Lesson # 1053 - Choose not your infidel father or brethren for friends

Lesson # 1053 from Holy Qur’aan

Choose not your infidel father or brethren for friends

Surah ‘TAWBAH or BARAAA-‘AH (REPENTANCE) – Chapter – 9)

Stage – 2, Verse – 23 of 129, Section – 3 of 16 (Part – 10)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

23.  O ye who believe! Choose not your fathers nor your brethren for friends if they take pleasure in disbelief rather than faith. And whoso of you taketh them for friends, such are wrongdoers.

23.  Yaaa-‘ayyu-hallaziina  ‘aamanuu  laa  tatta-khizuuu  ‘aa-baaa-‘akum  wa  ‘ikhwaa-nakum  ‘aw-liyaaa-‘a  ‘inis-tahabbul-kufra  ‘alal-‘iimaan.  Wa  many-yata-walla-hum-  minkum  fa-‘ulaaa-‘ika  humuz-zaalimuun.

Lesson

Laa  tatta-khizuuu – (Do not choose), it is a negative sentence and origin of it is ‘itti-khaazun, which has been derived from ‘akh-zun. The actual meanings of ‘akh-zun are “to make, to hold, to catch”. According to the sentence, ‘itti-khaa-zun means “to have regard for, to choose, to make”.

‘Is-tahabbuu – (if they take pleasure), this word is from ‘is-tah-baab, which has come out from hubbun. Another form of it is mahabbatun, to which we have changed as muhabbat. Muhabbat means “love, a great desire, and liking”. ‘Istah-baab means “to choose a thing for love i.e. to decide that it will be loved.

‘Aw-liyaaa-‘a – (friends), this word is plural of waliy-yun, which means a friend. It aims “close relatives/kin, unceremonious friends, and companions etc.

It was discussed in the previous verses that those people who believed and have become of God Almighty only, they can never go against His Will. Allah Almighty is their Supporting Friend and Helper. This subject has been repeated in the Holy Qur-‘aan again and again. In Surah ‘Al-Baqarah, God Almighty says: ‘Allaahu  Waliy-yullaziina  ‘aamanuuu (God is Friend of Believers).

In Surah ‘Aali- ‘Imraan, it is commanded “The Believers should not make near friends, companions and relatives to those who are God’s disbelievers”. Only Believers are sufficient for their companionship and friendship, because the Believers who obey the commands of Allah Almighty, how will they like them who do not believe in God Almighty. Close to the believers will like it that their relatives and friends should be obedient of such God Almighty, Who prevents them from engaging in laughter, joking, amusement, fun and tricks, and Who desires to engage them in obedience of His own commands.

The same thing has been explained in this verse more clearly. It is commanded: Not only other than friends or relatives, if own mother, father or brothers etc. do not believe in Allah Almighty, even they will also desire to entangle one to engage in the worldly commitments. Therefore, you should not keep such relationship with them which may lead you to stray and you become disobedient of God Almighty for the sake of them.

However, you should not trouble them. Comfort them as much as you can, but your relationship should not be so deep that it becomes an obstacle in obedience of the Commands of God Almighty, because after having faith in Allah Almighty, the first duty is to worship Him and His obedience.   

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)