Allah Does Not Forbid You from Those Who Did Not Fight You — Limits of Alliance
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Level: intermediate
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لَا يَنۡهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يُقَٰتِلُوكُمۡ فِي ٱلدِّينِ
— الممتحنة 8
Occasion (Sahih): Asma' bint Abi Bakr wanted to maintain ties with her polytheist mother. She asked the Prophet ﷺ for permission; he said: "Yes, maintain ties with your mother." So was revealed: "Allah does not forbid you from those who did not fight you." (60:8)
Lesson: Kindness and maintaining family ties with non-Muslim relatives is not a religious concession — it is itself religion and goodness. Only the one at war has ties severed.
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari (2620); Al-Suyuti; Al-Wahidi
Question: What was the occasion for "Allah does not forbid you from those who did not fight you"?
Answer: Asma' bint Abi Bakr asked the Prophet's permission to maintain ties with her polytheist mother — he permitted her and the verse established the legitimacy of kindness to non-fighting relatives.