How are non-Muslims to be treated in government jobs?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : I work in a government department.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : Many American Christians work with us.
The Shaykh : Who?
The questioner : American Christian disbelievers.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : We are in the same organization, and he may be the one responsible for training and submitting reports to the authorities. So what do you advise us regarding dealing with them?
The Shaykh : We advise you, and others who share their workplace with non-Muslims, to work according to what your job requires, and to treat non-Muslims according to what the Shari'ah requires.
As for the first point, which is to work according to what the job requires, this is because working in the job and executing what is stipulated in it according to the regulations is what Allah has commanded, provided it does not contradict the Shari'ah. This is based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[An-Nisa 4:59] As for treating non-Muslims according to what the Shari'ah requires, yes, this is necessary. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Bulugh al-Maram 16:10 Therefore, it is not permissible for us to initiate the greeting to them, but if they greet us, we return the greeting with what they greeted us with.
Then, if they have the right of authority and management in this job, we first advise that non-Muslims not be employed in positions that can be filled by a Muslim, because a non-Muslim does not have faith. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Ali 'Imran 3:118] However, if no Muslim can perform this work, it is permissible for a non-Muslim to do it out of dire necessity. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) hired a polytheist to guide him on the road during the Hijrah when he migrated from Makkah to al-Madinah, even though the situation was dangerous. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and Abu Bakr, along with those with them, were being sought by Quraysh. Despite this, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) hired a polytheist to guide him to al-Madinah. This indicates the permissibility of employing a polytheist when there is a need for it. So I see that you should perform your duties and deal with these people according to what the Shari'ah requires.
The questioner : Okay, Shaykh, if I enter a group and there are Americans, some of whom are Christian disbelievers, do I greet them or not?
The Shaykh : Greet them, and intend the greeting for the Muslims among them.
The questioner : And if they return the greeting, greet them back.
The Shaykh : how
The questioner : And if they return the greeting?
The Shaykh : If they return the greeting, return the greeting. Have you not seen that Allah said:[An-Nisa 4:86] And the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to return the greeting to the Jews.
The questioner : And if he greets you in English or...?
The Shaykh : If you know the English language, speak to him in English, because he does not know the Arabic language.
The questioner : And if he learns the same...?
The Shaykh : Okay, that is good. If you taught him, and he also learned the Shari'ah, that is good. Yes, who is next?
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : Many American Christians work with us.
The Shaykh : Who?
The questioner : American Christian disbelievers.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : We are in the same organization, and he may be the one responsible for training and submitting reports to the authorities. So what do you advise us regarding dealing with them?
The Shaykh : We advise you, and others who share their workplace with non-Muslims, to work according to what your job requires, and to treat non-Muslims according to what the Shari'ah requires.
As for the first point, which is to work according to what the job requires, this is because working in the job and executing what is stipulated in it according to the regulations is what Allah has commanded, provided it does not contradict the Shari'ah. This is based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْDo not initiate the saluting of Jews and Christians (when you meet them), and if you meet any of them on the road, force him to go to the narrowest part of the road (i.e. do not give way for them to pass, but keep going).
لا تبدأوا اليهود ولا النصارى بالسلام، وإذا لقيتموهم في طريق فاضطروهم إلى أضيقهThen, if they have the right of authority and management in this job, we first advise that non-Muslims not be employed in positions that can be filled by a Muslim, because a non-Muslim does not have faith. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves, for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لا تَتَّخِذُوا بِطَانَةً مِنْ دُونِكُمْ لا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالاً وَدُّوا مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ الْبَغْضَاءُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِي صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرThe questioner : Okay, Shaykh, if I enter a group and there are Americans, some of whom are Christian disbelievers, do I greet them or not?
The Shaykh : Greet them, and intend the greeting for the Muslims among them.
The questioner : And if they return the greeting, greet them back.
The Shaykh : how
The questioner : And if they return the greeting?
The Shaykh : If they return the greeting, return the greeting. Have you not seen that Allah said:
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَاThe questioner : And if he greets you in English or...?
The Shaykh : If you know the English language, speak to him in English, because he does not know the Arabic language.
The questioner : And if he learns the same...?
The Shaykh : Okay, that is good. If you taught him, and he also learned the Shari'ah, that is good. Yes, who is next?