Friendship With Non-Muslims Including Atheists
Quran 43:67 quoted above is about scenario of the day of judgement, it does not apply to the life in this world. __ There is no absolute prohibition of having friendship with anyone now. The prohibition in Quran was about Kafirs of that time who were declared Kafirs by Allah. Quran clealy mentions that: “ Believers! Do not befriend My and your enemies. You extend ties of affection with them, whereas they have denied the truth that has come to you. They drive out the Messenger of God and you merely because you have professed faith in God, your Lord . If you set off to fight for My cause and to seek My pleasure, concealing sending messages of friendship to them even though I know what you conceal and what you reveal, then think what you do? And, in reality, whoever among you who do this have strayed from the straight path .” (Quran 60:1) AND “ God does not forbid you to do good and be just to those who have neither waged war against you in the matter of religion nor driven you out of your homes. Indeed, God likes the just . What God forbids you is to make friends with those who have fought against you on account of your religion and have driven you out of your homes and helped others in driving you out. [He forbids you from this and warns you that] those who make friends with such people, it is they who are the wrongdoers .” (Quran 60:8-9) For further details on Friendship with Non-muslims or Atheists , please refer to the following thread : Discussion 1378
Quran says Except for the righteous who fear God , not necessarily Muslim or a Non-Muslim . A Muslim can turn out to be non-righteous in this world while a non-muslim can turn out to be righteous in this world. This is something to be decided by God on the day of judgement. Yes, ties were ordered to be cut off from people who were active adversaries of the messenger and the muslims and who played a role in driving them out of their homeland because of their religion. Quranic verses I shared above are very clear in this regard. Please give them another read.