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Is It Permissible To Have Non-Muslim Friends?

Answered as per Shafi'i Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org
Question: Is having non-Muslim friends or cousins halal? If so then can we invite them to Islam?
Answer:Thank you for your question. It is perfectly permissible and natural to have non-Muslim friends or family members. This may occur through marriage, study, or work.

One should always invite non-Muslims to Islam but with tact and wisdom. Once should appeal to them through means and viewpoints that they understand and always do it delicately and gradually, never judgmentally or angrily.

The only thing one should be precautious about is spending so much time with non-Muslims that one forgets one’s own religious obligations and weakens one’s own faith (iman) and taqwa. As such, I recommend that one’s main circle of friends be Muslim to strengthen one’s resolve and spiritual goals.

Please see these links for more details on this topic: https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/is-it-haram-to-befriend-non-muslims/
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/how-we-should-treat-our-non-muslim-friends-in-regards-to-sin/
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/friendship-with-non-muslims-explaining-verse-551/

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.

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