"Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and messengers, to Gabriel and Michael,- Lo! Allah is an enemy to those who reject Faith." (al-Baqara, 2/98) How can Allah be an enemy to deniers though a mother cannot be an enemy to his son who is a murderer?

- When even a mother does not become hostile toward her child who has committed murder, but still shows compassion—how, then, could Allah show enmity toward those who disbelieve?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Verse 98 of the chapter of al-Baqara

"Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and messengers, to Gabriel and Michael,- Lo! Allah is an enemy to those who reject Faith."

If a mother acts based on the feeling of compassion only and forgives his son who is a murderer, it will be mercilessness toward wronged people. However, Allah is both compassionate and just toward His slaves. Allah is absolutely just; therefore, He punishes his slaves when it is necessary.  

A mother’s forgiving a murderer with the feeling of compassion means violating the rights of billions of people. For, somebody who kills an innocent person is as if he has killed the whole people. 

What is meant by "being an enemy" is not holding a grudge – as it is the case among people. It means to promise to punish them for their hostile deeds.

A slave’s enmity to Allah means his rebellion against Him, keeping away from obedience to Him and being an enemy to those whom He loves. (Imam Qurtubi, al-Jamiu li-Ahkamil-Qur’an, Buruç Publications: 2/227)

When the denying unbelievers mentioned in the verse become enemies to Allah, His angels and Prophet, they violate the rights of all humanity and creatures. 

The verse threatens them in the way that they deserve. According to the rule "al-jazau min jinsil amal"; that is, "the punishment is to be from the kind of deed”, the denying believers deserve such a threat.

Questions on Islam