> Dealing with non-Muslims

[islamirama]

Dealing with non-Muslims

Praise be to Allah.

1- Islam is the religion of mercy and justice.


2- Muslims are commanded to call non-Muslims to Islam with wisdom and beautiful preaching and by debating in a manner that is better. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

?And argue not with the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), unless it be in (a way) that is better (with good words and in good manner, inviting them to Islamic Monotheism with His Verses), except with such of them as do wrong?

[al-?Ankaboot 29:46]


3- Allah does not accept any religion other than Islam. Allah says(interpretation of the meaning):

?And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers?

[Aal ?Imran 3:85]


4- The Muslims should give the kafirs the opportunity to hear the words of Allah. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

?And if anyone of the Mushrikoon (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) seeks your protection then grant him protection so that he may hear the Word of Allah (the Qur?an) and then escort him to where he can be secure?

[al-Tawbah 9:6]


5- The Muslims should differentiate between different kinds of kafirs in their dealings with them. They should make peace with those who make peace, and wage war against those who wage war, and wage jihad against those who stand in the way of spreading the message of Islam and causing it to prevail on earth.


6- With regard to matters of love and hate in the heart, the Muslims? attitude towards non-Muslims is based on the latter?s attitude towards Allah. If they worship Allah and do not associate anything in worship with Him, then they love them. If they associate others in worship with Him, or disbelieve in Him, or worship others alongside Him, or are hostile towards His religion and hate the truth, then it is obligatory to hate them in our hearts.


7- Hating them in our hearts does not mean that we should oppress or mistreat them under any circumstances, because Allah said to His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), describing what his attitude should be towards the People of the Book:

?and I am commanded to do justice among you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us our deeds and for you your deeds?

[al-Shoora 42:15 ? interpretation of the meaning]


even though he is a Muslim and they are following Judaism or Christianity.


8- The Muslims believe that it is not permissible, under any circumstances whatsoever, for a Muslim to mistreat a non-Muslim who is not hostile towards Islam; so the Muslim should not commit aggression against him, or frighten him, or terrorize him, or steal his wealth, or embezzle him, or deprive him of his rights, or deny him his trust, or deny him his wages, or withhold from him the price of his goods when buying from him or withhold the profits of a partnership if he is in a business partnership with him.



9- The Muslims believe that it is obligatory upon the Muslims to honour treaties or agreements made with a non-Muslim party. If a Muslim has agreed to their conditions when seeking permission to enter their country (i.e., a visa) and has promised to adhere to that, then it is not permissible for him to commit mischief in their land, to betray anyone, to steal, to kill or to do any destructive action, and so on.


10-The Muslims believe that in the case of non-Muslims who wage war against them and drive them out of their homes, or help others to do so, it is permissible for Muslims to shed the blood of these non-Muslims and confiscate their wealth.


11-The Muslims believe that it is permissible for a Muslim to treat kindly those non-Muslims who are not hostile, whether by offering financial help, feeding the hungry, giving them loans if needed or interceding with regard to permissible matters, or speaking kindly to them or returning their greetings, and so on. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):


?Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity?

[al-Mumtahanah 60:8]


12-There is no reason why Muslims should not cooperate with non-Muslims with regard to establishing truth and combating falsehood, to support the oppressed and ward off danger from mankind, such as cooperating to fight pollution or to protect the environment, or to combat epidemic diseases and so on.


13-The Muslims believe that there are differences between Muslims and non-Muslims in specific rulings such as diyah (blood money), inheritance, marriage, guardianship in marriage, entering Makkah etc., as is explained in the books of Islamic fiqh (jurisprudence) . This is based on the commands of Allah and His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). We cannot regard as equal one who believes in Allah alone with no partner or associate and one who disbelieves in Allah or one who disbelieves in Allah and joins others in worship with Him, or who turns away from the true religion.


14-Muslims are commanded to call people to Allah in all the Muslim countries and other lands. They must convey the true religion of Allah to the world and build mosques in all parts of the world, and send da?iyahs (callers) to non-Muslim countries and invite their leaders to enter the religion of Allah.


15-The Muslims believe that other people who are following other religions are not following any true religion, so the Muslims do not allow others to send missionaries to build churches in Muslim countries. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):


?Is then he who is a believer like him who is a Fasiq (disbeliever and disobedient to Allah)? Not equal are they?

[al-Sajdah 32:18]


Whoever thinks that Islam is equal to other religions is making a serious mistake. But the Muslim scholars have opened the door to debate with non-Muslims and allow the opportunity to discuss with and listen to non-Muslims and explain the truth to them.


Finally, Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):


?Say (O Muhammad): O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah (Alone), and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah.? Then, if they turn away, say: ?Bear witness that we are Muslims??

[Aal ?Imran 3:64]


?And had the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them?

[Aal ?Imran 3:110].




Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa. com)

[Assad]

Assalamu alaikum

Do you think we can give Quran to a hindu lady ? I gave a Quran to my CEO on her visit to Pakistan from India.

My friend told me I did wrong as she is impure as she didnt had wadhu.

Please give light to this issue.

Thanks

[islamirama]

Wa'alaikum as'salam,


Handling the quran comes with proper adabs and etiquettes. The Non-Muslims are not educated in how to handle a Quran properly and therefore they can disrespect it out of ignorance. What i'm talking about is the actual Quran in arabic, not the translation. Most non-Mulims can't read arabic so there really is no point in giving such a copy to them. It is better and recommend to give them a translation copy only and if they have some questions concerning the text then they can go to an imam or an arabic speaking person and they can tell them what the arabic word says.

[Pk_#2]

AsalamuAlaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,

JazakAllah khair.