Question:
Does Islam believe in friendship?

Answer:
God's richest peace and friendship be yours! Thank you for your question.

It is difficult to answer your question because there are different opinions among Muslims. Many Muslims feel that you can have friendships with non-Muslims and that the Koran doesn’t forbid normal friendships between people. Others feel that a Muslim should not have any non-Muslims as friends. They will often point to verses like Surah 5:51 where it says, "O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. They are friends one to another. The one who takes them for friends is one of them. Allah does not guide evil doers."

However it is clear what Jesus says on this issue. Jesus said in the Holy Injil (Matthew 5:43-48) "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

It is easy to be nice to those who are nice to us. Jesus tells us to love those who are even our enemies and hate us! He tells us that God wants us to be friends to everyone. Why? Because God is good and loving and gives rain and sunshine to both the good and the bad. That is the kind of love and compassion we should have toward all people. In fact Jesus tells us that God expects us to be perfect, to love like he loves.

The Bible also tells us that the greatest example of love that we should follow is the love of Jesus. The Bible says, (1 John 3:16) "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."

If you want an example of love you look at Jesus. He gave his life not only for those who loved him but for those who hated him. There were many who rejected him and many who took part in his death. But Jesus loved them and died on a cross for them. That is true love, the love of God that looked at our lives and our needs and even though he saw our wickedness and evil he still loved us and sent Jesus to die for us.

I hope this has answered your question. God’s richest blessings!