Residing with non-Muslim family members in order to call them to Islam
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The first question of Fatwa number ( 14368 )
Q1: I have polytheist relatives, except for a Muslim sister of mine. Is it permissible for me to reside and eat and drink with them? And if it is permissible, even though that is not at the expense of my religion, is it permissible for me to state to them explicitly that they are disbelievers who have gone outside the religion of Allah? Even though I have called them to the truth, they are hesitating, neither with these nor with those, but they are closer to shirk (associating partners with Allah), while I find no residence except with them.
A1: It is obligatory for you to continue advising them, reminding them, and accompanying them with kindness and gentle speech. If you have wealth, spend on them; perhaps Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) will open their hearts and illuminate their insight. Allah the Exalted said:[Luqman 31:15] And seek out
various means to convey the truth to them through messages, books, and tapes. Explain to them that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) began calling the people in Makkah to the oneness of Allah, and this was before prayer, zakah, Hajj, and fasting were made obligatory upon him. The people of Makkah knew Allah and called upon Him in times of hardship, and they acknowledged that He is the One who created the heavens and the earth. However, they used to take intermediaries between themselves and Allah in supplication and worship from among the righteous people who used to feed the pilgrims and do good deeds. But when they were in times of ease, when those righteous people died, they raised their graves and called upon them to intercede for them with Allah. Some of them made an image of some of the righteous people and called upon it besides Allah. Then time passed for them, and they took various types of trees, stones, and idols as gods besides Allah, and they drew near to them with all types of worship, including supplication, hope, slaughter, and vows. His (peace and blessings be upon him) call was entirely to abolish all these acts of worship and direct them all to Allah alone, and to inform the people that Allah is One, Unique, Hearing, Near, and Responsive. He is not pleased that anyone else be called upon with Him, nor that any intermediary be taken to Him. Rather, He said to His servants in His Noble Book:[Ghafir 40:60] And Allah the Exalted said to His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him): [Al-Baqarah 2:186]
This was after the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) understood the religion of Islam, and that it does not require intermediaries in the worship of Allah. They loved to ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) how they should ask Allah, and they said: "Is He far away so that we call out to Him, or is He near so that we speak to Him in confidence?" So Allah revealed this verse to let them know that He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is Near, knowing their secrets and their confidential conversations, and what is even more hidden than that. And that He responds to the supplication of the one who calls upon Him, especially if he is among those who respond to the commands of Allah and avoid His prohibitions. We ask Allah to guide the misguided of the Muslims and to keep steadfast those who obey Him. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q1: I have polytheist relatives, except for a Muslim sister of mine. Is it permissible for me to reside and eat and drink with them? And if it is permissible, even though that is not at the expense of my religion, is it permissible for me to state to them explicitly that they are disbelievers who have gone outside the religion of Allah? Even though I have called them to the truth, they are hesitating, neither with these nor with those, but they are closer to shirk (associating partners with Allah), while I find no residence except with them.
A1: It is obligatory for you to continue advising them, reminding them, and accompanying them with kindness and gentle speech. If you have wealth, spend on them; perhaps Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) will open their hearts and illuminate their insight. Allah the Exalted said:
But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me
وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَى أَنْ تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلا تُطِعْهُمَا وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّvarious means to convey the truth to them through messages, books, and tapes. Explain to them that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) began calling the people in Makkah to the oneness of Allah, and this was before prayer, zakah, Hajj, and fasting were made obligatory upon him. The people of Makkah knew Allah and called upon Him in times of hardship, and they acknowledged that He is the One who created the heavens and the earth. However, they used to take intermediaries between themselves and Allah in supplication and worship from among the righteous people who used to feed the pilgrims and do good deeds. But when they were in times of ease, when those righteous people died, they raised their graves and called upon them to intercede for them with Allah. Some of them made an image of some of the righteous people and called upon it besides Allah. Then time passed for them, and they took various types of trees, stones, and idols as gods besides Allah, and they drew near to them with all types of worship, including supplication, hope, slaughter, and vows. His (peace and blessings be upon him) call was entirely to abolish all these acts of worship and direct them all to Allah alone, and to inform the people that Allah is One, Unique, Hearing, Near, and Responsive. He is not pleased that anyone else be called upon with Him, nor that any intermediary be taken to Him. Rather, He said to His servants in His Noble Book:
And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَAnd when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَThis was after the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) understood the religion of Islam, and that it does not require intermediaries in the worship of Allah. They loved to ask the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) how they should ask Allah, and they said: "Is He far away so that we call out to Him, or is He near so that we speak to Him in confidence?" So Allah revealed this verse to let them know that He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is Near, knowing their secrets and their confidential conversations, and what is even more hidden than that. And that He responds to the supplication of the one who calls upon Him, especially if he is among those who respond to the commands of Allah and avoid His prohibitions. We ask Allah to guide the misguided of the Muslims and to keep steadfast those who obey Him. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.