Are the oaths of disbelievers generally accepted, or only those of the People of the Book?

The questioner : Are the oaths of disbelievers generally accepted, or are they not accepted except from the People of the Book only?

The Shaykh : Are what accepted?

The questioner : The oaths of disbelievers

The Shaykh : Oaths

The questioner : Of disbelievers

The Shaykh : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is general, and in disputes, the disbeliever and the Muslim, the one from the People of the Book and the one not from the People of the Book, are equal. Therefore, even if we assume two men, one Muslim and the other a disbeliever, come to a judge to dispute, it is not permissible to give the Muslim precedence over the disbeliever. Rather, he must place them both before him equally. Even in entering, he does not say to the Muslim, "Enter before the disbeliever." He leaves the entering up to them. If this one enters before that one, there is no blame on him regarding their seating. He must seat them before him on an equal footing. In looking at them, it must also be equal, because this is a ruling, and justice is obligatory in a ruling. Allah the Exalted said: