Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu alaikkum,

“Man follows his friend’s religion; you should be careful who you take for friends.”

Does this Hadith mean that muslim should only have muslims as friends?

I have close friends from other religions. To be frank I don't have any muslim close friends.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Muslim friends

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 60 Surah Mumtahina verses 8-9:

8 Allah forbids you not with regard to those (disbelievers) who fight you not for (your) Faith, nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loves those who are just.

9 Allah only forbids you with regard to those (disbelievers) who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in friendship) that do wrong.

As much as the guidance of Islam encourages the believers to befriend their believing brothers in faith…..Islam does not at all prohibit the believers from befriending their disbelieving brothers in humanity, except those ardent disbelievers who absolutely despise Islam and the Truth, who strive against the believers only because of their faith, and are amongst those who strive and support others in uprooting the believers from their homes and their lands……it is friendship with such ardent enemies of Allah and Islam which is absolutely forbidden for those who sincerely love Allah Subhanah, His Messengers, and Islam.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4815 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘A man follows the religion of his ‘khaleel’ (closest or choicest friend); so each one should consider whom he makes his ‘khaleel’.’

The above guidance and advice of the Messenger of Allah (saws) is merely to signify that fact that the character and beliefs and manners of close friends effects one’s own character and beliefs and manners. What normally happens in close friendships, and especially if that close friend happens to be one’s ‘khaleel’ (the one friend who is closest) is that one who is has strong beliefs, or strong straits of character, or manners, will effect or influence another who is slightly weaker in their approach….thus the Messenger of Allah (saws) guided and warned the believers to be careful regarding whom they chose to be their ‘khaleel’ or choicest or closest friend….lest their influence deviates them from the path of Allah Subhanah.

Your Statement: I have close friends from other religions. To be frank I don't have any muslim close friends.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verses 55-58:

55 Your (real) friends are (no less than) Allah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship of) believers; those who establish regular prayers and regular charity, and they bow down humbly (in worship).

56 As to those who turn (for friendship) to Allah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship of) believers; it is the fellowship of Allah that must certainly triumph.

57 O ye who believe! Take not for friends and protectors those who take your religion for a mockery or sport, whether among those who received the Scripture before you or among those who reject faith; but fear ye Allah if ye have faith (indeed).

58 When ye proclaim your call to prayer, they take it (but) as mockery and sport; that is because they are a people without understanding.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.504 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "Seven people will be shaded by Allah under His Shade on the Day when there will be no Shade except His. They are:

(1)   a just ruler;

(2)   a young man who has been brought up in the worship of Allah, (i.e. worship Allah (Alone) sincerely from his childhood),

(3)   a man whose heart is attached to the mosque (who offers the five compulsory congregational prayers in the mosque);

(4) two persons (friends) who love each other only for Allah's Sake, and they meet and part in Allah's Cause only;

(5)   a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for an illegal sexual intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allah;

(6)   a person who practices charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity).

(7)   a person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes get flooded with tears."

If indeed there is one who claims to believe, but has absolutely no friends from amongst the believers….perhaps it might be time for them to sincerely check or evaluate the state of their ‘emaan’ or faith…..

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan