a disbeliever from a Muslim, nor do people of two different faiths inherit anything from one another.” Even where this affiliation does not confer mutual inheritance, it entails sincere counsel and mutual support in Allah’s religion, and cooperation for His sake. Allah, Blessed and Exalted, says:

“Cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and transgression.” [Al-Mā’idah: 2]

He also says:

“The believers are but brothers, so make peace between your two brothers.” [Al-Hujurāt: 10]

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Among the rights a Muslim has over his fellow Muslim are that he greet him when he meets him, visit him when he is ill, and attend his funeral when he dies.” He also said: “A believer is to another believer like a building, each part strengthening the other.”

As for affiliation through pacts and oaths, it has been said that people inherited from one another through it in the early days of Islam, as indicated by the words of Allah, Mighty and Majestic:

“And those to whom your oaths have bound you—give them their share.” [Al-Nisā’: 33]

Allah then abrogated this with His words:

“But blood relatives have a stronger claim upon one another in Allah’s Book.” [Al-Anfāl: 75]

It has also been said that this practice existed in the pre-Islamic period, and that when Islam came, they were commanded to give their allies their share of support, sincere counsel, assistance, and consultation, but not inheritance. Those who held this view cited the Messenger of Allah’s words, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “There is no pact of alliance in Islam, and every pact made in the pre-Islamic period was only strengthened by Islam.” They also cited his words, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “Hold fast to whatever pacts were made in the pre-Islamic period; there is no pact of alliance in