Surah Al-Mumtahana (60) — Ayah 8

(Ayah 8) {لَا يَنْهٰىكُمُ اللّٰهُ عَنِ الَّذِيْنَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوْكُمْ … :} In this verse and the following verse, Allah Almighty has divided the disbelievers into two groups. One group is the belligerent ones who harbored stubbornness and enmity against the Muslims, were active in causing them harm, expelling them from their homes, and fighting against them, or supported and aided such people. The second group is the peaceful ones who, though disbelievers, were tolerant, remained neutral, did not cause any harm to the Muslims, nor took part in any action against them. Among them were several tribes living around Makkah, such as Banu Khuza‘ah and Banu Harith, etc., who were allies of the Muslims or sympathized with the Muslims in opposition to the disbelievers of Quraysh. Even among the people of Makkah, there were many such individuals, especially most of the people of Banu Hashim and Banu Muttalib, whose sympathies were with the Muslims. Many of the women and children who were relatives of the Muhajirun and were still in Makkah, and had not yet become Muslims, but had affection and connection with them. The Muslims had a heartfelt desire to maintain relations with such people; Allah Almighty permitted this and said that Allah does not forbid you from being kind and just towards such people.
Asma bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that her mother came to her during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) (during the period of the peace treaty, hoping for good treatment), so she asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): “Should I treat her kindly?” He (peace be upon him) said: “Yes!” Ibn ‘Uyaynah said: “Allah Almighty revealed this verse regarding this: « لَا يَنْهٰىكُمُ اللّٰهُ عَنِ الَّذِيْنَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوْكُمْ فِي الدِّيْنِ» ‘Allah does not forbid you from those who did not fight you because of religion.’” [بخاري، الأدب، باب صلۃ الوالد المشرک : ۵۹۷۸ ] Similarly, once the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) a silk cloak, and he gave it to his polytheist brother who lived in Makkah. [ بخاري، الأدب، باب صلۃ الأخ المشرک : ۵۹۸۱ ]

8. 1 This guidance is being given regarding those disbelievers who do not harbor enmity and hatred towards Muslims merely because of the religion of Islam, and do not fight Muslims on this basis; this is the first condition.

8. 2 That is, they have not adopted such an attitude towards you that you are forced to migrate; this is the second condition. A third condition, which becomes clear from the next verse, is that they should not provide any kind of help to other disbelievers against the Muslims, whether through advice and counsel or through weapons and the like.

8. 3 That is, it is not forbidden to deal kindly and justly with such disbelievers, as Hazrat Asma bint Abi Bakr Siddiq ؓ asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about maintaining ties of kinship, i.e., good conduct, with her polytheist mother. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Silī ummaki." Sahih Muslim. Maintain ties of kinship with your mother.

8. 4 This encourages justice, even with disbelievers. In the hadith, the virtue of those who act justly is described as follows: "Indeed, the just will be with Allah on pulpits of light, to the right of the Most Merciful عز وجل, and both His hands are right, those who are just in their rulings, with their families, and in whatever they are given authority over." Sahih Muslim, Book of Leadership. Those who act justly will be on pulpits of light to the right of the Most Merciful, and both hands of the Most Merciful are right, those who are just in their decisions, with their families, and in whatever they are entrusted with.

8. Allah does not forbid you from those who did not fight you because of religion [18], nor drove you out of your homes, that you should deal kindly and justly with them. Surely, Allah loves those who act justly.

[18] The command to fight is only against those disbelievers who cause harm and are engaged in hostile activities. It is not against the general disbelievers; mere disbelief cannot be a cause for fighting: According to this verse, Allah Almighty has divided the disbelievers into two groups. One group consists of those who were hostile, caused harm to the Muslims, obstructed the path of Islam, and were actively involved in conspiracies against the Muslims. The second group consists of those who, though disbelievers, were tolerant and remained neutral. They neither caused any harm to the Muslims nor took part in any action against them. Both types of people lived in Makkah and its surroundings. Allah Almighty has stated separate rulings for both. The treatment of the first group has been mentioned from the beginning of the Surah. As for the second group of harmless disbelievers, the command is to show tolerance towards them. That is, you should not harbor enmity against them, you should observe the rights of kinship, and you should treat them well. Because justice demands that there should be a difference in the treatment of these two groups. From this, two important points become clear: first, that the basis of Muslims' enmity is not mere disbelief, but hostile activities against Islam. For this reason, Islam has forbidden, during war, the killing of children, the elderly, women, worshippers, ascetics, and those disbelievers who do not participate in war. Second, that Islam is a religion that loves truth, justice, and peace. It only confronts those who rise against it or become obstacles in its path.