What is the ruling on the large-scale recruitment of disbelievers to the Arabian Peninsula, and what is our obligation toward them?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : Lately, the recruitment of disbelievers to the Arabian Peninsula has become widespread. What is our obligation toward them and toward those who recruit them?
The Shaykh : It has become widespread?
The questioner : The recruitment of disbelievers to the Arabian Peninsula has become widespread. What is our obligation toward them, and toward those who recruit them? And what is the ruling on the money taken by the work guarantors?
The Shaykh : This phenomenon you mentioned, which is the widespread recruitment of disbelievers to the lands of the Muslims in the Arabian Peninsula, is undoubtedly a phenomenon that portends danger. This is because when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke and warned of what would happen in the future, it was said:Sahih Muslim 2880a The prevalence of evil includes two meanings: The first meaning is that evil becomes prevalent among the people of the Peninsula, so they commit sins.
The second is that evil becomes prevalent among those who come to the Peninsula and visit it. There is nothing clearer or more evident than the great masses of disbelievers who come to the Arabian Peninsula.
What increases one's sadness is that they are disbelievers known for their enmity toward the Muslims, and for harming Muslims in their lands, indeed fighting and killing them. These people take money to use it to fight our Muslim brothers in their lands. This is a matter that the government must first pay attention to. There are many Muslim workers in the Islamic lands; Pakistan is full of Muslims, Indonesia is full of Muslims, and so are some African countries. But, unfortunately, we are heedless of this, both the government and the people.
Then, we have heard from some of the foolish that he says: "I choose a non-Muslim so that the work does not stop when he goes to prayer, or fasts Ramadan, or seeks to perform 'Umrah, or seeks to perform Hajj, or the like." Undoubtedly, the one who follows this path is in great danger, and his path necessitates his hatred of Islam. Otherwise, the true Muslim, the believer, rejoices in the increase of Muslims and the increase of those who perform the rituals of Islam.
The important point is that I agree with you that this phenomenon is very, very dangerous. It is obligatory for us to advise our brothers and say: "You have Muslims; go to them. They have, praise be to Allah, a great deal of capability." Then, these disbelievers who come, they come to do work that every person can do. You find them coming as servants, or as cleaners of markets in the municipalities, or the like. This is something everyone can do. It is not a specialty that only disbelievers know, such that we would say: "We are excused if we bring them." This is work that everyone knows and everyone can do. Therefore, we advise our Muslim brothers to fear Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and to be keen to bring only Muslims, whether it is a servant connected to the house, or outside the house. The one connected to the house is more severe and more severe. If a person who is not a Muslim is brought, it is obligatory for us to advise one another and say:[Al-Hujurat 49:10] And bring your believing brothers, and leave these people.
The Shaykh : It has become widespread?
The questioner : The recruitment of disbelievers to the Arabian Peninsula has become widespread. What is our obligation toward them, and toward those who recruit them? And what is the ruling on the money taken by the work guarantors?
The Shaykh : This phenomenon you mentioned, which is the widespread recruitment of disbelievers to the lands of the Muslims in the Arabian Peninsula, is undoubtedly a phenomenon that portends danger. This is because when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke and warned of what would happen in the future, it was said:
and I said: Allah's Messenger, would we be perished in spite of the fact that there would be good people amongst us? Thereupon he said: Of course, but only when the evil predominates.
يا رسول الله! أنهلك وفينا الصالحون؟ قال: نعم، إذا كثر الخبثThe second is that evil becomes prevalent among those who come to the Peninsula and visit it. There is nothing clearer or more evident than the great masses of disbelievers who come to the Arabian Peninsula.
What increases one's sadness is that they are disbelievers known for their enmity toward the Muslims, and for harming Muslims in their lands, indeed fighting and killing them. These people take money to use it to fight our Muslim brothers in their lands. This is a matter that the government must first pay attention to. There are many Muslim workers in the Islamic lands; Pakistan is full of Muslims, Indonesia is full of Muslims, and so are some African countries. But, unfortunately, we are heedless of this, both the government and the people.
Then, we have heard from some of the foolish that he says: "I choose a non-Muslim so that the work does not stop when he goes to prayer, or fasts Ramadan, or seeks to perform 'Umrah, or seeks to perform Hajj, or the like." Undoubtedly, the one who follows this path is in great danger, and his path necessitates his hatred of Islam. Otherwise, the true Muslim, the believer, rejoices in the increase of Muslims and the increase of those who perform the rituals of Islam.
The important point is that I agree with you that this phenomenon is very, very dangerous. It is obligatory for us to advise our brothers and say: "You have Muslims; go to them. They have, praise be to Allah, a great deal of capability." Then, these disbelievers who come, they come to do work that every person can do. You find them coming as servants, or as cleaners of markets in the municipalities, or the like. This is something everyone can do. It is not a specialty that only disbelievers know, such that we would say: "We are excused if we bring them." This is work that everyone knows and everyone can do. Therefore, we advise our Muslim brothers to fear Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and to be keen to bring only Muslims, whether it is a servant connected to the house, or outside the house. The one connected to the house is more severe and more severe. If a person who is not a Muslim is brought, it is obligatory for us to advise one another and say: