Is it permissible for a Muslim to be a partner with a non-Muslim in trade, agriculture, or other forms of partnership?
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The questioner : The second question asks: Is it permissible for a Muslim to be a partner with a non-Muslim in trade, agriculture, or other forms of partnership?
The Shaykh : It is not advisable to partner with a non-Muslim, because one does not trust him. Even if one trusts him in terms of honesty, one does not trust him in terms of work. He may engage in transactions that are forbidden in Islam, and he may not know this, or he may know it but say that he is not bound by it. Furthermore, partnering with a non-Muslim leads, by custom, to inclining toward him, loving him, and becoming accustomed to him. All of this diminishes a person’s religion. Therefore, a person should not partner with a non-Muslim in his trade.
As for prohibition, it is not forbidden, because it does not pertain to a matter of religion, provided that one does not incline toward him, love him, or have affection for him. Yes.
The questioner : And regarding agriculture?
The Shaykh : As for agriculture, if he partners with him as a worker, there is nothing wrong with it. It is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) hired the people of Khaybar to work their land, giving them half of what came out of it in terms of fruit or crops, and they were disbelievers.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So if he gave him land to plant or cultivate or the like, in exchange for a portion of what comes out of it, there is nothing wrong with it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
This message is from a listener from northern Yemen, S Q 'A.
The Shaykh : It is not advisable to partner with a non-Muslim, because one does not trust him. Even if one trusts him in terms of honesty, one does not trust him in terms of work. He may engage in transactions that are forbidden in Islam, and he may not know this, or he may know it but say that he is not bound by it. Furthermore, partnering with a non-Muslim leads, by custom, to inclining toward him, loving him, and becoming accustomed to him. All of this diminishes a person’s religion. Therefore, a person should not partner with a non-Muslim in his trade.
As for prohibition, it is not forbidden, because it does not pertain to a matter of religion, provided that one does not incline toward him, love him, or have affection for him. Yes.
The questioner : And regarding agriculture?
The Shaykh : As for agriculture, if he partners with him as a worker, there is nothing wrong with it. It is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) hired the people of Khaybar to work their land, giving them half of what came out of it in terms of fruit or crops, and they were disbelievers.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So if he gave him land to plant or cultivate or the like, in exchange for a portion of what comes out of it, there is nothing wrong with it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
This message is from a listener from northern Yemen, S Q 'A.