I debated writing this post, which is why it’s so late in the day, but I have to get it off my chest. Sometimes these posts are just ways for me to work things out in my head, a way to iron out the wrinkles on my conscious.

There is a tradition in Islam during the month of Ramadan in which Muslims pray and read portions of the Qur’an every evening called taraweeh. During taraweeh a few nights ago, I came across this verse in the Qur’an:

“O you who believe, do not take the Jews and the Nazarenes as allies, for they are allies to one another; and whoever takes them as such from amongst you is one of them. God does not guide the wicked people.” –Qur’an 5: 51

Ouch. I literally winced at that one as I read it. I cannot have Christian or Jewish friends as a Muslim? What about my Latter-day Saint Mentors, whom I jog with every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings? What about my Jewish Mentor, a long time friend before Project Conversion started? And what about my wife, a Christian and best friend for the last decade?

You can understand the confusion. Even my Islam Mentor this month is a well-known and respected inter-faith champion in this area. Are his friendships and associations with Christians, Jews, and other groups un-Islamic?

Many enemies and critics of Islam often quote this verse and others when claiming how hegamonic and violent Islam “really” is, but there has to be more…It can’t really be this way.

As an honorary Muslim this month, I am compelled to not only follow the Qur’an and the example of Muhammad blindly, but to read the scriptures with purpose and understanding.

“The ones who listen to what is being said, and then follow the best of it. These are the ones whom God  has guided, and these are the ones who possess intelligence.” –Qur’an 39: 18

So the ball fell in my court. I could either take the verse at face value, or actually read around it, get some background and context, and then decided whether or not to drop my friends.

What is Surah 5: 51 actually talking about?

This surah was written during the Medinan Period, when Muhammad himself transitioned from solely a messenger of God to a statesman. He was in charge of a multi-faith community held together by a constitution of mutual assistance regardless of tribal or religious affiliation. The trouble here, is that some of the Christians and Jews in this new confederation slighted the Muslims for their faith.

“O you who acknowledge, do not take as allies those who have taken your system as fun and games from among those who have been given the book before you and the ingrates. Be aware of God if you are those who acknowledge.” Qur’an 5: 57

So we have the direction in verse 51 and only a few verses later, we get the reason: Because they (the group of Christians and Jews) made sport of Islam. I don’t need divine revelation to avoid folks who tease me for my beliefs.

We get a better feeling of the over-all attitude toward these two groups in other verses as well, because as the following verse states, there are bad apples in every group.

“They are not all the same, from the people of the book are an upright nation; they recite God’s signs during parts of the night and they prostrate.” Qur’an 3: 113

See what a little bit of digging can do? Of course there are other controversial verses in the Qur’an regarding members of different faith groups, however I believe it’s safe to say that these prohibitions address the exceptions and not the rule.

I know there are Christians, Jews, and even Muslims who disagree with me on this, but that’s fine. Talking these issues out reveals truth and disarms animosity. Lay them out plainly. Debate, share, discuss. We can be friends if we only have the maturity to sheath our weapons of judgment and prejudice.

Inshallah, it looks like I can still jog with my Latter-day Saints friends and hang out with my wife.