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Can Muslims Take Jews and Christians as Friends? "O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians as Awliya (Protectors, Benefactors or Guardians); they are Awliya of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them as Awliya, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people" Quran (5 : 51) Answer: Yes, Muslims can take Jews and Christians as friends. In fact, Islam not only allows friendship, but also allows Muslim men to marry Christian and Jewish women. This verse 5:51 has been mis-translated. Most of the English translators have been non-Arabs whose knowledge of Arabic is limited. They have mis-translated the word "Awliya" which is mentioned in the verse as "friends". Awliya does not mean "friends"; Awliya means Protectors, Benefactors or Guardians.
However, the New Testament of the Bible says (2 Corinthians 6:14-17) : 14Do not be yoked
together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in
common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
15What harmony is there
between Christ and Belial[a]?
What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
16What agreement is
there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living
God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be
their God, and they will be my people."
[b] Note: The Hebrew word "Belial," means "wicked" or "useless." The Jewish people sometimes used this as a name for Satan.
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