The Ruling on Dealing with the People of Misguided Sects and Sitting with Them
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The Shaykh:
Well, perhaps, if Allah wills, on Friday we will discuss the creed that leads to the path of guidance, if Allah wills. So, starting next week, it will be the day of creed.
The questioner:
And in the land of the Shaykhs, there are some among us in our workplace who are from the people of this country who hold false and agreed-upon [doctrines]. We are seeking a way to deal with them. They greet us and pray with the congregation if they are with us as needed. We are in the presence of the teacher, and we say, "Peace be upon you." If they are close to him, they say that they should be treated like the hypocrites because they claim Islam and give sermons. They remove the apparent greeting that does not accept selection, and some see that they have become such that they do not return the greeting to them, nor do they greet them in the restaurant. So, you should seek clarification from us.
The Shaykh:
As for the greeting, they should not initiate the greeting, but if they greet, he should return it. As for mixing with them in the restaurant.
If the mixing involves affection, love, and relaxation, that is not permissible. But if the mixing is such that each person is attending to his own need and taking what he needs from the restaurant, without any familiarity or joking with them, then there is no harm in it. And if you sit separately and they sit separately, that is better. Sit with your brothers and let them sit separately; that is better. Yes, the important thing is that you do not relax with them, do not take them as friends, do not take them as companions. Yes, but merely sitting in the restaurant while they are sitting in it, hating them and not relaxing with them, there is no obstacle to that. And if they pray with you, let them pray with you. Do you drive them away from the prayer?
The presenter:
Abu 'Abdullah.
Well, perhaps, if Allah wills, on Friday we will discuss the creed that leads to the path of guidance, if Allah wills. So, starting next week, it will be the day of creed.
The questioner:
And in the land of the Shaykhs, there are some among us in our workplace who are from the people of this country who hold false and agreed-upon [doctrines]. We are seeking a way to deal with them. They greet us and pray with the congregation if they are with us as needed. We are in the presence of the teacher, and we say, "Peace be upon you." If they are close to him, they say that they should be treated like the hypocrites because they claim Islam and give sermons. They remove the apparent greeting that does not accept selection, and some see that they have become such that they do not return the greeting to them, nor do they greet them in the restaurant. So, you should seek clarification from us.
The Shaykh:
As for the greeting, they should not initiate the greeting, but if they greet, he should return it. As for mixing with them in the restaurant.
If the mixing involves affection, love, and relaxation, that is not permissible. But if the mixing is such that each person is attending to his own need and taking what he needs from the restaurant, without any familiarity or joking with them, then there is no harm in it. And if you sit separately and they sit separately, that is better. Sit with your brothers and let them sit separately; that is better. Yes, the important thing is that you do not relax with them, do not take them as friends, do not take them as companions. Yes, but merely sitting in the restaurant while they are sitting in it, hating them and not relaxing with them, there is no obstacle to that. And if they pray with you, let them pray with you. Do you drive them away from the prayer?
The presenter:
Abu 'Abdullah.
Source
شرح العقيدة الطحاوية [14] — alfawzan.live (1:12:57)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.