QURAN 3:28 (al Imran) DO NOT TAKE DISBELIEVERS AS FRIENDS is misinterpreted

The Quran DOES NOT command the Muslims NOT TO MAKE FRIENDS with the people of other faiths. The commonly quoted verse by those misinformed or (intentionally mischief seekers) is verse 3:28 of the Quran. If you really wish for peace then read the following article that explains the meaning of 3:28 in a logical and rational way.

“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 Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself (His Punishment), and to Allah is the final return.” – Noble Quran 3:28

I am quoting the above verse from the Translation of the Quran by Mohsin Khan.

In the above verse the Quran is saying that the Muslims should not patronize the disbelievers instead of the Muslims. What is wrong with that? The verse clearly states “Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Auliya (supporters, helpers, etc.) instead of the believers“. Is it wrong if we hold our sovereignty with ourselves? Did we not fight for our sovereignty for 300 years against the East India Company and win it? Or would you have been comfortable to let your safety, protection and dependency rest in the hands of foreigners? That was for a national cause and the Quran says the same for a cause that encompasses an entire way of life, across nations of the world.

Some earlier English translations of the Quran have wrongly translated the word “Auliya” in the above verse as “friends” giving an impression that Muslims are not allowed to make friends with non-Muslims. This is totally incorrect. Below I present you the screenshot of the Arabic word “Auliya” taken from google translator. It translates to “Parents”, ”Protector”, ”Sponsor” or “Custodian”. It no way comes even close the meaning of a “friend”.

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Notice the highlighted word in the verse below is the same word that is used in the left side of the google translator.

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This should clear any misconception around verse 3:28.

Verses in the Quran that encourage friendship, peace, harmony and goodness –

When someone harms you, do good in return making him your friend- 

When somebody harms you, Allah asks you to repel this act of harm by doing an act of good to the perpetuarer. And Allah says that by doing so, you and the one between whom there was enmity will be as though you were intimate friends, God willing.

“The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better, then verily! he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.” – Noble Quran 41:34

Restrain anger and be forgiving –

Allah enjoins that people overlook mistakes and pardon each other. He wants us to restrain when anyone angers us. Isn’t this a trait of a great friend?

“Those who spend [in the cause of Allah ] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good.” – Noble Quran 3:134

Race against each other in doing good – 

Allah asks us to compete with each other in doing good in this world. Nothing escapes the grasp of your God and he is a witness over everything that you do. He records all of your actions and he knows who is in the forefront of this race in terms of goodness.

“…so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute.” – Noble Quran 5:48

Enjoin Justice, do good and forbid immorality – 

Allah enjoins Justice and good conduct and forbids immorality and bad conduct.

“Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to kith and kin and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.” – Noble Quran 16:90

Do not spread Mischief on earth – 

Allah commands us not to spread Mischief on the earth.

“Do no mischief on the earth, after it hath been set in order, but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts): for the Mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who do good.” – Noble Quran 7:56

The command to forbid mischief and disorder implies a command to ensue harmony, order and friendship.

Wish others for Peace –

In this world we have a habit of greeting each other when we meet with greetings like “Good Morning” and “Good Evening”, Hello”, “Hi” which is nothing short of “ahoy!” or “you there” or “ehem ehem” to draw the attention of the person towards you. But the God of the Universe has taught a better Greeting to us and that is the Greeting of Peace. We are commanded to wish for Peace upon seeing each other. The Greeting of a Muslim is “Assalaamu alaikum” which is translated as “Salaam (Peace) be upon you“. The reply to this is “Walaikum As-salaam” which is translated as “And upon you be the Peace“. What is the use of Greeting by this Peace if the objective is anything else but a deep wish for friendship, cordiality and Peace? This is Islam and this is the truth dear readers.

Of course the people of other faiths may not know the meaning of this greeting or may not feel obliged to greet thus and often greet the Muslims with the usual greetings of “Good Morning” and “Good Evening”. In this case Allah says, “Greet them with a better greeting, or at least with an equal greeting“.

“When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally. Certainly, Allah is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all things.” – Noble Quran 4:86

Dear reader, the concept that the Quran forbids Muslims for making friends with non-Muslims is an absurd lie. Now you know the correct explanation of the verse 3:28. You are faced with two choices now.

Either accept that the notion that you held was incorrect and change your opinion, thus taking our hand of friendship OR continue to hold on to your belief which means living your life having enmity towards a huge section of mankind even though the representatives of that section have fairly clarified this. In this case you would be doing the very thing which you accuse the Muslims of doing, i.e not making friends with us.

-Peace

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You may also be interested in the following:-

5:33 OF QURAN DOESN’T ENCOURAGE MUSLIMS TO TERRORISM

9:29 (at tauba) OF QURAN DOESN’T ENCOURAGE MUSLIMS TO TERRORISM

2:191 OF QURAN DOESN’T ENCOURAGE MUSLIMS TO TERRORISM

Other verses that allege Muslims to Violence and their correct explanations