What is the ruling on addressing some workers, even if they are non-Muslims, as "O Muhammad"?
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The questioner : My question, may Allah reward you, O Shaykh: People have become accustomed to calling the workers in shops, who are foreign laborers, "Muhammad." They never enter without saying, "O Muhammad, give me this and that." Perhaps the person is not a Muslim. What is your opinion on this?
The Shaykh : I do not know. I know that they call the foreign workers "O friend" or "O companion."
The questioner : People have changed now.
The Shaykh : Changed?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And what do they say now?
The questioner : They say "O Muhammad." Usually, they say it directly.
The Shaykh : Yes, is that correct? I have something better than that: that one should say "O servant of Allah," because everyone is a servant of Allah, even the disbeliever is a servant of Allah. So if it were changed to "O servant of Allah," that would be better.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : One question.
The questioner : I am from the Eastern Province.
The Shaykh : Do you have a telephone?
The Shaykh : I do not know. I know that they call the foreign workers "O friend" or "O companion."
The questioner : People have changed now.
The Shaykh : Changed?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And what do they say now?
The questioner : They say "O Muhammad." Usually, they say it directly.
The Shaykh : Yes, is that correct? I have something better than that: that one should say "O servant of Allah," because everyone is a servant of Allah, even the disbeliever is a servant of Allah. So if it were changed to "O servant of Allah," that would be better.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : One question.
The questioner : I am from the Eastern Province.
The Shaykh : Do you have a telephone?