A Kafir cannot be a brother of a Muslim

Fatwas of Ibn Baz

Browse by Volume Number > Volume 6 > A Kafir cannot be a brother of a Muslim A Kafir cannot be a brother of a Muslim Q: A Christian man lives with me. He calls me "brother" and claims that we are brothers. We eat and drink together. Is this permissible or not? A: A Kafir (non-Muslim) cannot be the brother of a Muslim. Allah (Glorified be He) says, The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islâmic religion). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, A Muslim is the brother of a fellow-Muslim. Kafirs, whether they are Jewish, Christians, idol-worshippers, (Part No. 6; Page No. 393) Magi, communists or others cannot be fellow brothers of the Muslims. It is impermissible to consider them friends. However, there is no harm in eating with them at sometimes, whether in a public feast or an invitation. As for taking them as fellows and eating with them on a regular basis, this is impermissible. Allah prevented Muslims to ally themselves with Kafirs or love them. He (Glorified be He) says in His Glorious Book, Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrâhîm (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: "Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allâh: we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you hostility and hatred for ever until you believe in Allâh Alone" He (Glorified be He) also says, You (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) will not find any people who believe in Allâh and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), even though they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred (people). A Muslim should sever ties with Mushriks (those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) and hate them for Allah, but should not hurt or attack them unjustly if they are not warriors. However, they should not consider them friends. They can just eat with them causally without sharing any feelings of support or kindness towards them. A Muslim should treat non-warrior Kafirs according to the Islamic manners, fulfilling the trust to them, and abstaining from cheating, treasury and lying. If a dispute occurs between them, they should argue with them in a mild way and treat them fairly, according to Allah's saying, And argue not with the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), unless it be in (a way) that is better (with good words and in good manner, inviting them to Islâmic Monotheism with His Verses), except with such of them as do wrong It is also prescribed for a Muslim to invite them to goodness, advise them patiently, act as a good neighbor to them, and speak to them kindly, according to Allah's saying, Invite (mankind, O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur’ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. He (Glorified be He) also says, and speak good to people [i.e. Enjoin righteousness and forbid evil, and say the truth about Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم] The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer. There are many Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) and Hadiths that stress this meaning.