What is the manner of dealing with non-Muslim colleagues?
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Question:
We ask you, Your Eminence, to clarify for us how the relationship and interaction should be between a Muslim employee and employees (who are not Muslims), if this Muslim employee and these others work in the same job, in the same government institution, where this is required of him: to learn from them, to learn from them so that he may guide like them, and so that the work is done in the required manner?
Answer:
It is obligatory for the believer, if he is afflicted with these people, to be distinguished by his faith, and to be a caller to good, a guide to good, and eager to convey good to the Muslims and others around him. If he is afflicted with disbelievers who work with him, he should strive to advise them, to call them to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and to explain the reality of Islam to them through his action and his speech; perhaps he will be a cause for their guidance, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1893a, Sunan Abi Dawud 4609Sahih (Al-Albani). He should be one who preserves his religion, a good example for his colleagues in trustworthiness, in fulfilling trust, in giving sincere advice, in work, by not being lax in that, in increasing the remembrance of Allah, and in maintaining what Allah has made obligatory upon him; so that those around him, whether Muslim or disbeliever, may follow his example.
And he should beware of being deceived by the doubts they cast, so let him beware of that with the utmost caution. He should be the one who calls, the one who directs, and the one who guides. There is no harm in benefiting from that disbeliever in medicine, engineering, or anything else that this worker may need, while being cautious and keeping away from the causes of danger. Whatever is possible for him to be in an institution or department that is sound regarding those people, far from danger, is better for him if he can. Whenever he is afflicted with this matter, let him beware, let him fear Allah, and let him be a caller to good, a guide to good, far from the danger of approaching these people and having contact with them.
We ask you, Your Eminence, to clarify for us how the relationship and interaction should be between a Muslim employee and employees (who are not Muslims), if this Muslim employee and these others work in the same job, in the same government institution, where this is required of him: to learn from them, to learn from them so that he may guide like them, and so that the work is done in the required manner?
Answer:
It is obligatory for the believer, if he is afflicted with these people, to be distinguished by his faith, and to be a caller to good, a guide to good, and eager to convey good to the Muslims and others around him. If he is afflicted with disbelievers who work with him, he should strive to advise them, to call them to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and to explain the reality of Islam to them through his action and his speech; perhaps he will be a cause for their guidance, as 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 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
مَن دعا إلى هُدًى كان له مثل أجور مَن تبعه، لا ينقص ذلك من أجورهم شيئًاAnd he should beware of being deceived by the doubts they cast, so let him beware of that with the utmost caution. He should be the one who calls, the one who directs, and the one who guides. There is no harm in benefiting from that disbeliever in medicine, engineering, or anything else that this worker may need, while being cautious and keeping away from the causes of danger. Whatever is possible for him to be in an institution or department that is sound regarding those people, far from danger, is better for him if he can. Whenever he is afflicted with this matter, let him beware, let him fear Allah, and let him be a caller to good, a guide to good, far from the danger of approaching these people and having contact with them.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.