Question: What is obligatory upon a Muslim with respect to non-Muslims concerning
different types of interactions and also with respect to holidays and festivals?
Response: The responsibility of a Muslim towards non-Muslims are many, including:
First: He must call them to the way of Allâh. This is to preach to them and to make clear to them the reality of Islam, according to his ability and if he has the knowledge to do so. This is the greatest and best good deed that one could do toward his fellow citizen and for those who live together with Jews, Christians and other disbelievers. On this point, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
| “The one who guides to good gets the same reward as the one who performs it.” [Muslim] |
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also told Ali, when he was sending him to Khaibar to encounter the Jews, to invite the Jews to Islam. He told him,
| “By Allâh, if Allâh guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels.” [al-Bukhârî, Muslim] |
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said,
| “Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all.” [Muslim, Ahmad, Abû Dâwûd, an-Nasâ’î, at-Tirmidhî, Ibn Mâjah] |
Calling them to Islam, preaching Islam to them and advising them concerning that is one of the most important deeds and is one of the best ways to get closer to Allâh.
Second: [The Muslim] may not wrong the other person with respect to his life, wealth
or honor, if the non-Muslim is a citizen of the Islamic state or has attained other
protection, he must fulfill the other’s rights. He may not wrong him with respect to his wealth by stealing from him, deceiving him or cheating him. He cannot harm him in his body by beating or killing him. His protection from the state guarantees his safety from such things.
Third:There is no prohibition concerning buying, selling, renting or other such business transactions with them. It has been authentically reported that the Prophet
(peace be upon him) bought things from the polytheistic disbelievers. He also
purchased items from Jews. In fact, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) died, his
shield was being held as collateral with a Jewish person in exchange for food for his family.
Fourth:One should not give them the greetings of peace first. However, one responds
to their greetings. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
| “Do not give the greetings of peace first to the Jew or Christian.” [Muslim] |
He also said,
| “If the people of the book give you the greeting of peace, then say, ‘Wa Alaikum (and upon you).”‘ [al-Bukhârî] |
Therefore, a Muslim does not greet a non-Muslim first. But when a Jew, Christian or other disbeliever greets him, he replies, “And upon you also,”as
the Prophet (peace be upon him) has ordered. This is from the rights of conduct between a Muslim and a disbeliever. He also must be neighborly toward his non-Muslim neighbor. If your neighbor is good to you, you do not harm him and you may even give him charity if he is poor or give him a gift if he is rich. You may also advise him concerning what is good for him. All of this may lead him to want to learn about
Islam and become a Muslim and because neighbors have very great rights. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
| “The Angel Gabriel kept advising me concerning the neighbor until I thought he was going to inherit [from his neighbor].” [al-Bukhârî, Muslim] |
Allâh also says in the Quran,
| “Allâh does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and drove you not from your homes. Verily, Allâh loves those who deal with equity” [al-Mumtahinah (60):7]. |
It is recorded in an authentic hadith from Asma bint Abu Bakr that her mother, who
was a polytheist, visited her and asked for her assistance – this was during the time of the peace treaty between the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the disbelievers so she went to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to ask him about that and he told her to keep the ties of kinship with her and be righteous towards her.
Fifth:A Muslim should not participate with them in their greetings and festivals.
However, one may give them condolences upon the death of someone if he finds some legal benefit in doing so. He may say to them, “May future bring good to you,” or something of that nature. He may not say, “May Allâh forgive him,”or, “May Allâh have mercy on him,” if the person who died was a disbeliever (see Quran 9:113). That is, one may not make prayers for a dead disbeliever although one may ask for guidance for those who are alive and so forth.
