What is the ruling on seeking the assistance of a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah)? And how do we reconcile the prohibition of seeking the assistance of a mushrik with the story of the Prophet (peace be upon him) seeking the assistance of “Abdullah ibn Urayqit” during the Hijrah?

The questioner : What is the ruling on seeking the assistance of a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah)? And how do we reconcile the prohibition of seeking the assistance of a mushrik with the story of the Prophet (peace be upon him) seeking the assistance of “Abdullah ibn Urayqit” during the Hijrah?

The Shaykh : The question is absolute, and in my opinion it is restricted. The question is about absolute seeking of assistance, whereas I think thatThe questioner : the questioner intends seeking the assistance of mushrikin (those who associate partners with Allah) in wars through jihad. If that is the intent, then the answer regarding the general rule is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which is established in Sahih Muslim, when a man from among the mushrikin came to him wanting to fight with him, and he said to him (peace and blessings be upon him): . This is the original rule. So if it is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) sought the assistance of some individuals from among the mushrikin in some battles or some wars, then this is an exception to the rule. But we adhere to the rule, and we are not like the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who could make exceptions through his ijtihad (independent legal reasoning), such that if an error were to occur in it, revelation would descend to clarify the correct ruling. Therefore, we do not seek the assistance of a mushrik in jihad. As for absolute seeking of assistance, as mentioned in the question, ifThe questioner : or The questioner : e meant that; I do not see in the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) anything that prevents that, if he is seeking their assistance in a matter in which the least that can be said is that it is permissible.