By Christine Kearney

NEW YORK, May 16 (Reuters) - A Florida-based doctor accused of supporting al Qaeda befriended the wrong man and is being punished for his strong Islamic beliefs, his defense attorney said in closing arguments on Wednesday.

Rafiq Sabir, 52, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of federal charges of supporting al Qaeda by agreeing to provide medical assistance to wounded al Qaeda fighters.

In a May 2005 meeting, Sabir was recorded by an undercover FBI agent pledging allegiance to the militant Islamic group along with his friend Tarik Shah, the central figure in the case who has pleaded guilty to terrorism charges.

Much of the trial evidence was found at Shah's home, not Sabir's, and Sabir should not be confused with Shah, a New York jazz musician and a "sick individual," Sabir's lawyer Edward Wilford told the jury in U.S. District Court.

"Being stupid, naive and foolish in your choice of friends does not make you guilty of a crime," said Wilford,

Sabir, who testified he thought the oath he took was a declaration to Islam and not al Qaeda, only agreed to help treat his "brothers" out of his obligation as a doctor to treat all people, Wilford said.

The oath reflected a "pious desire to be the best Muslim he could be," his lawyer said.

Days of questioning by the prosecution about Sabir's Islamic beliefs and whether he supported Palestinians and fundamentalist Muslims around the world were irrelevant, Wilford said.

"He is not on trial for what is going on in Palestine," he said.

Questions about Sabir's poor finances and family disputes -- including an incident when he handcuffed his daughter to a radiator -- also were unfair, said Wilford.

"So what? Does that make him an al Qaeda operative? Does that make him someone that is going to march to (Osama) bin Laden's beat?" the attorney asked.

Jury deliberations were expected to begin on Wednesday.

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