Cautions Against Taking Disbelievers as Guardians In Religion

As-Salaam Alaikum,

Let not the Trustworthy-Believers take the disbelievers as guardian protectors more so than the Trustworthy-Believers; whoever does that, in no way is any of it from Allah; except that you be exceptionally conscious of them, and Allah cautions you Himself, and the place (that you turn out to be) belongs to Allah. 3:28.

This verse begins in the reflexive voice, that is the action of taking or accepting occurs from within. It is addressing the inner or abstract form of the person more so than the external or physical form. Not that we are not to befriend or become acquaintances with religious disbelievers, on the contrary we do not give them the trust of concerns that are close, dear or intimate to our vital development and preservation of the true human character. The precious religious concepts, ideas, philosophy, logic that we depend on for our Muslim existence are to be supported by the Trustworthy-Believers. I hear some people saying you can get knowledge and wisdom from anyone, yes you can, but we are not to put our hope, conviction, or expectation in anyone. Don’t go to them when you don’t understand what G-d wills in you from the Qur’an. Pursue those that hold the same cherished values of life that you hold.

The analogy of the guardian amongst the Trustworthy-Believer is based upon the Qur’anic Arabic word that connotes first (rights), guardian, and family. We know that it is Allah that has the first rights. It is Allah that brings us into existence, provides, nourishes, sustains, and evolves us to a mature state. After that it is Allah that we continue to depend on. So it is only logical that He has the first rights in respect and honor of the safeguards. Muhammed The Prophet (Pbhh) is closer to the Trustworthy-Believer than their own selves. Subsequently, the blood relatives are closer for the perpetuation and conservation of the total human life; categorically the mother is nearest of them. Allah tells us that it is the possessor of the womb that is closer than the Trustworthy-Believer are to each other. This is the sign of the religious life that Allah wants in terms of the protection, guardianship, and friendship that the Trustworthy-Believers are to emulate in their communities.

When we are in the presence of the disbelievers we are to be acutely aware and mindful of the unhelpful influences. Our interactions may be through personal, media, workplace, etc., however, we are to have the special consciousness for the destructive public encouragements that doesn’t agree with the life that Allah prescribes for us. In all affairs, activities and endeavors we are to be extremely aware or our relationships outside of trustful family members as well as outside of the community of righteous trustworthy believers.

Allah has placed special emphasis on the fact that he cautions you Himself. Allah is not a person like we are a person. Allah does not have a self similar to the self that we have. Allah does not have a soul as we have a soul. This is an important concern for the theologian. Those who study the concept and the relationship that we are to have with Allah know that Allah can’t be put into an anthropomorphic figure though the Qur’an speaks of Allah as a self having hands, hearing, seeing, speaking, etc. So this language is suggesting that the punishment we be so severe if we ignore the decree of Allah. That it will be as though Allah himself will execute the retribution with his own hands. So let’s arrive at the place that Allah wants for us.

Thank you for reading this article.

Salim MuMin
M.A.L.I., Director
Muslimamericanlogic.com