Is loyalty to disbelievers and loving them absolutely disbelief?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. Does loyalty to disbelievers and loving them necessarily entail disbelief, or is there a distinction in this?
The Shaykh : No, there is a distinction. The loyalty that entails disbelief is supporting them against the Muslims; there is no doubt that this is disbelief. As for loving them for a deed they performed, this is not considered loyalty or affection. For example, if they did something that benefits us and we loved them for that deed—meaning for the act itself, not for their persons, their religions, or what they are upon—then there is no harm. This is because souls are naturally inclined to love those who do good to them.
The questioner : Loving, for example, players.
The Shaykh : No, there is a distinction. The loyalty that entails disbelief is supporting them against the Muslims; there is no doubt that this is disbelief. As for loving them for a deed they performed, this is not considered loyalty or affection. For example, if they did something that benefits us and we loved them for that deed—meaning for the act itself, not for their persons, their religions, or what they are upon—then there is no harm. This is because souls are naturally inclined to love those who do good to them.
The questioner : Loving, for example, players.