as a friend." [Ahmad, Al-Haakim and others]
'Awn Al-Ma’bood reads (about the interpretation of the above Hadeeth):
"'… follows the religion of his friend', means he will adopt the custom, way and conduct of his friend.
'… so each one of you should examine', means should contemplate and reflect.
'… whom he takes as a friend', so if he is pleased with his religion and conduct, he befriends him, otherwise he should avoid him, because a person is affected by the behaviors and character of others." [End of quote]
Another Hadeeth reads, "Do not befriend except a believer." [Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi; Al-Albani classified it as Hassan]
‘Awn Al-Ma’bood reads (commenting on the above Hadeeth): "It means, a complete believer. It could also mean that it is prohibited to befriend non-Muslims and hypocrites, because befriending them is harmful for one’s religion...." [End of quote]
On the other hand, there is nothing wrong in befriending a righteous Muslim woman and asking her to accompany you to the class or anywhere else.
Allah knows best.
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