That he has been married for two years and works outside his country with a group of foreign Christians, and that there is, for example, eating and drinking between us and them
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The questioner : That he has been married for two years and works outside his country with a group of foreign Christians, and that there is, for example, eating and drinking between us and them. Is it permissible to deal with these people, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Dealing with non-Muslims on the basis of affection, love, and loyalty is forbidden, as Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Mujadila 58:22] And as He the Exalted said: [Al-Ma'idah 5:51] And as He the Exalted said: [Al-Mumtahanah 60:1].
Therefore, it is obligatory for the Muslim to hate the enemies of Allah, who are in reality his enemies, and they are every disbeliever, whatever the type of his disbelief, whether he is a Jew, a Christian, a Zoroastrian, or an atheist who does not believe in anything. It is obligatory for the Muslim to hate them, and the further he stays away from them, the safer his religion and the better his heart.
But if he is afflicted by them because they are his partners in work, there is no blame on him if he eats with them if he cannot separate from them. In this case, he should, indeed it is obligatory for him, to invite them to Islam and explain its merits to them. Who knows, perhaps Allah will open their hearts and guide them, for Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is capable of all things. How many a person considers the guidance of these people unlikely, yet their guidance comes in the easiest way. And if a person is sincere in calling to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, and follows the path of wisdom in that, he will soon be successful, and Allah will guide many people through his hands.
The Shaykh : Dealing with non-Muslims on the basis of affection, love, and loyalty is forbidden, as Allah the Exalted said:
You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those - He has decreed within their hearts faith and supported them with spirit from Him. And We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him - those are the party of Allah. Unquestionably, the party of Allah - they are the successful.
لا تجد قوماً يؤمنون بالله واليوم الآخر يوآدون من حآد الله ورسوله ولو كانوا آباءهم أو إخوانهم أو عشيرتهمO you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.
يأيها الذين آمنوا لا تتخذوا اليهود والنصارى أولياء بعض أولياء بعض ومن يتولهم منكم فإنه منهم إن الله لا يهدي القوم الظالمينO you who have believed, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies, extending to them affection while they have disbelieved in what came to you of the truth
يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تتخذوا عدوي وعدوكم أولياء تلقون إليهم بالمودة وقد كفروا بما جاءكم من الحقTherefore, it is obligatory for the Muslim to hate the enemies of Allah, who are in reality his enemies, and they are every disbeliever, whatever the type of his disbelief, whether he is a Jew, a Christian, a Zoroastrian, or an atheist who does not believe in anything. It is obligatory for the Muslim to hate them, and the further he stays away from them, the safer his religion and the better his heart.
But if he is afflicted by them because they are his partners in work, there is no blame on him if he eats with them if he cannot separate from them. In this case, he should, indeed it is obligatory for him, to invite them to Islam and explain its merits to them. Who knows, perhaps Allah will open their hearts and guide them, for Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is capable of all things. How many a person considers the guidance of these people unlikely, yet their guidance comes in the easiest way. And if a person is sincere in calling to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, and follows the path of wisdom in that, he will soon be successful, and Allah will guide many people through his hands.