Topic
The Quran’s verses on alliance and friendship with Jews, Christians and others, which must be read with its call to justice and kindness.
What it means
Verses such as 5:51, “do not take the Jews and Christians as awliyā’”, are read by many as forbidding alliances against the Muslims. The word walī means protector or ally, and the commentators connect the verse to Medinan Muslims who sought the protection of Jewish and Christian tribes against the Muslims themselves.
Often misunderstood as
That Muslims are forbidden to befriend non-Muslims.
What the sources say
The same Quran says: “God does not forbid you from being kind and just to those who have not fought you over religion or driven you from your homes” (60:8). It permits eating the food of the People of the Book and marrying their women (5:5), and honours their upright people (3:113–115). The Prophet himself kept treaties, and traded and lived alongside non-Muslims all his life.