[Q 679] Befriending Non-Muslims Ruling

Question

What is the ruling in Shariah on befriending a non-Muslim?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

Non-Muslims, meaning those who do not believe in our God and our Messenger ﷺ, should not be befriended by us. The company and friendship of bad people are a danger to one’s faith, therefore every Muslim should avoid it. And scholars state that having heartfelt love for any Kafir is strictly haram.

Allah Almighty states in the Qur’an:

لَا یَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ الْكٰفِرِیْنَ اَوْلِیَآءَ مِنْ دُوْنِ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَۚ

Translation: “The believers should not take disbelievers as their protectors and friends instead of believers.”

(Surah Aal-e-Imran, 3:28)

Under the aforementioned blessed verse, it is stated in Tafsir Sirat-ul-Jinan: “Friendship and love with Kuffar are forbidden and haram; making them confidants and having a heartfelt connection with them is unlawful.”

(Tafsir Sirat-ul-Jinan, Aal-e-Imran 03, Verse 28, Al-Ilmiyyah, Karachi)

Answered by: Qazi Muteeb Attari (AskMufti Scholar)

Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated answer

Date: 24th July 2026