The Danger of Importing Disbelieving Workers

Question:
On the same paper, the same brother asks: We have been waiting for this meeting from week to week to present to you matters that are very serious and catch our attention. Among them is the importation of disbelievers into the country in a very strange manner through fraud. Even worse is that some Saudi individuals are striving and exerting effort to import them, thereby facilitating the procedures for them, while the recruitment office has refused and continues to refuse the importation of some Muslims, citing the latest instructions that have not yet been published, even though everyone knows with full certainty that the Christian disbelievers come to our country to display what they have and to influence those with weak hearts in various fields. We ask your eminence to guide the competent authorities to import Muslims instead of disbelievers, and may Allah reward you with the best reward.

Answer:
This is a matter in which efforts are being made, and this is a matter in which we and others have exerted effort—and we ask Allah to make the means beneficial—there is no doubt that importing disbelievers is one of the great calamities and one of the apparent evils.
So it is obligatory for the young man to be careful of his religion and to stay away from importing disbelievers. It is obligatory for the Muslim to stay away from importing disbelievers. If there is a need to import workers, let him import Muslims, not disbelievers.
The state—and we ask Allah for its success—also has sufficient information about this and has promised to take care of this matter and to import only those for whom there is a dire necessity. But we ask Allah to help it and grant it righteous advisors, and to help the people to assist it in good, so that they do not import disbelievers and so that they do not request the importation of disbelievers—we ask Allah for safety.
Also, it has reached us that there are people who write in their passports that they are Muslims, while they are disbelievers; they are lying. One should be cautious of this and not import anyone except known people. He should have an agent or a good envoy who asks about them from good Muslims, not from those who claim Islam but are liars, or Muslims in name only, who abandon prayers and drink intoxicants. One should warn against these people; so if he is compelled to import workers, he should stipulate importing Muslims who are known among the people of their country for their Islam.
And so, whether it is importing a driver, or a male servant, or a female servant, all of this requires caution, and one should not import anyone except one known for Islam, uprightness, and good conduct. Otherwise, let him leave it and seek help from Allah for safety from the deeds of these people. Let him seek help from Allah and be patient with the hardship that befalls him, so that he does not fall into this calamity, which is importing disbelievers.