How do we reconcile the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Expel the Jews and the Christians from the Arabian Peninsula," and that "two religions cannot coexist in it," with the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) died with his armor pledged to a Jew?

The questioner : Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh : Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.

The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah bless you, regarding the ruling on the Jews and Christians remaining in the Arabian Peninsula, how do we reconcile the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): , and that: , with the fact that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) died with his armor pledged to a Jew, and 'Umar, who expelled the Jews of Khaybar from the Peninsula, was killed by a Magian, and he said: , as he said. So how do we combine these, O Shaykh?

The Shaykh : As for the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): , the meaning is: the rituals of disbelief are not to be established in the Arabian Peninsula. For example, churches are not to be built, and the bell is not to be rung in them, or the like. It does not mean that no one among the people is to practice their religion privately. The intent is that there should not be an Islamic religion with a mosque and a Christian religion with a church, for example.
As for his saying: , the intent is regarding residence. As for hired workers and the like, they are not included in this, because they are not residents; rather, they will depart.
As for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) leaving the people of Khaybar, the Jews of Khaybar, in the land, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not leave them in an absolute, general sense. Rather, he said: , meaning: for a set period. And this period had a cause for its end in the time of 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), when they transgressed against 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar and the man who stayed with them, and they did not fulfill what was required of them, so 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) expelled them. Yes, that is correct.