Loyalty to the Disbelievers
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Question: What are the limits of loyalty to the enemies of Allah and those who oppose Him, such that if a Muslim reaches or exceeds them, he exits the religion? And what are the limits that a Muslim must adhere to in his dealings with non-Muslims?
Answer: The loyalty to disbelievers that Allah and His Messenger have forbidden is loving them in one’s hearts; for one does not love them unless he considers what they are upon to be correct. However, if he considers what they are upon to be invalid, then he opposes them for the sake of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
Also included in the forbidden loyalty is supporting them against Muslims and assisting them, and this is apostasy from Islam.
Likewise, included in their loyalty is excusing them, justifying what they are upon, praising them, and eulogizing them, and the like of that. All of this is among the types of forbidden loyalty that leads to apostasy from Islam, may Allah protect us from that.Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ma'idah: 51] .
As for what is permissible for us in dealing with disbelievers, it is permissible interaction. We deal with them in trade, we import goods from them, we exchange benefits with them, and we benefit from their expertise. We bring in from them those we hire to perform work, such as engineering or other permissible expertise. This is the limit of what is permissible for us with them.
Question: Naturally, while taking precautions and being safe from their treachery?
Answer: There is no doubt that one must take precautions, and there is no doubt that a Muslim must be on guard against the disbeliever and his
schemes in his permissible dealings with him, and that he must not have authority in the lands of the Muslims, except within the limits of his work. He must not have authority over the Muslims, or over any of the Muslims, but rather the authority must be for the Muslims over them.
Answer: The loyalty to disbelievers that Allah and His Messenger have forbidden is loving them in one’s hearts; for one does not love them unless he considers what they are upon to be correct. However, if he considers what they are upon to be invalid, then he opposes them for the sake of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
Also included in the forbidden loyalty is supporting them against Muslims and assisting them, and this is apostasy from Islam.
Likewise, included in their loyalty is excusing them, justifying what they are upon, praising them, and eulogizing them, and the like of that. All of this is among the types of forbidden loyalty that leads to apostasy from Islam, may Allah protect us from that.Allah the Exalted said:
And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.
وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّهُمْ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَAs for what is permissible for us in dealing with disbelievers, it is permissible interaction. We deal with them in trade, we import goods from them, we exchange benefits with them, and we benefit from their expertise. We bring in from them those we hire to perform work, such as engineering or other permissible expertise. This is the limit of what is permissible for us with them.
Question: Naturally, while taking precautions and being safe from their treachery?
Answer: There is no doubt that one must take precautions, and there is no doubt that a Muslim must be on guard against the disbeliever and his
schemes in his permissible dealings with him, and that he must not have authority in the lands of the Muslims, except within the limits of his work. He must not have authority over the Muslims, or over any of the Muslims, but rather the authority must be for the Muslims over them.