continuation…
Another example of inaccurate English translation is the following Noble Verse:
“As to those who turn (For friendship) to Allah, His Messenger, and the (Fellowship of) Believers - it is the Fellowship of Allah that must certainly triumph. (The Noble Quran, 5:56)”
The Arabic word for “Fellowship” of Allah is “hizb”, which literally mean “Alliance”, as in “Hizbullah” in Lebanon, which means “The Alliance of Allah”. Hizbullah are the guerrillas and the warriors that fought the Israelis long battles in southern Lebanon and finally were able to drive them out. Also, the “Northern Alliance” in Afghanistan against the Taliban are called “Hizb Al-shamal”.
Hizb is mistranslated as “Fellowship” instead of “Alliance”. Noble Verse 5:56 clearly states that Muslims must form their alliances only with Allah Almighty, Prophet Muhammad and the Believers. Any alliance other than Allah Almighty is a losing one. That is exactly what the Alliance with the Jews, Christians and Pagans against fellow Muslims will result in: Eventual loss at this life, and Severe Punishment at the Day of Judgement.
So the Noble Verses above don’t suggest that Muslims can not have personal friends with non-Muslims. It suggests that Muslim countries are prohibited from forming alliance with the non-Muslims against other Muslims.
Noble 5:57, however, clearly states that Muslims should avoid having personal friendship with anyone (Muslim or non-Muslim) who disrespects Islam and take it for a “mockery”. So the translation of “friends” for “Awliyaa” seem to be a correct and accurate one.
The use of the word “friends” for Noble Verses 5:51 and 4:139 as a translation is ambiguous. It is not clear from the Noble Verses that Allah Almighty meant for “Awliyaa” to be only personal “friends”. Certainly Noble Verse 5:56 above clearly shows that Allah Almighty is concerned about the Alliance that Muslims commit themselves to, and not personal friendships.
Muslim men are allowed to marry Jewish and Christian women:
Another proof that the above English translation of the word “friends” is wrong, and the correct word is “Alliance” is, how can Allah Almighty prohibit for any Muslim to form personal friendship with any Jew or Christian, when He the Almighty allowed for Muslim men to have friendly relationships with Jewish and Christian women like they do with Muslim women (without sex before marriage of course) that could lead to marriage?
“This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book [Jews and Christians] is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time,- when ye give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues if any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good). (The Noble Quran, 5:5)”
One has to ask himself a very simple question here: How can a Jewish or Christian woman marry a Muslim man without loving him? And how is it possible for this love to happen without prior friendship or even just warm feelings between the Muslim man and the woman?
Please feel free to ask further questions if you have any. You can also visit the WhyIslam forum and ask more questions there.
