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Fatwa CenterMuslim living with non-Muslim friends
Question
How can a Muslim with so many non-Muslim friends live with harmony in a mixed society like India?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
A Muslim should be a good example and a model for the character of Muslims, and he should call to Islam wherever he is.
Allaah does not prohibit the Muslims from dealing with non-Muslims. Rather, he permits us to deal with them in purchasing, selling, leasing etc. Allaah Says (what means): {Allaah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes — from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allaah loves those who act justly.}[Quran 60:8]
Therefore, a Muslim should show them the tolerance of Islam; he may gift them, accept gifts from them, and visit them when they are sick. He should do so in order to soften their hearts to accept Islam, the religion of Allaah.
However, he should not love them or be an ally to them because he is only permitted to show these traits to Muslims.
Allaah Says (what means): {You will not find a people who believe in Allaah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allaah 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.}[Quran 58:22]
Being an ally or loyal to the non-Muslims, like loving, supporting, imitating and the like –which is prohibited –is different from dealing kindly and justly with them, which is permissible.
It should be noted that Islam spread in many countries through the good character of Muslim businessmen who travelled to many places, such as Africa and many countries of East Asia.
Allaah Knows best.
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