Is it permissible to treat the People of the Book with kindness because they treat us with kindness?

The questioner : There are some Christian women who are our neighbors and are friendly toward us and offer us help. I do not exaggerate if I say that they are known for their good character and noble morals more than some Muslim women who pray. They serve us and do not interfere in our religious affairs, and they respect us just as they respect their monks. Of course, that is their opinion of us. Is there any obstacle to treating them with kindness? May Allah reward you with good?

The Shaykh : There is no obstacle to treating the People of the Book who live with us and among us with kindness, on the condition that we do not contravene the Shari'ah of our Lord for their sake. For example, something that is hidden from many Muslims or Muslim women who are neighbors with these Christians. It is not permissible for these Muslims, based on what has been mentioned, to praise their treatment of them, nor to mix with them in their festivals, congratulate them on their festivals, or initiate the Islamic greeting, "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh," to them. There is a word that slipped my mind, This is an explicit text in the Qur'an. However, this kindness that is shown to them and the fairness and justice with which they are treated must not be accompanied by a Muslim's violation of his religion. For example, a Christian woman might enter the house of a Muslim woman who is in her home undressed, because there is no strange man present. This Muslim woman might appear before this Christian woman as she appears before her mahrams, her sister, her father, and her brother, meaning with her arms bare and her legs exposed. This is not permissible in Islam, because this disbelieving woman is like a disbelieving or Muslim man in relation to the Muslim woman. The 'awrah of the Muslim woman in relation to the disbelieving woman is like her 'awrah in relation to the Muslim man; it is all 'awrah except the face and the hands. This is a matter that many righteous, good, devout, and praying Muslim women overlook. Therefore, it is not permissible for them to treat these women of the Book in a way that involves appearing before them as they appear before their Muslim sisters. Such a ruling must be observed in dealing with them; otherwise, the obligation in that case is to stay away from them. Yes.

The questioner : ... from a woman?

The Shaykh : We give a general answer that is suitable for every Muslim woman, not because every Muslim woman knows this ruling first, and not because every Christian neighbor is like this in such a way that she gives news of who is coming and who is not coming. The important thing is that the Muslim woman must know what is required of her if a disbelieving woman enters her home. Yes.