Q: I had an argument with a friend of mine regarding some of his Islamic views and now he has decided to cut all links with me because I do not agree with some of his views and beliefs. His first view was of the coca cola company which he says is funding the Israel state which is the biggest enemy of Islam. Being cautious of myself I asked him to prove it and he didn’t give out anything saying it was owned by Israel or was started by a Jew and he asked me to consume pepsi products if at all I can’t do without coke. We researched this with him and both are American owned firms and not Israeli as he said earlier. Secondly we disagreed on our views about a group of people by the name Alshabab who recently carried out an attack in Kenya and they claim to be using Islamic laws and anyone who disagrees with them is not a Muslim and is put to the sword. He supports them and I am against them by all means because they misuse Islam for their own personal gains. You can all search about them to see what type of people they are if you don’t belive me. Now my friend says “I loved you for the sake of Allah but your religious stands on Muslims and Islamic affairs are worth hating and the prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said the one who hates his friends for the sake of Allah will be under the shade of the lord. Today you lost my love untill you change your views on Islam. I may not even greet you when I see you in the street and we should stay away from one another”. There is a lot in what he said but I can’t say it all here. My question is did I do any wrong by merely disagreeing with his opinions and is the step he is taking towards his views and also me right Islamicaly? What is the next step for me?
A: The media is so misleading that we cannot say for a single moment that all their reports are correct and objective. Many a times it is selective news and subjective. Hence, to make decisions based on what the media has to say is very much misleading and irresponsible. You may continue your relationship with him and you may tell him that you have corrected your views; all those matters that are condemned by deen I condemn them. And some are such that I do know and some are such that I do not know of and Deen wants me to be silent in matters that I am not totally certain of. Hence, I will remain silent and I will neither support nor will I condemn until I am absolutely certain and clear.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)