what Allah had made a reason for forgiving him: his participation in the Battle of Badr (1).

This was indeed a clear instance of support. Thus, the unqualified assertion that any support whatsoever—in any circumstances—constitutes apostasy is not clearly justified.

Such support varies greatly in its extent and nature. Allah Most High says:

“O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you—then indeed, he is one of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.” [Al-Mā’idah: 51]

This does not indicate that every form of allegiance constitutes disbelief, for allegiance has varying degrees, just as imitation of the disbelievers varies. The hadith states: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them” (2). It is well known that not every instance of imitation constitutes disbelief; the same applies to allegiance.