What is the ruling on one who says, "I trust the non-Muslim workers over the Muslim workers"?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh: We hear, and it is a great pity, from Muslims, and even from our own people, who say: "By Allah, I trust the non-Muslim workers more than the Muslims." What is your opinion of such a statement, and what is your guidance for this and those like it?
The Shaykh : Our view on this is that it is an error to prefer non-Muslim workers over Muslim workers in an absolute sense. However, if we see a Muslim man who is negligent in his work and a non-Muslim man who does his work perfectly, we may say: "This one is better in his work than that one." But in a general and absolute sense, like this, it is a great error. One should fear for himself if he prefers non-Muslims over Muslims in an absolute sense, because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:[Al-Baqarah 2:221] [Al-Baqarah 2:221].
Then, a person must look at another aspect: where do these wages go? If the workers are non-Muslims, to whose boxes do they go? What?
The questioner : To the non-Muslims.
The Shaykh : To the non-Muslims. And these people may be among the non-Muslims who fight the Muslims in their lands. So the wages you pay to these workers become knives and daggers in the chests of the Muslims in the lands of these non-Muslims. Therefore, a person must look at matters from every angle.
As for if these non-Muslims are of a peaceful nature toward the Muslims, and no harm comes to the Muslims from them, then the matter is easier.
The Shaykh : Our view on this is that it is an error to prefer non-Muslim workers over Muslim workers in an absolute sense. However, if we see a Muslim man who is negligent in his work and a non-Muslim man who does his work perfectly, we may say: "This one is better in his work than that one." But in a general and absolute sense, like this, it is a great error. One should fear for himself if he prefers non-Muslims over Muslims in an absolute sense, because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:
And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you.
وَلَعَبْدٌ مُؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُشْرِكٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْAnd a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you.
وَلَأَمَةٌ مُؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُشْرِكَةٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْThen, a person must look at another aspect: where do these wages go? If the workers are non-Muslims, to whose boxes do they go? What?
The questioner : To the non-Muslims.
The Shaykh : To the non-Muslims. And these people may be among the non-Muslims who fight the Muslims in their lands. So the wages you pay to these workers become knives and daggers in the chests of the Muslims in the lands of these non-Muslims. Therefore, a person must look at matters from every angle.
As for if these non-Muslims are of a peaceful nature toward the Muslims, and no harm comes to the Muslims from them, then the matter is easier.