The ruling on calling non-Muslims brothers
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
He says: What is your opinion of the one who calls non-Muslims our brothers? He says that there is a brotherhood called the brotherhood of clay, and for this reason, some who practice nursing are called brothers using an English word that some repeat without knowing its meaning, which is the word "sister."
The Shaykh:
It is not permissible to call a disbeliever "brother"; it is not permissible to call him "friend" either. The scholars have stated that the terms "friend," "brother," and "polytheist" are not to be used in this context; these words are not permissible. This is in the context of the verse:[Al-Ma'idah 5:55] This follows the statement of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Ma'idah 5:51] Part of loyalty (al-wala') is to say that he is your brother, or your beloved, or your friend, or something similar. This is not permissible. This is a form of loyalty, and it is not to be said except for Muslims and believers. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim: [Al-Hujurat 49:10] [Al-Hashr 59:10]. So your brother is the believer and the Muslim. As for the disbeliever, he is your enemy and not your brother, because he is an enemy of Allah. Allah, Exalted and Majestic is He, said: [Al-Mumtahanah 60:1] [Al-Mumtahanah 60:1]. Look at how we take them as allies? By showing them affection. You show them affection. Therefore, it is not permissible to show affection to a disbeliever or to address him with words of affection and intimacy. Yes.
The questioner:
Is there such a thing as the brotherhood of clay?
The Shaykh:
No, clay has no strength. Clay is just clay.
The questioner:
He says it is based on the creation of people.
The Shaykh:
No, it has no human strength or value at all. Rather, brotherhood is in faith and religion. As for the disbeliever, he is an enemy.
He says: What is your opinion of the one who calls non-Muslims our brothers? He says that there is a brotherhood called the brotherhood of clay, and for this reason, some who practice nursing are called brothers using an English word that some repeat without knowing its meaning, which is the word "sister."
The Shaykh:
It is not permissible to call a disbeliever "brother"; it is not permissible to call him "friend" either. The scholars have stated that the terms "friend," "brother," and "polytheist" are not to be used in this context; these words are not permissible. This is in the context of the verse:
Your ally is none but Allah and [therefore] His Messenger and those who
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَO you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ أَوْلِيَاءَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَThe believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْOur Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِO you who have believed, do not take My enemies
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّيand your enemies as allies, extending to them affection
وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ تُلْقُونَ إِلَيْهِم بِالْمَوَدَّةِThe questioner:
Is there such a thing as the brotherhood of clay?
The Shaykh:
No, clay has no strength. Clay is just clay.
The questioner:
He says it is based on the creation of people.
The Shaykh:
No, it has no human strength or value at all. Rather, brotherhood is in faith and religion. As for the disbeliever, he is an enemy.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، محاضرات في العقيدة والدعوة-084-مسائل النوازل|صالح الفوزان|كبار العلماء — youtube.com (1:08:27)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.