Thus the Muslim shows allegiance to the allies of Allah, meaning he confines his love to them and comes to their aid. A Muslim stands with the Muslims, each of them belonging to the other, just as the Exalted says: “Those bound by blood are, in Allah’s Book, closer to one another” (Al-Anfal 8:75).

The collective responsibility for blood-money in cases of accidental killing rests among Muslims alone; this mutual support (takāful) is one aspect of loyalty. It is not shared between a Muslim and a disbeliever. The same holds true for love, assistance, inheritance, liability for blood-money, guardianship in marriage, judicial authority, and the like—none of these bonds is to exist between a Muslim and a disbeliever. They pertain exclusively to Muslims, for Allah says: “Allah will never grant the disbelievers a way over the believers” (Al-Nisaʾ 4:141).

In this manner the believers must remain distinct from the disbelievers. It is therefore impermissible for anyone who affirms Allah’s oneness and obeys the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) to ally himself with one who opposes Allah.

Opposition (muhādah) means that a person stands on one side while Allah, His Messenger, and the believers stand on the other; the opponent aligns himself with the disbelievers—that is muhādah.

His words “even if that person is his closest relative” refer to blood ties. If your relative is in opposition to Allah and His Messenger, you are obliged to oppose him and sever relations. Conversely, whoever is a friend of Allah and His Messenger must be loved and supported—even if he