and the Last Day—showing affection to those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they be their fathers, their sons, their brothers, or their own clan.” (Al-Mujadila 22)

Many people are ignorant of this tremendous principle. I even heard someone who is counted among the people of knowledge and daʿwa, speaking on an Arab radio station, refer to the Christians as “our brothers.” What a perilous statement!

Just as Allah, Glorified is He, has forbidden alliance with the unbelievers, the enemies of the Islamic creed, He has likewise made it mandatory to be allied with and to love the believers. He, Exalted is He, says: “Your only ally is Allah, His Messenger, and the believers who establish prayer and give zakah while bowing humbly (55) And whoever allies himself with Allah, His Messenger, and the believers—then, indeed, the party of Allah, they are the victorious.” (Al-Maʾidah 55)

He also says: “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him…"