Is it permissible to bring disbelievers into the Arabian Peninsula?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, the Shaykh
The Shaykh : How do I write "Tafaddal"?
The questioner : Is it permissible to employ disbelievers for domestic service, and is it permissible to employ disbeliever workers in building mosques?
The Shaykh : Yes, regarding the employment of disbelievers in the Arabian Peninsula, let us look, you and I, at whether it contradicts the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1606Sahih (Darussalam) and Sunan Abi Dawud 3029Sahih (Al-Albani) and his saying: Sahih Muslim 1767a or whether it aligns with his saying?
The student: It contradicts.
The Shaykh : If it contradicts, then there is no need for me to elaborate on the answer, if we know that our Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: or Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1606Sahih (Darussalam). I fear for those who bring them into this Peninsula; I fear that they will not find a correct answer when they stand before Allah (Mighty and Majestic) on the Day of Resurrection. Bringing these people into the Saudi lands, into the Arabian Peninsula, is dangerous, because we know that if disbelievers are in a land and they become numerous there, they will demand their rights, which they claim are religious rights. They will demand churches and they will demand schools, and perhaps they will display aspects of their religion as they do. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Muwatta Malik 45:18 So, what I advise my brothers is that they should not bring in non-Muslims except what the utmost necessity calls for, without that being on the basis of absolute residence, but rather their residence should be limited to the extent of the necessity only. As for what can be dispensed with by Muslims, Muslims are better than them, whatever the matter. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says: [Al-Baqarah 2:221] and He says in [Surat] al-Nisa: [Al-Baqarah 2:221] Then, the presence of servants in the homes of Muslims, and non-Muslim servants, poses a danger to the family, because the family may question or doubt the matter: why are you fasting and these are not fasting? Why are you standing in the night in winter, performing ablution and praying, while these are sleeping on their beds? This causes a person to have some doubt, some psychological and intellectual anxiety, and its danger is very great. Yes.
The questioner : Their use in building mosques...
The Shaykh : As for the second point, which is their use in building mosques, there is nothing wrong with that if there is a Muslim supervisor over them, because this is for the benefit of the mosque. But if there is no Muslim supervisor over them, then they are not to be trusted with the houses of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), so they should not be used in building mosques if there is no Muslim supervisor over them.
The questioner : They smoke, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : No, they do not smoke in the mosques. And for this reason, we said that there must be a Muslim supervisor over them who prevents them from everything that is forbidden.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : How do I write "Tafaddal"?
The questioner : Is it permissible to employ disbelievers for domestic service, and is it permissible to employ disbeliever workers in building mosques?
The Shaykh : Yes, regarding the employment of disbelievers in the Arabian Peninsula, let us look, you and I, at whether it contradicts the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):
expel the Jews and the Christians from the Arabian Peninsula
أخرجوا اليهود والنصارى من جزيرة العربExpel the polytheists from Arabia
أخرجوا المشركين من جزيرة العربI will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim.
لأخرجن اليهود و النصارى من جزيرة العرب حتى لا أدع إلا مسلماًThe student: It contradicts.
The Shaykh : If it contradicts, then there is no need for me to elaborate on the answer, if we know that our Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Expel the polytheists.
أخرجوا المشركينexpel the Jews and the Christians from the Arabian Peninsula
أخرجوا اليهود والنصارى من جزيرة العربTwo deens shall not co-exist in the Arabian Peninsula
لا يجتمع دينان في جزيرة العربAnd a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you.
ولعبد مؤمن خير من مشرك ولو أعجبكمAnd a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you.
ولأمة مؤمنة خير من مشركة ولو أعجبتكمThe questioner : Their use in building mosques...
The Shaykh : As for the second point, which is their use in building mosques, there is nothing wrong with that if there is a Muslim supervisor over them, because this is for the benefit of the mosque. But if there is no Muslim supervisor over them, then they are not to be trusted with the houses of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), so they should not be used in building mosques if there is no Muslim supervisor over them.
The questioner : They smoke, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : No, they do not smoke in the mosques. And for this reason, we said that there must be a Muslim supervisor over them who prevents them from everything that is forbidden.
The questioner : ...