Being friends with Christians and gays

Islam Q & A ^ | 9-5-2002 | Answers by Shaikh M. S. Al-Munajjid

[Salman]

Question:

I'm a muslim who has quite alot of Christian friends, both male and female. There is 1 friend in particular who I'm really good friends with and recently I discovered that they were gay. I don't want to treat them differently because of this but I would like to know if it is haraam to have a gay friend?.

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

The Muslim must strive to find good friends who will help him to do good, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The likeness of a righteous companion and an evil companion is that of one who carries musk and one who works a bellows. With the one who carries musk, either he will give you some or you will buy from him or you will notice a pleasant fragrance from him. With the one who work a bellows, either he will burn your clothes or you will notice a foul odour from him.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5534; Muslim, 2628, from Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari, may Allaah be pleased with him).

It is not permissible for a Muslim to make (close) friends with Christians or other kaafirs. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“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)”

[al-Maa’idah 5:51]

“O you who believe! Take not as (your) Bitaanah (advisors, consultants, protectors, helpers, friends) those outside your religion (pagans, Jews, Christians, and hypocrites) since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you severely. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse. Indeed We have made plain to you the Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses) if you understand”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:118]

al-Sa’di (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

This is a warning from Allaah to His slaves not to make (close) friends with the kuffaar and take them as close confidantes or best friends.

Tafseer al-Sa’di, p. 198

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “You should not make friends with anyone but a believer and no one should eat your food but one who is pious.”

Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4832; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 4045

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A man will follow the religion of his close friend, so let each of you look to who he takes a close friend.”

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2378; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 1937

So stop keeping company with Christians and replace them with Muslim friends, and try to make friends with righteous people.

You should note that it is not permissible for a man to keep company with females or with homosexuals, whether they are Muslims or Christians, because of the fitnah (temptation) involved in that, and because it also involves things that are forbidden in sharee’ah, such as being alone with them, shaking hands with them and things that are more serious than that. I ask Allaah to protect us all from fitnah.

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[swarthyguy]

What do you mean a few billion?

And i look at the way Christians look at things as opposed tothe islamics.

[Woahhs]

Temptation/Repulsion... Same coin, different sides.

Then I think you are sorely in need of deprogramming, or a dictionary. You could make the same parrallel of a 747 and a skateboard, because you use them both to go somewhere. Gainsaying is not a supporting argument.

[swarthyguy]

Look at the reality of Saudi Arabia.

Look at the demands for shariah by muslims in the UK and Europe.

ANd now show me the Christians establishing theocracies everywhere......

[Woahhs]

Between Christians and Moslems...you have a few billion, regardless of how you "look at things."

[Woahhs]

Look at the reality of Saudi Arabia. Look at the demands for shariah by muslims in the UK and Europe. ANd now show me the Christians establishing theocracies everywhere......

And your point is?

[swarthyguy]

Back to my original point about the importance of individual choice in christianity as opposed to a groupthink, coercive collective model of islam.

[swarthyguy]

I guess then Cheney should not invite his daughter to the next lovefest the WH has with the muslims.

[L,TOWM]

Of course, that begs the question as to why the Islamics would show up at a "love fest" put on by an avowed Christian...

[swarthyguy]

Because they have already consecrated the WH as hallowed ground for islam.

Starting with Clin-ton and continuing with Bush, they have said prayers at the WH over the past few years.

To them, the WH is now islamic; it's only a matter of throwing the current infidel unbelievers out so the islamoborg can take their rightful place.

[Woahhs]

Back to my original point about the importance of individual choice in christianity as opposed to a groupthink, coercive collective model of islam

Alright then.

I submit that the difference is due to the fact that Christianity is a religion, while Islam is a school of political (as in policy) thought claiming divine sanction. To allow Islam the mantle of religion is, I believe, an error.

[swarthyguy]

I agree with you.

Idlam is an ideology bent on worldwide domination masquerading as a religion, taking advantage of our freedoms to undermine us.

Muslims always claim its a way of life encompassing personal, societal and political spheres.

We discount their stated goals at our own risk.

[RAT Patrol]

Do you want to be good friends with a drug abuser? Would you like your spouse to be best friends with an adulterer? Do you want your kid to be close friends with a truant?

You are a reflection of the company you keep. I am not saying you cannot live among them. I am saying, choose your friends wisely. It's only smart.

[swarthyguy]

Tell it to VP Cheney.

[Restorer]

I am saying, choose your friends wisely. It's only smart.

Exactly what the good Shaikh said.

And I agree with you both.

Where I disagree with the Shaikh is the definition of who would make a good friend.

[RAT Patrol]

Okay...clearly I make some sort of exception for family, especially children.

[Woahhs]

Do we actually know much about the relationship between Father and daughter in the Cheney family? I wonder.

[Woahhs]

Okay...clearly I make some sort of exception for family, especially children.

Why?

[swarthyguy]

They sat together at the convention in full view of everybody.

What's there to know about the relationship. They seem fine together as a family in public.

[serinde]

They don't have the moral backbone to control themselves?

Basically - no, they don't!

Muslim men can't see even an inch of a woman's skin, or they will be tempted.

Men can't have anything to do with gay men, or they will be tempted.

The idea of self-control in the face of temptation - what's that? Certainly not the responsibility of Muslim men!

I have heard (but do not if it is really true) that Muslim women must raise the children but are not allowed to discipline their sons at all (and the men see no reason to). So, boys grow up to be men with no training in self-control and must therefore severely control their entire environment to remove even the appearance (much less the threat) of temptation.

[Woahhs]

They sat together at the convention in full view of everybody. What's there to know about the relationship. They seem fine together as a family in public.

That's my point....I can't recall anything in the way of public statements about their views toward each other with respect to her homosexuality.

I have cordial business relationships with a few homosexuals, because they are good at what they do....we never discuss their sexuality. It seems to be an unstated agreement.