Question
What is the ruling on making friends with a Christian? Is it obligatory to desert him even though he is a loyal person?
Fatwa
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.
It is not permissible for a Muslim to give allegiance to a disbeliever, love him or befriend him, whether he is Jewish, Christian or anything else. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
• {O you who have believed, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies, extending to them affection while they have disbelieved in what came to you of the truth.} [Quran 60:1]
• {O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you -- then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.} [Quran 5:51]
There are many verses that support this fact. In a narration on the authority of Abu Moosaa Al-'Ash‘ari, may Allah be pleased with him, once ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, reproached him when he appointed a Christian scribe. He asked him how he could maintain close ties with them when Allah The Almighty has distanced them. He further asked him how he could honor them when Allah The Almighty has humiliated them. [Ahmad]
However, this is different from kindness, meaning doing good for peaceful disbelievers and being just to them. These are things that Allah The Almighty approves of. That is because kindness, justice and not being oppressive do not require one's love, friendship or brotherhood.
Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes -- from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.} [Quran 60:8]
Thus, it is not wrong to be kind to or act justly with a disbeliever as long as he fits such a description [of not fighting or expelling Muslims].
And Allah knows best.