The following verse is regularly used by Christians and Jews to show Islam's supposed intolerance towards them. The tragic thing for the missionaries and critics is, that's where it all ends. They cunningly keep locked away the multitude of verses which detail exactly how to behave around the Jews and Christians - to be tolerant. Even so, the hypocrites have the tenacity to turn around and claim that it is the Muslims who show the odd verse or two to make Islam look tolerant, when they themselves have only the odd verse to support their wild claims!

O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust. (Quran 5:51)

In light of the previous articles, if anywhere within the revelation Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) was given; there is an instruction to not take (certain) Christians and Jews as friends it was more than probably for a very wise purpose. It is a fact during The Prophets time Christian and Jewish missionaries regularly betrayed him or had damage inflicted upon him by acting as spy’s. The above verse is very specific and is not a command for every Muslim to keep away from Christians and Jews. To understand the issue of befriending the Jews and Christians, we have to study all the concerned verses together in light of the whole Quran.

Now, let's look at some other verses about befriending the Jews and the  Christians, or anyone not Muslim for that matter. These two verses are regulating relations with any people, regardless of faith:

God forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for God loveth those who are just. (Quran 60:8)

God only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these circumstances), that do wrong. (Quran 60:9)

O ye who believe! take not for friends and protectors those who take your religion for a mockery or sport,- whether among those who received the Scripture before you, or among those who reject Faith; but fear ye God, if ye have faith (indeed). (Quran 5:57)

5:57 makes it clear again, who are not to be taken as friends.

Of the people of Moses there is a section who guide and do justice in the light of truth. (Quran 7:159)

Let the people of the Gospel judge by what God hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what God hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel. (Quran 5:47)

Not all of them are alike: Of the People of the Book are a portion that stand (For the right): They rehearse the Signs of God all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration. They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous. (Quran 3:113-114)

And there are, certainly, among the People of the Book (Jews and Christians), those who believe in God, in the revelation to you, and in the revelation to them, bowing in humility to God: They will not sell the Signs of God for a miserable gain! For them is a reward with their Lord, and God is swift in account. (Quran 3:199)

Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians": because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant. (Quran 5:82)

Those unto whom We gave the Scripture before it, they believe in it (Quran 28:52)

And when it is recited unto them, they say: We believe in it. Lo! it is the Truth from our Lord. Lo! even before it we were of those who surrender (unto Him). (Quran 28:53)

These will be given their reward twice over, because they are steadfast and repel evil with good, and spend of that wherewith We have provided them. (Quran 28:54)

God teaches us throughout the Quran that there are righteous Jews and Christians. So, if we think we are righteous, and they are righteous, what could possibly be the problem between us, or obstacle for us to be friends?

"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the East and the West; but righteous is he who believes in God and the Last Day and the angels and the Scripture and the Prophets;

..and gives his wealth, for love of Him, to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask, and to set slaves free; and observes proper worship and pays the poor due.

..And those who keep their treaty when they make one, and the patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress. Such are they who are sincere. Such are the God fearing." (Quran 2:177)
 

The following verse proves for once and for all the side by side method of living and tolerance God has asked Muslims to adopt around the Jews and Christians: (People of the book are the Jews and Christians).

This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time,- when ye give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues if any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good). (Quran 5:5)

The above verse permits interfaith marriages (between Muslim men and Jewish and Christian women) and the sharing of food* amongst Muslims, Jews and Christians, as long as it is slaughtered in the method that was revealed to them (inflicting minimal stress to the animal). Battery farms and electrocution chambers are wholly unholy!

*All food except for the flesh of swine is permitted for Muslims. The Jews and Christians are also forbidden from eating pork. Here is a quote from the Old Testament to that effect:

"And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase." Deuteronomy 14:8

Many Christians believe that this verse was directed only at the Jews. But Jesus himself says during the Sermon on the Mount; "Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." Some Christians say that, after a vision by St. Peter, God cleansed all animals and made them fit and lawful for human consumption. If all animals are cleansed by Peter's supposed vision, this includes dogs, cats, vultures, and rats: but you just don't see people getting excited about a rat-meat sandwich like they do over barbecued pork or bacon! Others say that it was Paul who rescinded the law forbidding pork to humans, in order to appease the Romans, who enjoyed the taste of pig-meat. Many excuses have been given, but none are very sound. From the Muslim point of view this is just another example of the institutionalised hypocrisy and rebellion carried out by Christians against God.