Pivotal Excerpt
❝Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn, (رحمه الله) said that, a person should seize these types of opportunities to show the excellence of Islām which is an invitation to Islām. This is done by observing the Islāmic etiquettes. Observing the Islāmic etiquettes when eating…❞
Question and Answer [3:55 Mins]
Question:
Can we eat with non-Muslims and can we help non-Muslims? (I assume the questioner is referring to eating that which is ḥalāl, that which is lawful in a lawful environment). And also can we help them in that which is lawful?
Answer:
Alḥamdu lillāh, a number of senior scholars have addressed this question and answered it. One of them is Shaykh ʿAbdul Azīz Ibn Bāz (رحمه الله). He mentioned,
ليس الأكل مع الكافر حرامًا
‘Eating with a non-Muslim is not ḥarām, it is not forbidden,’
إذا دعت الحاجة إلى ذلك
‘if there is a need for that,’
أو المصلحة الشرعية،
‘or if there is an Islāmic legislated benefit,
It is not something that is forbidden. Bārakāllahu fīkum.
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn, (رحمه الله) said that, a person should seize these types of opportunities to show the excellence of Islām which is an invitation to Islām. This is done by observing the Islāmic etiquettes. Observing the Islāmic etiquettes when eating, that you eat with your right hand, you say Bismillāh, ‘In the Name of Allāh,’ before you eat, and that you eat what is before you. Likewise you eat until you become a third full and other than that, because that is showing the person the excellence of Islām. There is the verse in the Qur’ān where Allāh (عز وجل) clarifies this issue and others. Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) tells us that it is permissible to deal with non-Muslims in that which is lawful and permissible.
Allāh (عز وجل) said,
لَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ أَنْ تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ
“Allāh does not forbid you—with respect to those who do not fight you because of religion and who do not expel you from your homes—from being kind towards them and behaving justly with them. Indeed, Allāh loves those who act justly.” [Sūrah Al-Mumtaḥanah 60: 8]
Alḥamdu lillāh this verse is clear. Bārak Allāhu fīkum.
Dealing With Non-Muslims Fairly And Justly Does Not Oppose Al-Walā Wa Al-Barā’.
It does not oppose loving for Allāh (عز وجل) and hating for Allāh (عز وجل) in any way. Yes the Muslim loves for Allāh and hates for Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى).
As for the question, ‘Can we help and assist non-Muslims?’ Again, I’m assuming that the questioner is referring to assisting non-Muslims in that which is permissible and lawful.
With regards to assisting non-Muslims in that which is lawful, for example giving them charity when you see a non-Muslim that is homeless, can you assist them? The answer is yes. We have proof and there are various evidences. One of the proof’s is the ḥadīth which is muttafaqun alayhi (agreed upon), about the man who gave water to a thirsty dog to drink. Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) rewarded this man and forgave him.
And they asked the messenger of Allāh ﷺ
, وَإِنَّ لَنَا فِي الْبَهَائِمِ لأَجْرًا
“Are we going to be rewarded even for treating animals well?”
The prophet ﷺ responded and said,
فِي كُلِّ ذَاتِ كَبِدٍ رَطْبَةٍ أَجْرٌ
‘Yes, there is a reward for every living thing.’
If this is a dog, then what do you think about aiding a human being and giving a human being food, drink, water, clothing, and the likes of these things?
Bārak Allāhu fīkum. Wa jazākum Allāhu khayran. Wa Allāhu aʿlam.