and the Christians, too, claim to be Allah’s allies—and that no one will enter Paradise unless he belongs to them; indeed, they even assert that they are His children and His beloved ones.

Allah, exalted is He, says:
“Say, ‘Then why does He punish you for your sins? No—you are but human beings from among those He has created.’” (Qur’an 5:18)

He also says:
“They say, ‘None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian.’ Such are their wishful thoughts … [up to] ‘and they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve.’” (Qur’an 2:111–112)

[The Arab idolaters’ claim that they are the people of Allah]

The Arab polytheists likewise used to claim that they were Allah’s own people because they lived in Mecca and resided beside the Sacred House; they lorded it over others on that basis. Allah, exalted is He, says:
“My revelations were recited to you, but you turned on your heels, waxing proud because of it, talking idly into the night.” (Qur’an 23:66–67)

He also says:
“[Remember] when those who disbelieved plotted against you to detain you or to kill you … [up to] while they bar people from the Sacred Mosque. They are not its guardians; its guardians are only the God-fearing.” (Qur’an 8:30, 34)

Thus Allah makes it clear that the idolaters are neither His friends nor the friends of His House; His friends are only the God-fearing.

[Hadith: “My ally is Allah and the righteous believers”]

It is authentically reported in the two Ṣaḥīḥs that ‘Amr ibn al-‘Āṣ (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—announce openly, without secrecy: “The family of so-and-so are not my allies”—meaning a group of his relatives—“My only ally is Allah and the righteous believers.” This is in full accord with the saying of Allah, exalted is He: