How should one deal with a non-Muslim colleague?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
A man says: There are disbelievers in his field of work, including Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and others. How should he deal with them regarding greeting and shaking hands?
Answer:
He should deal with them according to the Shari'ah: he does not initiate the greeting, but if they initiate it, he returns it. He advises them, teaches them, and guides them to good. Since Allah has facilitated their presence for him, he guides them to good, calls them to Allah, and teaches them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1893a, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 3701.
So if they greet him, he returns the greeting, and if they shake his hand, he shakes theirs. He does not initiate it. And if he sees benefit in it, he says to them: How are your children? How are you? May Allah guide you, may Allah grant us and you success, and the like of that which brings them closer to good.
But he does not take them as close friends; rather, he calls them to Allah and teaches them with kind words and gentleness. Allah says: [Surat al-Baqarah:83], and He (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: [Al-Imran:159], and Allah said to Musa and Harun when He sent them to Pharaoh: [Ta-Ha:44], and He (Glorified is He) says: [Al-Ankabut:46], and they are the Jews and the Christians. So it is necessary to be good in speech and gentle, so that they may accept the truth, or so that you may have an excuse before them and have fulfilled what is required of you.
A man says: There are disbelievers in his field of work, including Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and others. How should he deal with them regarding greeting and shaking hands?
Answer:
He should deal with them according to the Shari'ah: he does not initiate the greeting, but if they initiate it, he returns it. He advises them, teaches them, and guides them to good. Since Allah has facilitated their presence for him, he guides them to good, calls them to Allah, and teaches them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.
مَن دلَّ على خيرٍ فله مثل أجر فاعلهif one man is guided on the right path (i.e. converted to Islam) through you, it would be better for you than (a great number of) red camels.
لأن يهدي الله بك رجلًا واحدًا خيرٌ لك من حمر النعمSo if they greet him, he returns the greeting, and if they shake his hand, he shakes theirs. He does not initiate it. And if he sees benefit in it, he says to them: How are your children? How are you? May Allah guide you, may Allah grant us and you success, and the like of that which brings them closer to good.
But he does not take them as close friends; rather, he calls them to Allah and teaches them with kind words and gentleness. Allah says:
And speak to people good [words]
وَقُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًاSo by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ لِنْتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَAnd speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah]."
فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَيِّنًا لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىAnd do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best
وَلَا تُجَادِلُوا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.