Ruling on Providing Food to Non-Muslim Workers During the Day in Ramadan

Question: This question concerns eating during the day in Ramadan. It states: There is a farmer who has workers from the Arab Republic of Egypt, but they do not pray or fast. When he ordered them to pray and fast, they did not comply and demanded that he provide them with food during the day in Ramadan, otherwise they would quit their jobs, claiming that they are not Muslims. He actually provided them with food for the entire month of Ramadan. He is uneducated, which puts him in a difficult position regarding verifying their status, such as reading the religion written in their passports and other matters. What is your opinion on this action? I hope you will guide us in such cases.

Answer:

First: Recruiting non-Muslims for work is not appropriate, and it is not recommended to recruit them. Rather, it is recommended not to recruit non-Muslims; because recruiting non-Muslims may harm a person in himself, in his belief, and in his morals. It may harm his descendants and his family, especially maids and nannies, for their harm is great.
Therefore, it is obligatory that only Muslim women be recruited for work or for upbringing in the house and work in the house, and likewise for men; only Muslims should be recruited, not non-Muslims; because they cause much harm, and because they are on a belief and morals different from the belief and morals of the Muslim.
Therefore, it is obligatory to avoid recruiting them, out of fear of the evil of imitating them and mixing with them. Also, it is not permissible for more than one religion to remain in this Arabian Peninsula; two religions cannot remain in it. These servants and workers may stay there for a long period due to work or the desire for their jobs, so it is not permissible to recruit non-Muslims to this Arabian Peninsula, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): In another wording, he said: “Expel the polytheists.” And he recommended this at his death (peace and blessings be upon him). So it is not permissible for a Muslim to recruit anyone other than Muslims and Muslim women, as for others, no, for this peninsula.
This matter was discussed with the state, may Allah guide it, and it decided that this will be implemented, if Allah wills, in not recruiting non-Muslims except what is necessitated by dire necessity, such as a doctor or an engineer necessitated by dire necessity; because the state is a model for people. Therefore, the scholars discussed this matter with the state, may Allah guide it, and it decided that this matter, if Allah wills, will end, and only those necessitated by dire necessity will be recruited. The subjects are even more so; the subjects are even more so that they should not recruit anyone other than a Muslim man and a Muslim woman only, and they should never recruit non-Muslims; because of the great harm in that, and because this peninsula, as you heard previously, it is not recommended to recruit anyone other than a Muslim for it; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the expulsion of the people of shirk (associating partners with Allah) from it, and the Jews and the Christians, and that no religion other than one should remain in it; because it is the cradle of Islam; and because the Muslims place their hopes in it after Allah, and they follow its example. If non-Muslims are recruited, it becomes a key for others to recruit non-Muslims, and to feel comfortable with them, and to mix with them, and this harms everyone greatly. Yes.

The presenter: But he himself is in a difficult position regarding feeding them in the month of Ramadan, and he wants to know if he is sinful or...?

The Shaykh: As for providing food to them, it is not permissible to provide food to them. If they are non-Muslims and you want to provide food to them in Ramadan, no, do not assist them in this matter. And if they are disbelievers, even if they fasted, their fast would not be valid, but they are addressed by the branches of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law). So if they are addressed, it is not permissible to assist them in what contradicts the Shari'ah. Rather, they should be advised and directed, perhaps they will become Muslim. They should be called to Islam, and directed to good, perhaps they will become Muslim, and he will obtain for them like their wages , , thus said the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
So if they refuse, they are those who make things for themselves; they make their food for themselves, and they are the ones who, meaning, attend to their needs in this regard. Perhaps they will be affected by this matter and become Muslim. Otherwise, their contracts are cancelled, and Allah will bring someone better than them, meaning: do not be lenient with them, even if they mean to insist on leaving the work, praise be to Allah, they leave the work and Allah brings someone better than them. And it is never recommended to assist them in this matter, meaning: it is not recommended to assist them in eating and drinking in Ramadan, whether they are disbelievers or open sinners, from the open sinners of Muslims who do not fast. So do not assist in what Allah has forbidden, neither a disbeliever nor an open sinner, do not assist them. Yes. Meaning, they can work for themselves, buy their needs for themselves, cook their needs. Yes.


The presenter: But he does not assist them himself. The Shaykh: Yes.