Taking Friends Of Disbeliever !
Link is working for me but I’ll copy the translation and commentary below: [This is the decision of God and shall soon be declared for the People of the Book; so,] let not the believers now make friends with these disbelievers leaving aside the Muslims [799] and [they should remember that] those who will do this shall have no relation with God except if you protect yourself from them the way it can be done best. [800] God frightens you of Himself and does so that [one day] you have to return to God alone. [801] ——————————————————————————————— [799] This is an admonition sounded to Muslims who were not fully focused in understanding the requirements of their faith and at this stage also when the Almighty was about to decide the fate of the Jews and Christians were not only inclined towards them but would also became a pawn in their hands against Islam and other Muslims. The condition of مِنْ دُوْنِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ (leaving aside the Muslims) has been imposed so that if this friendship is not against the interest of Islam and the Muslims, then it was not prohibited even at that time. [800 ] The actual words are: اِلَّا٘ اَنْ تَتَّقُوْا مِنْهُمْ تُقٰىةً. This sentence is an exception to the sentence فَلَيۡسَ مِنَ اللّٰهِ فِيۡ شَيۡءٍ. The word تُقٰىةً is an object of emphasis (maf‘ūl muṭlaq) in the very way it is in verse 102 of this sūrah: اِتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ حَقَّ تُقٰتِةٖ. [801] This is a warning to the weak and hypocritical Muslims who have been mentioned earlier. Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes: … [In it] is a special aspect of admonition to the Hypocrites. They should not ignore other attributes of God whilst being deceived from His nobility. If He forgives conspiracies, forgoes intrigues and does not take notice of rumour, then this does not mean that He does not consider these as crimes or that He cannot seize them for these offences; the only reason for this is that He gives utmost respite to people. However, this respite is in fact a respite which has to end one day. After this, His justice will manifest itself and this justice is also an aspect of His being. If it has not manifested itself as yet, no one should have the misconception that it will never do so. Decisions of God have their own time and may seem delayed but they are never cancelled. When this aspect of His being will manifest itself everyone will come to know that no one is more powerful, more just and a better organizer of affairs than Him. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 2, 68)