Bast al-Qawl wal-Ishab fi Bayan Hukm Mawaddat al-Mumin lil-Kafir
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- Bast al-Qawl wal-Ishab fi Bayan Hukm Mawaddat al-Mumin lil-Kafir
Bast al-Qawl wal-Ishab fi Bayan Hukm Mawaddat al-Mumin lil-Kafir (Arabic: بسط القول والإسهاب في بيان حكم مودة المؤمن للكافر, lit. 'Expounding and Elaborating on the Ruling of a Believer's Affection for a Disbeliever') is a treatise by Abu Faysal al-Badrani addressing the theological and legal rulings regarding a Muslim's affection toward non-Muslims .
Background and Purpose
The treatise was originally compiled by the author as a personal summary rather than a work intended for public distribution . As the compiled material expanded, he chose to publish it for broader benefit, apologizing in the preface for the lack of precise academic citations on account of its initial drafting notes . Al-Badrani later cross-referenced the treatise in his related study on loyalty and disavowal (al-Wala' wal-Bara'), referring readers to it for a detailed treatment of the topic .
Key Themes and Structure
The work examines the nuances of affection (mawaddah and mahabbah) and outward interactions between Muslims and non-Muslims, distinguishing between religious and natural love, and categorizing non-Muslims according to their legal status in Islamic jurisprudence .
Classification of Love and Non-Muslims
Al-Badrani outlines that love arises from different causes, such as religion, character, kinship, beauty, or marital relations . If motivated by faith, it constitutes religious affection (mahabbah diniyyah); if motivated by other factors, it is worldly or natural (mahabbah dunyawiyyah or jibilliyyah) . Non-Muslims are divided into combatants (muharib)—whether fighting by arms, speech, or writing—and non-combatants, including treaty partners (mu'ahid), those granted safe passage (musta'min), and protected residents (dhimmi) .
Points of Consensus and Contention
The treatise delineates areas of agreement among verifying scholars (al-muhaqqiqun), including:
- The absolute prohibition of religious love (al-mawaddah al-diniyyah) for any non-Muslim under any circumstance .
- The prohibition of loving non-Muslims collectively, even if for worldly reasons .
- The obligation to hate combatant disbelievers without concession for affection .
- The requirement of moderation in harboring hatred toward peaceful non-Muslims so that it does not lead to injustice or denial of their rights .
Scholars disagree, however, over whether innate, worldly affection (mahabbah tabi'iyyah) is permissible toward a peaceful non-Muslim, dividing into approximately three stances . One group holds that non-Muslims must be hated strictly for their disbelief, prohibiting even dispositional affection toward a peaceful non-Muslim or a non-Muslim wife . In contrast, natural dispositional affection toward a specific peaceful relative, spouse, or benefactor—where withholding affection is difficult—is treated as permissible provided it does not compromise hatred for their disbelief or transgress into religious validation .
Marriage to Women of the People of the Book
The author tackles the ostensible contradiction between Quranic verses that prohibit affection toward opponents of God and His Messenger and the legal permission to marry chaste women from the People of the Book (kitabiyyat), which inherently involves marital affection . He presents the positions of early authorities, including Ibn Abbas and certain classical jurists who argued against the permissibility of marrying Jewish or Christian women, and analyzes the textual arguments on both sides .
Outward Conduct and Reciprocal Affection
The work addresses outward interactions, maintaining that dealing with non-Muslims in ways suggesting affection is permissible toward those for whom natural love is allowed, or for diplomatic courtesy (mudarah) and proselytization (da'wah) . It also clarifies that a non-Muslim holding affection for a Muslim is legally permissible and brings no blame upon the Muslim, citing the historical affection of Abu Talib for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ .
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