Quran 3:28 Not To Take Non-Believers As Friends?

𝐐𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝟑:𝟐𝟖 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬?

Mohamad Mostafa Nassar

Twitter@NassarMohamadMR

Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Auliya (supporters, helpers, etc.) instead of the believers, and whoever does that will never be helped by God in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And God warns you against Himself (His Punishment), and to God is the final return. Qur’an 3:28

Quran 3:28 is used by critics to claim that the verse encourages Muslims not to befriend anyone who is not Muslim. They say that Muslims are not allowed to be friends or ‘friendly’ with non-Muslims, and that when Muslims are outnumbered they can pretend to befriend non-Muslims and be friendly.

Related Article: “Surah 5:51, 3:28, 4:144 Explained“

These claims are absurd. The prohibition of Muslims not being allowed to be friends with non-Muslims is only in war, making alliances with the enemy over the Muslims. That is what the passage is speaking about. There is no prohibition against Muslims having cordial friendly, everyday relations with non-Muslims.

Moreover, ‘to guard’ themselves is only allowed is when the enemy is capable of hurting the Muslims. Example: if there was a tyrant about who persecutes Muslims, and a Muslim was a situation to declare whether he was a believer in Islam or not. If the Muslim lies, conceals his faith so to not to get persecuted, there is no blame on him.

The classical scholars such as Sheikh Tabarsi, Zamakhshari and Imam Baghawi held a similar concept of this verse that such is only allowed when a Muslim is in danger of being persecuted. The Prophet’s cousin Ibn Abbas understood that it refers to when in danger, when one can pretend to be one’s friend, to conceal one’s faith in order to save his/her life. Moreover, Surah 3:28 in it’s historical background refers to not having as wali’s (protectors, allies or supports) people like Ibn Ubayy, who used to plot against Islam.

So, if such people trapped and forced death on a Muslim, one can pretend to take them as wali’s (protectors, allies or supports) and lie by verbally stating “I’m not a Muslim” in order to save his/her life. In such situations, a person is allowed to say things to preserve his life, so to not get tortured or persecuted.

I don’t see anything wrong with someone lying to protect themselves in a dangerous situation. In addition, I have already addressed previously in detail that the Quran does permit Muslims to have friendly relationships with non-Muslims. Click on the article here.

Commentaries on Quran 3:28

al-Tabari (838 – 923):

“فتكلـم مخافة علـى نفسه، وقلبه مطمئنّ بـالإيـمان، فلا إثم علـيه

“When speaking (lies) and scared (and in danger of being persecuted) for himself while his heart has faith, then there is no sin on him.” (Tabari’s Tafsir – Quran 3:28, online source, http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=1&tSoraNo=3&tAyahNo=28&tDisplay=yes&Page=2&Size=1&LanguageId=1 )

Qurtubi (1214 – 1273):

“قال ٱبن عباس: هو أن يتكلم بلسانه وقلبه مطمئن بالإيمان، .وقرأ جابر بن زيد ومجاهد والضحاك: «إلاّ أن تَتَّقُوا منهم تَقِيَّةً» وقيل: إن المؤمن إذا كان قائماً بين الكفار فله أن يداريهم باللسان إذا كان خائفاً على نفسه وقلبُه مطمئن بالإيمان

“Ibn Abbas said: speak (i.e. lie) with the tongue, but have faith in the heart. And Jabir Bin Zaid and Mujahid and Dhahak recited the verse as (إلاّ أن تَتَّقُوا منهم تَقِيَّةً) and they said that when a believer is in between a disbeliever and is scared – in danger, and he says with the tongue (i.e. lies) but is satisfied with faith in his heart.” (Qurtubi’s Tafsir – Quran 3:28, online source, http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=5&tSoraNo=3&tAyahNo=28&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1 )

Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi – Tafhim al-Qur’an – The Meaning of the Qur’an:

25 That is, “If a believer falls into the hands of the enemies of Islam and is afraid of maltreatment and high-handedness, he may conceal his Faith, and live among them as if he were one of them. Or, if they come to know of his Faith, he may make a show of his friendship towards them to save his life. In case of extreme fear, he is permitted even to disown his Faith, if he feels that he is not strong enough to endure their oppression.” [1]

The Holy Quran – Arabic Text with English Translation, Commentary and comprehensive Introduction – Maulana Muhammad Ali:

28a. The Muslims, being in a state of war with the disbelievers, were forbidden to look to their enemies to guard their interests or for help of any kind. The clear statement made in 60:8, 9 settles the point beyond all doubt: ‘Allah forbids you not respecting those who fight you not for religion, nor drive you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly. …

Allah forbids you only respecting those who fight you for religion and drive you forth from your homes and help (others) in your expulsion, that you make friends with them’. Auliya, which I translate as friends here, is the plural of

wali, which is derived from a root meaning he held commend or had charge of or superintended a thing, and it accordingly means the manager of a thing or of the affairs of another, and the guarding or maintainer of an orphan, and the guardian of a woman who gives her away in marriage.

It also means the executor of heir of a deceased person (LL). According to R, it indicates nearness in respect of place, relation, and religion, and in respect of friendship and help and belief, etc. The word therefore includes all relations of nearness. A man may also be said to be wali-Allah, as meaning one near to Allah or a friend of Allah. [2]

The Holy Qur’an – Arabic Text With English Translation & Short Commentary – Malik Ghulam Farid:

395. With the accession of political power in Islam, as promised in the preceding verses, forging of political alliances became necessary of the Muslim State. The verse under comment embodies the guiding principle that no Muslim State should enter into a treaty or alliance with a non-Muslim State which should in any way injure, or conflict with, the interest of other Muslim States.

The interests of Islam should transcend all other interests.
396. Muslims are warned to be on their guard against the plots and machinations of disbelievers. The expression, except that you guard yourselves fully against them, refers not to the power of the enemy but to his cunning of which Muslims should always be on their guard. [3]

Commentary on the Holy Qur’an – Zohurul Hoque & Hussain Nuri: