The Ruling on a Muslim Woman Visiting Her Neighbors, Whether Muslim or Non-Muslim
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Question:
Our sister says: I have some neighbors who are not Muslim, and some who are Muslim, but I have some observations regarding them. What is the ruling on exchanging visits among us?
Answer:
Exchanging visits in such a case, if it is for the sake of advice, guidance, and cooperation in righteousness and piety, is good and commanded. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says: :Muwatta Malik 51:16, narrated by Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) with a sound chain.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 660, using the example of two men, and the ruling encompasses both men and women.
So if the visit to this Muslim sister, or to a Christian or the like, is for the purpose of calling to Allah, teaching good, and guiding to good, not for the purpose of greed for this world or being lax in the command of Allah, then all of this is good. If she visits her sister in Allah and advises her against tabarruj (displaying adornment) and exposing herself, and against being lax in what Allah has forbidden from other sins, or if she visits a Christian neighbor or a non-Christian, such as a Buddhist or the like, to advise her, guide her, and teach her, then this is a good thing. If she accepts, praise be to Allah; and if she does not accept, she should leave off the visit that has no benefit. As long as she visits for the sake of advice and good, there is no harm.
As for visiting for the sake of affection, playing, empty talk, or eating, or whatnot, this is not to be done with Christians or disbelieving women; because this leads to laxity and a lack of jealousy (for the faith); because they are our enemies and we hate them, so it is not befitting for us to take them as intimates or companions. But if the visit is for the sake of calling to Allah, encouraging good, and warning against evil, this is a required matter. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you.
Our sister says: I have some neighbors who are not Muslim, and some who are Muslim, but I have some observations regarding them. What is the ruling on exchanging visits among us?
Answer:
Exchanging visits in such a case, if it is for the sake of advice, guidance, and cooperation in righteousness and piety, is good and commanded. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says: :
Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu Hazim ibn Dinar that Abu Idris al-Khawlani said, "I entered the Damascus mosque and there was a young man with a beautiful mouth and white teeth sitting with some people. When they disagreed about something, they referred it to him and proceeded from his statement. I inquired about him, and it was said, 'This is Muadh ibn Jabal.' The next day I went to the noon-prayer, and I found that he had preceded me to the noon prayer and I found him praying." Abu Idris continued, "I waited for him until he had finished the prayer. Then I came to him from in front of him and greeted him and said, 'By Allah! I love you for Allah!' He said, 'By Allah?' I said, 'By Allah.' He said, 'By Allah?' I said, 'By Allah.' He said, 'By Allah?' I said, 'By Allah.' " He continued, "He took me by the upper part of my cloak and pulled me to him and said, 'Rejoice! I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said, 'My love is obliged for those who love each other in Me, and those who sit with each other in Me, and those who visit each other in Me, and those who give to each other generously in Me.' " ' "
وجبت محبتي للمتحابين فيّ والمتزاورين فيّ، والمتجالسين في والمتباذلين فيّAnd the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah will give shade, to seven, on the Day when there will be no shade but His. (These seven persons are) a just ruler, a youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allah (i.e. worships Allah sincerely from childhood), a man whose heart is attached to the mosques (i.e. to pray the compulsory prayers in the mosque in congregation), two persons who love each other only for Allah's sake and they meet and part in Allah's cause only
سبعة يظلهم الله في ظله يوم لا ظل إلا ظله -ذكر منهم-: رجلين تحابا في الله اجتمعا عليه وتفرقا عليهSo if the visit to this Muslim sister, or to a Christian or the like, is for the purpose of calling to Allah, teaching good, and guiding to good, not for the purpose of greed for this world or being lax in the command of Allah, then all of this is good. If she visits her sister in Allah and advises her against tabarruj (displaying adornment) and exposing herself, and against being lax in what Allah has forbidden from other sins, or if she visits a Christian neighbor or a non-Christian, such as a Buddhist or the like, to advise her, guide her, and teach her, then this is a good thing. If she accepts, praise be to Allah; and if she does not accept, she should leave off the visit that has no benefit. As long as she visits for the sake of advice and good, there is no harm.
As for visiting for the sake of affection, playing, empty talk, or eating, or whatnot, this is not to be done with Christians or disbelieving women; because this leads to laxity and a lack of jealousy (for the faith); because they are our enemies and we hate them, so it is not befitting for us to take them as intimates or companions. But if the visit is for the sake of calling to Allah, encouraging good, and warning against evil, this is a required matter. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.