Views on Jews, Christian and Athesits

[curiousquerty]

Hi, I am an atheist and I want to know your views on Jews, Christians and Athesits. Do you approve them or not and why?

[*charisma*]

Hi @curiousquerty and welcome to the forum,

Hi, I am an atheist and I want to know your views on Jews, Christians and Athesits. Do you approve them or not and why?

Approve of them in what ways?? I personally have no problems with any of these groups. We differ in our beliefs, but as long as they respect my beliefs then we can coexist peacefully. Jews and Christians have many similarities to Muslims, and atheists are atheists due to different reasons. I think we're all on the path of seeking truth. It's how we treat each other that ultimately matters when it comes to differing views.

[curiousquerty]

Hi @curiousquerty and welcome to the forum,



Approve of them in what ways?? I personally have no problems with any of these groups. We differ in our beliefs, but as long as they respect my beliefs then we can coexist peacefully. Jews and Christians have many similarities to Muslims, and atheists are atheists due to different reasons. I think we're all on the path of seeking truth. It's how we treat each other that ultimately matters when it comes to differing views.

Thanks for your answer. I am actually confused now. Few days ago I asked a brother and he said to me your religion Islam teaches to not befriend with non MUSLIMS. He quoted some verses of your holy book as a proof.

“O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Awliyaa’ (friends, protectors, helpers), they are but Awliyaa’ of each other. And if any amongst you takes them (as Awliyaa’), then surely, he is one of them. Verily, Allaah guides not those people who are the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers and unjust)”

O you who believe! Take not as friends the people who incurred the Wrath of Allaah (i.e. the Jews). Surely, they have despaired of (receiving any good in) the Hereafter, just as the disbelievers have despaired of those (buried) in graves (that they will not be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection)”

Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Qur’aan and Prophet Muhammad) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al-Mushrikoon will abide in the fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures”

I would appreciate if you could clarify this. Thanks

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you curiousquerty; and welcome to the forum,

I am a Christian, and have been made to feel welcome on this forum over the last twelve years. We also have a few atheists on the forum. Anyway, the test would be for you to take part in a few discussions, and make up your own mind.

In the spirit of searching for God.

Eric

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[curiousquerty]

Greetings and peace be with you curiousquerty; and welcome to the forum,

I am a Christian, and have been made to feel welcome on this forum over the last twelve years. We also have a few atheists on the forum. Anyway, the test would be for you to take part in a few discussions, and make up your own mind.

In the spirit of searching for God.

Eric

I wanted an Islamic point of view on this matter but anyways thanks for bothering

[*charisma*]

Thanks for your answer. I am actually confused now. Few days ago I asked a brother and he said to me your religion Islam teaches to not befriend with non MUSLIMS. He quoted some verses of your holy book as a proof.

“O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Awliyaa’ (friends, protectors, helpers), they are but Awliyaa’ of each other. And if any amongst you takes them (as Awliyaa’), then surely, he is one of them. Verily, Allaah guides not those people who are the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers and unjust)”

O you who believe! Take not as friends the people who incurred the Wrath of Allaah (i.e. the Jews). Surely, they have despaired of (receiving any good in) the Hereafter, just as the disbelievers have despaired of those (buried) in graves (that they will not be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection)”

Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Qur’aan and Prophet Muhammad) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al-Mushrikoon will abide in the fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures”

I would appreciate if you could clarify this. Thanks

If there is someone who is clearly against Muslims and Islam and insults our religion, then that is the type of person we are not allowed to be friends with. And in general it is better not to befriend nonMuslims because it's more preferable for us to be among those who are similar in faith or who will help us in our faith. Many times when we have friends, no matter who they are, we are influenced by them. It can happen slowly or quickly, but when our affection grows for them we want to emulate them and a lot of our time is spent with them, right? So we have to be wary of befriending nonMuslims/disbelievers because we may become influenced by them. I also see many muslims whose faith is not really strong and they really care about what nonMuslims think of them so to show that they are laid back they allow jokes and insults towards our religion. This is not acceptable. So basically we can be cordial and kind and merciful etc etc to anyone who is not muslim, but at the end of the day they are not Muslims, so we should not seek them as our protectors or be too close with them that they will affect our worship or beliefs.

[Scimitar]

Peace and welcome, CuriousQuerty

The verse you mentioned the Muslim brother referencing, is explained away by shaikh imran hosein with some commentary. The word "friend" is not accurate as translation. The correct usage of the word would be "protectors" and this is evident in the Zionist movement which has manifested in modern times.

Jews and Christians, theologically locking horns for ever in opposition, have come together in order to have an "holy land". At the behest of many thousands of lives. How can we ever befriend or expect protection from the zionist?

Israel has forever broken every treaty signed with Hamas - evidently, asking the Zionists to protect us is not exactly in their interest.

Hope this helps. :)

Scimi

EDIT: forgot to mention I have no problems with Jews or Christians who are not zionist.

[sister herb]

Greetings and peace be with you curiousquerty; and welcome to the forum,

I am a Christian, and have been made to feel welcome on this forum over the last twelve years. We also have a few atheists on the forum. Anyway, the test would be for you to take part in a few discussions, and make up your own mind.

In the spirit of searching for God.

Eric

Brother Eric is right. We don´t bite.

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you curiousquerty;

I wanted an Islamic point of view on this matter but anyways thanks for bothering

Part of your question was to ask about their response to Christians, and I have been called brother, uncle friend on many occasions on this forum. I look on many people here as friends, brothers and sisters. This has been a worthwhile journey, it takes time to get to know and respect others, as in all relationships, we have to make an effort.

I think charisma gave a good explanation..........

If there is someone who is clearly against Muslims and Islam and insults our religion, then that is the type of person we are not allowed to be friends with. And in general it is better not to befriend nonMuslims because it's more preferable for us to be among those who are similar in faith or who will help us in our faith. Many times when we have friends, no matter who they are, we are influenced by them. It can happen slowly or quickly, but when our affection grows for them we want to emulate them and a lot of our time is spent with them, right? So we have to be wary of befriending nonMuslims/disbelievers because we may become influenced by them. I also see many muslims whose faith is not really strong and they really care about what nonMuslims think of them so to show that they are laid back they allow jokes and insults towards our religion. This is not acceptable. So basically we can be cordial and kind and merciful etc etc to anyone who is not muslim, but at the end of the day they are not Muslims, so we should not seek them as our protectors or be too close with them that they will affect our worship or beliefs.

In the spirit of searching for God
Eric

[Grandad]

Hi, I am an atheist and I want to know your views on Jews, Christians and Athesits. Do you approve them or not and why?

‘You who believe, do not take the Jews and Christians as allies (awliyā): they are allies only to each other. Anyone who takes them as an ally becomes one of them – Allāh does not guide such wrongdoers – yet you (Prophet) will see the perverse at heart rushing to them for protection, saying: “We are afraid fortune may turn against us.” But Allāh may well bring about a triumph or some other event of His own making: then they will rue the secrets they harboured in their hearts, and the believers will say: “Are these the men who swore by Allāh using their strongest oaths that they were with you?” All they did was in vain: they have lost everything.

‘You who believe, if any of you go back on your faith, Allāh will soon replace you with people He loves and who love Him, people who are humble towards the believers, hard on the disbelievers, and who strive in Allāh’s way without fearing anyone’s reproach. Such is Allāh’s favour. He grants it to whoever He will. Allāh has endless bounty and knowledge. Your true allies are Allāh, His Messenger, and the believers – those who keep up the prayer, pay the prescribed alms, and bow down in worship. Those who turn for protection to Allāh, His Messenger, and the believers (are Allāh’s party): Allāh’s party is sure to triumph.

‘You who believe, do not take as allies those who ridicule your religion and make fun of it – whether people who were given the Scripture before you, or disbelievers – and be mindful of Allāh if you are true believers. When you make the call to prayer, they ridicule it and make fun of it: this is because they are people who do not reason.’ (Al-Ma’ida: 51-58)

‘Allāh may still bring about affection between you and your present enemies – Allāh is all powerful, Allāh is most forgiving and merciful – and He does not forbid you to deal kindly and justly with anyone who has not fought you for your faith or driven you out of your homes: Allāh loves the just. But Allāh forbids you to take as allies those who have fought against you for your faith, driven you out of your homes, and helped others to drive you out: any of you who take them as allies will truly be wrongdoers.’ (Al-Mumtahana: 7-9).

It is clear from the above that Muslims must not take as allies, protectors or guardians those who fight against them, or who mock their religion and way of life. What sensible person would do this?

It is equally clear that Muslims are encouraged to deal kindly and justly with those who are kind and just towards them. By the way, Muslim men are permitted to marry women from the People of the Book (Jews and Christians); moreover, these women are entitled to practice their respective religions after they are married. Hard to imagine marriage to a person who is not a friend (at least at the start!).

As for approving Jews, Christians and atheists: They all belong to Allāh (Subḥānahu ūta'āla), and are answerable only to Him. One welcomes good behaviour, from whatever source; and regrets the bad. This is only natural. In my experience, the vast majority of people strive to be good; to be fair; to be kind; to get along with their fellows. That will do for me.

I hope this helps.

[greenhill]

Welcome to the forum.

Don't take that statement personally! Looking at it historically (especially when the Quran was being revealed) the Jews and Christians in Medina were trying to use the prophet to prove that they were the correct path and even tried to bribe the prophet with richness and stuff to stop his preaching when they realised that he was only doing Allah's work and would not be influenced by any other, and 'moved' to split the muslims into sects (something like what Paul did to Christianity). Over time it had some effect....

Fast forward many centuries, the Judeo-Christian alliance built up a considerable force, financially and militarily, resulting in many muslims nations making alliances with them, Saudi Arabia being the easiest to pick. They have become the puppets for the West, so to speak. Do the West have Saudi's interests at heart?

I feel that is the angle we should be looking at. Not whether I become your good friend or not.

Wishing you a great stay and may Allah give you hidayah.


:peace:

[Silas]

I will throw a little complexity into this question ;)

One concern among Christians, Jews, Hindus, etc., is that representative democracy cannot work if self-segregated religious groups view themselves as separate from the political process, apart from the laws, and sociologically incompatible with the host country. This is a frequent charge made against Muslims, that in simple terms, they live by their own rules and customs and will not assimilate.

Now I would point out that this is also a charge made against Jews, in that Jews made be accepted into the host culture, but Jews themselves would never accept a Christian European into their ranks, as Judaism is not merely a religion, but also an ethnicity with a history. Even converts are looked at suspiciously by many Jews. (Zoroastrians are also an ethnic group that does not accept outsiders)

Obviously, Islam has no ethnic component. Anyone can be Muslim

When I lived in Europe my best friends were Iranian Muslims, and their families frequently invited me over for dinner, etc. I am also friendly with the Muslims in my community, so I have never personally experienced any kind of suspicion or hostility from Muslims.

But I was wondering if any discussions arise concerning the above among Muslims, and how are those things handled? I imagine different branches and groups within Islam may view these issues somewhat differently.