Does one who prefers a disbeliever worker over a Muslim worker fall under the category of showing loyalty to disbelievers?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: If one prefers a disbeliever worker over a Muslim worker because the disbeliever works with sincerity, does this fall under showing loyalty to disbelievers?

Answer:
Yes, he has a share of that if he says that the disbeliever is better than the Muslim in that the disbeliever works with sincerity and the Muslim is lacking. This is disparaging the Muslim and praising the disbeliever, and this is not permissible. We do not say that he becomes a disbeliever, but we say that this action is not permissible. The believer has good in him no matter what, and the disbeliever is evil, even if he is an enemy of Allah; he is an enemy of Allah. So do not praise him, and do not hold him in higher esteem than the Muslim. And if one of the Muslims is not working and is lazy, remove him and bring one who works. Do not bring a disbeliever; bring a Muslim from among the strong and the sincere. And the Muslims have good in them, praise be to Allah. Yes, they have sincere people among them. Yes.