A Comparative Analysis of the Quranic Verses Prohibiting Friendship with Infidels in Commentator's View

Several verses in the holy Quran discuss about "association and interaction with non-Muslims." Most of these verses are in chapters 9 and 60 (Momtahenah, The Examined ones; Tawbah, Repentance, respectively), and few others are in chapters 3, 4, 5, and 58 (Ale-Imran, The Family of Imran; Nisa, The women; Maedah, The food; and Mojadilah, The Pleading one, respectively). These verses apparently indicate "the prohibition of interaction and association with non-Muslims", but the questions are what is meant by the "prohibition" and which group of infidels are prohibited from being associated and interacted, which necessitates a more exact and careful analysis of the verses to be answered. Using a descriptive method to describe issues and evidence, and content analysis method, the present paper studies the issue. The findings indicate that "prohibited association" mentioned in these verses means prohibition of establishing any mutual association and relation with non-Muslims based on love, assistance and acceptance of their authority and guardianship, which does not prohibit being good and doing justice towards relative infidels and those infidels who do not fight against Muslims. Furthermore, peaceful relationships such as doing business, political interactions, participating in contracts and treaties are not included in prohibited association, on the condition that they are not against Muslim's interests and Islamic esteem.