The Prohibition of Being Loyal Friends with Disbelievers

This Ayah discourages and forbids taking the enemies of Islam and its people, such as the People of the Book and the polytheists, as friends. These disbelievers mock the most important acts that any person could ever perform, the honorable, pure acts of Islam which include all types of good for this life and the Hereafter. They mock such acts and make them the subject of jest and play, because this is what these acts represent in their misguided minds and cold hearts.

Allah said; {from those who received the Scriptures before you and (nor) the disbelievers...} This is to clarify the particular category (of disbelievers). As Allah said, {So shun the evil of the idols...} 22:30 So some recited it "Kuffari", making it an object of the preposition, and others recited it "Kuffara", making it a predicate noun; {Take not as friends those who take your religion for a mockery and fun from those who received the Scriptures before you...} with the meaning of "nor". {nor the disbelievers as friends} That is, do not take these people nor those people as friends. The meaning here of "Kuffar" [disbelievers] is idolators. Similarly, Ibn Jarir recorded that in the recitation of Ibn Mas'ud [in place of "Kuffar" he recited it: "and those who commit Shirk". [1]

Allah's statement, {And have Taqwa of Allah if you indeed are true believers.} means, fear Allah and do not take the enemies of you and your religion as friends, if you believe in Allah's Law and religion that these people mocked and jested about. Allah said in another Ayah, {Let not the believers take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers, and whoever does that, will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself, and to Allah is the final return.}

The Disbelievers Mock the Prayer and the Adhan

Allah said, {And when you proclaim the call for the Salah, they take it (but) as a mockery and fun;} When you proclaim the Adhan for the prayer, which is the best action there is, for those who have sound minds and good comprehension, {they take it...} also, {as a mockery and fun; that is because they are a people who understand not.} the acts of worship and Allah's Law. These are the characteristics of the followers of Shaytan who, 'When the call for prayer is made, Shaytan takes to his heels passing wind so that he may not hear the Adhan. When the call is finished he comes back, and when the Iqamah is pronounced, Shaytan again takes to his heels. When the Iqamah is finished he comes back again and tries to interfere with the person and his thoughts and to say, 'Remember this and that,' which he has not thought of before the prayer, until the praying person forgets how much he has prayed. If anyone of you does not remember, then he should perform two prostrations before pronouncing the Salam.'

[1] At-Tabari 10:430.