Sura 3, al-Imran, Medina 89

3: 28

Transliteration La_ yattakhizil mu'minu_nal ka_firina aulaya_'a min du_nil mu'minin(a), wa may yaf'al za_lika fa laisa minalla_hi fi syai'in illa_ an tattaqu_ minhum tuqa_h(tan), wa yuhazzirukumulla_hu nafsah(u_), wa illalla_hil masir(u).

Asad But God warns you to beware of Him (God or the deniers of truth ?): for with God is all journey’s end.

Yusuf Ali Let not the believers take for friends or helpers unbelievers rather than believers; if any do that in nothing will there be help from Allah; except by way of precaution that ye may guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (to remember) Himself for the final goal is to Allah.

Pickthall Let not the believers take disbelievers for their friends in preference to believers. Whoso doeth that hath no connection with Allah unless (it be) that ye but guard yourselves against them, taking (as it were) security. Allah biddeth you beware (only) of Himself. Unto Allah is the journeying.

[ The concepts of ‘believing’ and ‘non-believing’ here are general and do not pertains to any brand of faith. Islam expounds the definition of ‘goodness’ rests on believing in the Supreme Presence, denial of that constitutes falsehood that cannot be good and no good can come out of it ultimately. The entire reality is the testament of the Supreme Being, the denial can happen only due to arrogance, ignorance, deliberate negligence or avoidance of using reason [aql] and conscience [furqan] God has given us the ability to sense the Truth and discern right from wrong, or succumb to addictions of life. These all are falsehood and cannot be good.

Since our ultimate goal of life is to God, our Creator and Sustainer, all our activities in this life should be centered around that idea, including the keeping the relations and friendships. THat is why the believers in Prophet’s time fought against their fathers, brothers and family for the cause of God. Our highest alliance and commitment is with God. ]

[ Ali’s notes - 373 If Faith is a fundamental matter in our lives our associations and friendships will naturally be with those who share our Faith. "Evil communications corrupt good manners": and evil company may corrupt Faith. In our ordinary every-day affairs of business, we are asked to seek the help of Believers rather than Unbelievers. Only in this way can our community be strong in organisation and unity. But where there is no question of preference, or where in self-defence we have to take the assistance of those not belonging to our Faith, that is permissible. In any case we must not weaken our Brotherhood: we must try to make it stronger if possible. (3.28) ]