The Ruling on the Residence of Jews and Christians in the Arabian Peninsula

Question:
Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, what is the ruling on the residence of Jews and Christians in the Arabian Peninsula? And is there a difference between their residence for work or for settlement?

Answer:
The Arabian Peninsula has a specific status. The dhimmi contract and their residence in Muslim lands outside the Arabian Peninsula, such as Egypt, Sham, and Iraq, is permissible. However, regarding their residence in the Arabian Peninsula, if the Muslims have power and capability, it is obligatory for them to expel them from it. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered their expulsion at the end of his life (peace and blessings be upon him); upon his death, he instructed that the Jews and Christians be expelled from the Arabian Peninsula. He said: 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) implemented this during his caliphate by expelling them from the Arabian Peninsula. They are not from the Arabian Peninsula, so they are not to be left to settle there, take ownership, build houses, or buy land; they are not to be enabled to do this, because it is obligatory to expel them. However, if they come for a purpose other than settlement, such as coming for work or on a mission delegated by their countries, or if we brought them in to perform a task and then they return, there is no harm in that, because this is not settlement. Yes.