What is the ruling on one who praises the disbelievers and speaks well of their morals?
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The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : So what is the best course of action for this person? Should he stay away from this, or should he discuss the affairs of the disbelievers in front of him?
The Shaykh : These people who go to the lands of disbelief and then come back and praise them—in reality, they have not seen them, nor have they spent much time sitting with them, nor have they known the depth of their morals. What they face are people hired to display good morals toward the visitors so that more visitors will come to them. Just as they know the matters they deal with, they also know how to deal with the visiting people. So do not think that these morals are their true morals. Look at the dealings between them, or read or listen to what is said about their stories, their violation of sanctities, their rape, their theft, and so on, and you will know their reality. As for those who meet the people who go to them, they are met with good morals, good company, and loyalty. All of this is merely propaganda. So it is said to this man: Have you probed their conditions, lived with them for years, and known what they are like? Or were you met by people prepared for this purpose to improve their morals toward the visitors? This is the reality. Furthermore, whatever good morals they have, Islam has something better than that. The fault is not in Islam; the fault is in those who claim to follow Islam. And the first of those at fault is you, where you went and praised these people for their morals while forgetting the morals of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions: their self-sacrifice, their jealousy for the sake of Allah, and their strength in the religion of Allah. One like this should be rebuked when he praises them. It is said: With what do you praise them? With truth? Truth exists. Mention the biography of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions, their loyalty and their truthfulness, for that is better for you. Yes.
The questioner : So what is the best course of action for this person? Should he stay away from this, or should he discuss the affairs of the disbelievers in front of him?
The Shaykh : These people who go to the lands of disbelief and then come back and praise them—in reality, they have not seen them, nor have they spent much time sitting with them, nor have they known the depth of their morals. What they face are people hired to display good morals toward the visitors so that more visitors will come to them. Just as they know the matters they deal with, they also know how to deal with the visiting people. So do not think that these morals are their true morals. Look at the dealings between them, or read or listen to what is said about their stories, their violation of sanctities, their rape, their theft, and so on, and you will know their reality. As for those who meet the people who go to them, they are met with good morals, good company, and loyalty. All of this is merely propaganda. So it is said to this man: Have you probed their conditions, lived with them for years, and known what they are like? Or were you met by people prepared for this purpose to improve their morals toward the visitors? This is the reality. Furthermore, whatever good morals they have, Islam has something better than that. The fault is not in Islam; the fault is in those who claim to follow Islam. And the first of those at fault is you, where you went and praised these people for their morals while forgetting the morals of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions: their self-sacrifice, their jealousy for the sake of Allah, and their strength in the religion of Allah. One like this should be rebuked when he praises them. It is said: With what do you praise them? With truth? Truth exists. Mention the biography of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions, their loyalty and their truthfulness, for that is better for you. Yes.