The Muslim's Duty Toward the Disbeliever, and the Ruling on Greeting Him and Participating in His Celebrations
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Question:
This is the first message in our session today, received from the listener: Muslim from Cyprus. He says: What is the obligation of the Muslim toward the non-Muslim, whether he is a dhimmi (a non-Muslim under Muslim protection) in Muslim lands, or in his own country, and the Muslim resides in the country of that non-Muslim person? The obligation I want clarified is dealings in all their forms, starting with exchanging greetings and ending with celebrating with the non-Muslim on his festivals. Is it permissible to take him as a work friend only?
Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon His servant and messenger, His choice from among His creation, our Prophet, our Imam, and our Master Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah, and upon his family and his Companions and those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
The obligatory duties of a Muslim toward a non-Muslim are multiple, including: calling to Allah, and inviting him to Allah, and making clear to him the reality of Islam, wherever he is able to do so and wherever he has insight; for this is the greatest act of kindness and the greatest act of kindness, guiding him to his neighbors and to the Jews or Christians or other polytheists with whom he gathers; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1893a and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) to 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) when he sent him to Khaybar and ordered him to invite them to Islam, he said: Sahih al-Bukhari 3701 and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 4609Sahih (Al-Albani) So his calling to Allah, conveying Islam, and his sincere advice in that, this is among the most important matters and among the best of acts of drawing near to Allah.
Second: He must not oppress him, not in his person, not in his wealth, and not in his honor. If he is a dhimmi (a non-Muslim under Muslim protection), a musta'min (a non-Muslim granted safe conduct), or a treaty partner, he must fulfill his right, so he does not oppress him in his wealth by theft, betrayal, or deception, and he does not oppress him in his body by beating or killing. For his being a treaty partner, a dhimmi in the land, or a musta'min (a non-Muslim granted safe conduct) protects him.
Third: There is no harm in dealing with him in buying and selling, leasing, and the like. It is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he bought from the disbelievers, the worshippers of idols, and he bought from the Jews, and this is a transaction. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away while his armor was pledged to a Jew in exchange for food for his family (peace and blessings be upon him).
Fourth: Regarding the greeting, he does not initiate the greeting, but he returns it. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 2167a And he said: Sahih Muslim 2163a So the Muslim does not initiate the greeting to the disbeliever, but whenever he is greeted, if the Jew or the Christian or others greet you, you say: "And upon you," as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said.
This is among the rights related between the Muslim and the disbeliever. And among that is also good neighborliness. If he is a neighbor, you are kind to him and do not harm him in his neighborliness. You give him charity if he is poor, you give him gifts, you advise him in what benefits him. For this is what causes his desire for Islam and his entry into Islam. And because the neighbor has a right. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1942Sahih (Darussalam) And if the neighbor is a disbeliever, he has the right of neighborliness. And if he is a relative and he is a disbeliever, he has two rights: the right of neighborliness and the right of kinship.
The presenter: Does he take from ordinary charity and zakah?
The Shaykh: It is permissible to give him charity if he is poor, to be kind to him from other than zakah. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Mumtahanah: 8]. And in the authentic hadith from Asma' bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them both), that her mother came to her as a disbeliever during the truce between the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the people of Makkah, seeking assistance. So Asma' asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for permission regarding whether she should maintain ties with her. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Yes.
The presenter: Regarding his participation in his celebrations or ...?
The Shaykh: Likewise, regarding celebrations, he has no participation. The Muslim does not participate in their celebrations, in their festivals. But there is no harm in consoling them for their dead if they have a deceased person. He consoles them for their deceased, saying: "May Allah alleviate your grief," or "May Allah give you a better replacement," or similar good words. And he does not say: "May Allah forgive him," and he does not say: "May Allah have mercy on him," if he is a disbeliever.
The presenter: He does not pray for the deceased.
The Shaykh: He does not pray for the deceased, but he prays for the living for guidance, for righteous deeds, and the like. Yes.
The presenter: Yes, may Allah bless you.
This is the first message in our session today, received from the listener: Muslim from Cyprus. He says: What is the obligation of the Muslim toward the non-Muslim, whether he is a dhimmi (a non-Muslim under Muslim protection) in Muslim lands, or in his own country, and the Muslim resides in the country of that non-Muslim person? The obligation I want clarified is dealings in all their forms, starting with exchanging greetings and ending with celebrating with the non-Muslim on his festivals. Is it permissible to take him as a work friend only?
Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon His servant and messenger, His choice from among His creation, our Prophet, our Imam, and our Master Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah, and upon his family and his Companions and those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
The obligatory duties of a Muslim toward a non-Muslim are multiple, including: calling to Allah, and inviting him to Allah, and making clear to him the reality of Islam, wherever he is able to do so and wherever he has insight; for this is the greatest act of kindness and the greatest act of kindness, guiding him to his neighbors and to the Jews or Christians or other polytheists with whom he gathers; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.
من دل على خير فله مثل أجر فاعلهfor by Allah, if 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.
فو الله لأن يهدي الله بك رجلًا واحدًا خير لك من حمر النعمIf anyone summons other to follow right guidance, his reward will be equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without their rewards being diminished in any respect on that account
من دعا إلى هدى كان له من الأجر مثل أجور من تبعه، لا ينقص ذلك من أجورهم شيئًاSecond: He must not oppress him, not in his person, not in his wealth, and not in his honor. If he is a dhimmi (a non-Muslim under Muslim protection), a musta'min (a non-Muslim granted safe conduct), or a treaty partner, he must fulfill his right, so he does not oppress him in his wealth by theft, betrayal, or deception, and he does not oppress him in his body by beating or killing. For his being a treaty partner, a dhimmi in the land, or a musta'min (a non-Muslim granted safe conduct) protects him.
Third: There is no harm in dealing with him in buying and selling, leasing, and the like. It is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he bought from the disbelievers, the worshippers of idols, and he bought from the Jews, and this is a transaction. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away while his armor was pledged to a Jew in exchange for food for his family (peace and blessings be upon him).
Fourth: Regarding the greeting, he does not initiate the greeting, but he returns it. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Do not greet the Jews and the Christians before they greet you
لا تبدؤوا اليهود ولا النصارى بالسلامWhen the People of the Book offer you salutations, you should say: The same to you.
إذا سلم عليكم أهل الكتاب، فقولوا: وعليكمThis is among the rights related between the Muslim and the disbeliever. And among that is also good neighborliness. If he is a neighbor, you are kind to him and do not harm him in his neighborliness. You give him charity if he is poor, you give him gifts, you advise him in what benefits him. For this is what causes his desire for Islam and his entry into Islam. And because the neighbor has a right. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Jibril – may the Salawat of Allah be upon him – continued to recommend me about (treating) the neighbors so (kindly and politely), that I thought he would order me to make them heirs.
ما زال جبريل يوصيني بالجار، حتى ظننت أنه سيورثهThe presenter: Does he take from ordinary charity and zakah?
The Shaykh: It is permissible to give him charity if he is poor, to be kind to him from other than zakah. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.
لا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ أَنْ تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَPray it
صليهاThe presenter: Regarding his participation in his celebrations or ...?
The Shaykh: Likewise, regarding celebrations, he has no participation. The Muslim does not participate in their celebrations, in their festivals. But there is no harm in consoling them for their dead if they have a deceased person. He consoles them for their deceased, saying: "May Allah alleviate your grief," or "May Allah give you a better replacement," or similar good words. And he does not say: "May Allah forgive him," and he does not say: "May Allah have mercy on him," if he is a disbeliever.
The presenter: He does not pray for the deceased.
The Shaykh: He does not pray for the deceased, but he prays for the living for guidance, for righteous deeds, and the like. Yes.
The presenter: Yes, may Allah bless you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.