“Believers, do not take the Jews and Christians as allies.”

My friend Safi Kaskas, of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (whose remarkable and groundbreaking annotated English translation of the Qur’an I heartily recommend for your consideration), posted the entry below on his Facebook page earlier today.  With his kind permission, I reproduce it here — though with apologies for the slight weirdness in the Arabic line, which I somehow could not eliminate — because I believe it makes a very good point:

Some ignorant people, Muslims and others, read this verse from the Qur’an and think that they found somethings that Muslims are trying to hide. I don’t hide anything and I urge everyone to educate themselves.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۘ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّهُمْ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿المائده٥١﴾

Believers, do not take the Jews and Christians as allies. They are only allies with one another, and whoever allies himself with them becomes one of them. God does not guide such unjust people. (5:51) 

In his commentary, Al-Tabari explains that this verse is about two of the Prophet’s companions; Obada Bin Al-Samet of Bani Hareth of the Khazraj and Abdullah Bin Ubay Bin Saloul. The ruling is specific and is to be applied in a context similar to the historical context. 

In response to a similar question, Shaykh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi wrote about this topic extensively: “The answer is that these verses are not unconditional, to be applied to every Jew, Christian, or non-Muslim. Interpreting them in this manner contradicts the injunctions of the Qur’an which enjoin affection and kindness to the good and peace-loving peoples of every religion. The Qur’an says concerning the Christians: “you will find that the nearest in affection towards the believers are those who say, “We are Christians,” because there are priests and monks among them, and because these people are not given to arrogance. (5:82). 

When the Jewish tribes broke their covenant with the Prophet and betrayed the Muslims, both of these companions came to the Prophet, Obada Bin Al-Samet decided to forsake his relationships and interests with the Jews while Abdullah Bin Ubay Bin Saloul refused and he put his own personal interest ahead of the Muslims ‘best interest. Although this verse makes a general statement, the ruling is specific and is to be applied in a context similar to the historical context. 

The verses cited above (verse 5:51) were revealed in connection with those people who were hostile to Islam and made war upon the Muslims. Accordingly, it is not permissible for the Muslims to support or assist them – that is, to be their ally- nor to entrust them with secrets at the expense of his own religion and community. This point is explained in other verses.