Do you clarify for us in detail what is meant by the Arabian Peninsula?

The questioner: I mean, once again, forgive me, because I am rambling and focusing on the topic.

The Shaykh: Go ahead.

The questioner: If these are the dhimmis, I mean these People of the Book, or shall we say: others, for example, from the mushrikin (those who associate partners with Allah) who are not People of the Book?

The Shaykh: I said: the mushrikin (those who associate partners with Allah) and the People of the Book.

The questioner: Yes, it is permissible for these people to reside in the Arabian Peninsula, on the condition that they are not... or that they pay the jizyah (tax on protected non-Muslims). They pay the jizyah, meaning they live within the Islamic system.

The Shaykh: It is not the Arabian Peninsula in its general sense.

The questioner: It is defined.

The Shaykh: Yes, the Arabian Peninsula.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh: There are two categories: what comes to mind from the term "Arabian Peninsula" is the Levant.

The questioner: The Levant.

The Shaykh: Iraq, but the intended meaning is not the geographical one. The peninsula mentioned in the hadith does not intend the geographical meaning. Do you understand?

The questioner: By Allah, I have no idea if they expand and enter the Levant from the Arabian Peninsula.

Another questioner: What is the intended meaning of the hadith?

The questioner: Your statement that the Levant and Iraq are part of the Arabian Peninsula is new geographical information for me.

The Shaykh: How is this Arabian Peninsula, why is it called a peninsula? Because it is surrounded by water: the White Sea, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Gulf.

The questioner: Correct.

The Shaykh: If this is new for you, what is the old understanding for you? What is the Arabian Peninsula?

The questioner: The Arabian Peninsula means Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, and Yemen. That is what I understand.

Another questioner: The peninsula.

The questioner: Are you a peninsula too?

The Shaykh: Okay, the important thing is...

Another questioner: My lord... we now need you to clarify the matter for us.

The Shaykh: Go ahead.

The questioner: What is the Sharia meaning of the Arabian Peninsula?

The Shaykh: That is it. I mentioned this and I avoided going into detail on this because I do not have a clear opinion on the matter.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh: But perhaps you remember with me, I mentioned to you Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, and Yemen.

The questioner: And Yemen, yes.

The Shaykh: Or else, some Iraqi lands were included in the name of the peninsula from which the Messenger (peace be upon him) ordered the Jews and Christians to be expelled. But I do not have a verification on this because the issue is a linguistic or customary disagreement, so I do not have a formed opinion on this. However, there is consensus that the Arabian Peninsula in the hadith, in its general sense, is not intended. The Arabian Peninsula in the general concept is not intended by the hadith, but rather some of its lands are intended. I cannot provide you with a comprehensive and exclusive definition of this "some." I cannot, and perhaps others cannot either, because the issue has been disputed since ancient times. But my previous statement distinguishes between the peninsula in the general sense and the peninsula in the specific Sharia sense. Is this division clear to you now?

The questioner : Yes, it is clear.

The Shaykh: This division, okay. So, in the peninsula in the general sense, Jews and Christians reside under the banner of Islam as dhimmis (protected non-Muslims).

The questioner: Like the rest of the Islamic lands.

The Shaykh: It is so. They pay the jizyah (tax on protected non-Muslims) from the hand while they are humbled. But the peninsula in the Sharia sense is an exception to this general ruling.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh: And we named for you Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, and Yemen. These lands! Yes.

The questioner: Are these names you mentioned explicitly stated in the texts?

The Shaykh: No, they are not explicitly stated, but they are agreed upon. It is not permissible for a dhimmi (protected non-Muslim) to settle in these lands.

The questioner : Good.

The Shaykh : Do you know?

The questioner: Perfect.

The Shaykh: As they settle in the rest of the lands. This is the difference I rambled about previously.

The questioner: Is it clear now?

The Shaykh: This is the meaning of the peninsula in the Sharia custom. The disbelievers can go and come. I gave you the example of Muslims who go to the lands of disbelief; it is not permissible for them to settle there, but they can trade, buy, and sell, and so on. On the exact opposite, disbelievers in the general sense are not allowed to settle in these lands which the Messenger (peace be upon him) called the peninsula. Settling is not permissible, but entering and exiting for trade is permissible, and this is in the interest of the Muslims.

The questioner: It seems I understood from our masterThe Shaykh: Ibn Baz has a fatwa that I read in one of the newspapers that he does not allow even the maids who enter, or the experts who come as experts.

The Shaykh: In these lands, of course?

The questioner : It is not permissible.

The Shaykh: Not the peninsula in its general sense, but the peninsula in the Sharia sense.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner: Mecca, Jeddah, and Medina.

The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.

The questioner: And Yemen.

The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.

The questioner: And the Gulf states, these are Oman and the Gulf states?

The Shaykh: This falls into the meaning we discussed, whether it is included or not.

The questioner : The general meaning.

The Shaykh: And I do not think it is included, and Allah knows best.