If two people come to us, one a disbeliever and the other a Muslim, for work, and the disbeliever came first, do we give the Muslim priority over the disbeliever?
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The questioner : They come to us to work in the office.
The Shaykh : So what?
The questioner : If they come to us for work, one a disbeliever and one a Muslim, meaning they have a need with us regarding work that we are to complete, and the disbeliever came before the Muslim, does that mean we give the Muslim priority over the disbeliever, or do we serve the one who came first in turn?
The Shaykh : No, start with the one who came first; that is justice. For this reason, the scholars said: If a disbeliever and a Muslim appear before a judge, does he place the Muslim in a better position than the disbeliever? No, he does not place him in a better position; he treats them equally before him. He does not address the Muslim with gentle speech and the disbeliever with harsh speech; that is not permissible. The judgment between people must be with justice. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:8].
And if you do that and act justly, it may be a cause for the disbeliever to embrace Islam. It may be a cause for the disbeliever to embrace Islam. He will say: This is the religion of justice. In his own people, he does not see justice, but in Islam, he sees justice.
One of the students of knowledge told me about this, and I did not see it myself, but he told me that in the time of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) was the governor of Sham. The treasury needed to be expanded, and next to the treasury was a house belonging to a Jew. Mu'awiyah asked him to sell it so he could expand the treasury, but the Jew refused. Mu'awiyah offered him more than its value, but he refused. So Mu'awiyah took it by force and said: "The price of your house is in the treasury; take it whenever you wish." The man traveled to 'Umar, the Commander of the Faithful, in Madinah. Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) had established a certain dignity for himself because he was in a land where people are feared for their appearance. When he arrived in Madinah, he asked about 'Umar, the Caliph, the Commander of the Faithful, while Mu'awiyah was merely a governor in Sham. He asked about the Caliph: Where is the Caliph? Where is the Caliph? What did he think he was in? In grand, magnificent palaces? They said: Perhaps he is in such-and-such a place with some old women, or perhaps he is in the mosque. So he went and saw him in the mosque, using a pile of pebbles as a pillow, wearing a patched garment. They said: This is 'Umar. He said: This is 'Umar? So he presented the case to him. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to Mu'awiyah: "Be just." He did not write anything else. The Jew took the letter to Mu'awiyah and said: "Please." Mu'awiyah read it and said: "Okay, now you want us to return your house to how it was? We have returned it, as 'Umar ordered." He said: Did he order this? He said: Yes. He said: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and our house is yours. Allahu Akbar." Look, see, justice compels the soul to believe and accept.
So now, if a transaction comes to you, start with the first one, whether he is a Muslim or a disbeliever. And Allah knows best. May Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
The questioner : Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
The Shaykh : So what?
The questioner : If they come to us for work, one a disbeliever and one a Muslim, meaning they have a need with us regarding work that we are to complete, and the disbeliever came before the Muslim, does that mean we give the Muslim priority over the disbeliever, or do we serve the one who came first in turn?
The Shaykh : No, start with the one who came first; that is justice. For this reason, the scholars said: If a disbeliever and a Muslim appear before a judge, does he place the Muslim in a better position than the disbeliever? No, he does not place him in a better position; he treats them equally before him. He does not address the Muslim with gentle speech and the disbeliever with harsh speech; that is not permissible. The judgment between people must be with justice. Allah the Exalted said:
O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَAnd if you do that and act justly, it may be a cause for the disbeliever to embrace Islam. It may be a cause for the disbeliever to embrace Islam. He will say: This is the religion of justice. In his own people, he does not see justice, but in Islam, he sees justice.
One of the students of knowledge told me about this, and I did not see it myself, but he told me that in the time of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) was the governor of Sham. The treasury needed to be expanded, and next to the treasury was a house belonging to a Jew. Mu'awiyah asked him to sell it so he could expand the treasury, but the Jew refused. Mu'awiyah offered him more than its value, but he refused. So Mu'awiyah took it by force and said: "The price of your house is in the treasury; take it whenever you wish." The man traveled to 'Umar, the Commander of the Faithful, in Madinah. Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) had established a certain dignity for himself because he was in a land where people are feared for their appearance. When he arrived in Madinah, he asked about 'Umar, the Caliph, the Commander of the Faithful, while Mu'awiyah was merely a governor in Sham. He asked about the Caliph: Where is the Caliph? Where is the Caliph? What did he think he was in? In grand, magnificent palaces? They said: Perhaps he is in such-and-such a place with some old women, or perhaps he is in the mosque. So he went and saw him in the mosque, using a pile of pebbles as a pillow, wearing a patched garment. They said: This is 'Umar. He said: This is 'Umar? So he presented the case to him. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to Mu'awiyah: "Be just." He did not write anything else. The Jew took the letter to Mu'awiyah and said: "Please." Mu'awiyah read it and said: "Okay, now you want us to return your house to how it was? We have returned it, as 'Umar ordered." He said: Did he order this? He said: Yes. He said: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and our house is yours. Allahu Akbar." Look, see, justice compels the soul to believe and accept.
So now, if a transaction comes to you, start with the first one, whether he is a Muslim or a disbeliever. And Allah knows best. May Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
The questioner : Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.