Is it permissible to cooperate with the Christians in any field?
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The questioner:
The questioner: I read in one of the Islamic magazines a statement by one of the shaykhs in which he said, "I call for us to cooperate with the Christians with whom we agree on the word 'La ilaha illa Allah,' so that we stand together with them against the promoters of vice from other religions." What is Your Eminence's guidance regarding this statement?
The Shaykh:
No, this is a mistake. It is not permissible to cooperate with them in this manner. The obligatory duty is to call to the truth and to forbid the falsehood that the Christians and others are upon. As for cooperating with them in a way that may lead to their loyalty, love, and companionship, that is not allowed. However, calling to the truth: if they call to a truth, and you find that they are calling to a truth, then one calls to the truth because it is truth, not because the Christians called to it, and not because the Jews called to it. The truth is more deserving of being supported and followed. So one does not accompany them, nor take them as close friends, just because they called to a truth to which the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger had already called before them. But we call to the truth, and if they agree to call to it, there is no harm. As for taking them as companions and brothers in this matter, no. But the truth to which they called, and the falsehood if they deny it, is falsehood with us, and we deny it. And it is truth with us, and we command it. We are commanded that it is truth with us. We know it is truth, so we command it. And we warn against the falsehood because it is falsehood. We know it is falsehood, not because they called to it or warned against it. So we do not take them as companions or helpers in this in a specific way. But the truth is right to be followed, the falsehood is denied, and the truth is called to, whether the Christians or others call to it. So if someone calls to a truth, there is no harm in calling to the truth, not because he called to it, but because it is commanded. And likewise, if someone warns against falsehood, not because he warned against it, but because it is obligatory to forbid it and warn against it. And this does not become a reason to make a Jew or a Christian a friend, a beloved, or a companion.
The presenter:
Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy.
The Shaykh:
Is that all? This is from the state, it does not need activation. Yes.
The questioner: I read in one of the Islamic magazines a statement by one of the shaykhs in which he said, "I call for us to cooperate with the Christians with whom we agree on the word 'La ilaha illa Allah,' so that we stand together with them against the promoters of vice from other religions." What is Your Eminence's guidance regarding this statement?
The Shaykh:
No, this is a mistake. It is not permissible to cooperate with them in this manner. The obligatory duty is to call to the truth and to forbid the falsehood that the Christians and others are upon. As for cooperating with them in a way that may lead to their loyalty, love, and companionship, that is not allowed. However, calling to the truth: if they call to a truth, and you find that they are calling to a truth, then one calls to the truth because it is truth, not because the Christians called to it, and not because the Jews called to it. The truth is more deserving of being supported and followed. So one does not accompany them, nor take them as close friends, just because they called to a truth to which the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger had already called before them. But we call to the truth, and if they agree to call to it, there is no harm. As for taking them as companions and brothers in this matter, no. But the truth to which they called, and the falsehood if they deny it, is falsehood with us, and we deny it. And it is truth with us, and we command it. We are commanded that it is truth with us. We know it is truth, so we command it. And we warn against the falsehood because it is falsehood. We know it is falsehood, not because they called to it or warned against it. So we do not take them as companions or helpers in this in a specific way. But the truth is right to be followed, the falsehood is denied, and the truth is called to, whether the Christians or others call to it. So if someone calls to a truth, there is no harm in calling to the truth, not because he called to it, but because it is commanded. And likewise, if someone warns against falsehood, not because he warned against it, but because it is obligatory to forbid it and warn against it. And this does not become a reason to make a Jew or a Christian a friend, a beloved, or a companion.
The presenter:
Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy.
The Shaykh:
Is that all? This is from the state, it does not need activation. Yes.
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ ابن باز Alsheikh Binbaz»، 92 هل يجوز التعاون مع النصارى في أي مجال؟ للإمام ابن باز — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.