Purity: Who Are the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitāb) and What Are the Limits of Social Relations with Them?

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Purity: Who Are the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitāb) and What Are the Limits of Social Relations with Them?

English:

Question #315:

What are the religions whose followers are considered the People of the Book? What is the criterion for defining the limits of social relations with them?

Answer #315:

By the People of the Book is meant all those who profess a divine religion and consider themselves the followers of one of the prophets of Allah, the Glorious and the Exalted (may peace be upon our Prophet and his progeny and upon them) and who possess a heavenly scripture from those revealed to the Prophets (a.), such as the Jews, the Christians, the Zoroastrians and similarly the Sabeans who, on the basis of our research, are among the People of the Book. Therefore, the rule of the People of the Book applies to the followers of these religions, and there is no objection to associating with them socially, while observing Islamic laws and morals.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Ruling of Intoxicants