Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Mr. Burhanbhai,

I have a question,

I am in frequent contact with the Hindus because of my nature of work and the environment that I live with.  Pls advise is it ok, to keep contact with the Hindus, eat their food, associate with them and earn monetary from them, because without them I will financially collapse in this worldly life.  I know Hindus are Kafirs as they worship the idols and we have to dis-associate with them for Allah has the punishment for them as stated in the Qur'an.

Pls tell me what to do I am very confused.

Your speedy reply by return will be highly appreciated.

Your brother in Islam,

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

ANSWER:

Association with non-muslims

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

All human beings, whether they believe in Allah or not, are the creation and slaves of Allah Subhanah. Islam is a well-wisher to all of mankind, be they believers or non-believers. In this worldly life, we have to try to invite the non-believers to recognize their Creator and worship Him Alone without associating any partners with Him, and pray that Allah guide them to Islam.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) himself used to deal with the kuffars and the Jews. He did various transactions with them, and bought and sold from them. Thus as long as the nature of work itself is halaal, it is not forbidden to deal with the non-believers in Islam. If you deal honestly and with high Islamic morals as a true believer always should, it is possible that these people might come closer to Islam.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 60 Surah Al Mumtahinah verse 8-9: Allah does not forbid you to treat kindly and act equitably towards those who have neither fought you in the matter of religion, nor driven you out of your homes. Indeed Allah loves those who are just. He only forbids you to take for friends those who have fought you in the matter of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and have co-operated with others in your expulsion. Those who take them for friends are indeed the wrongdoers.

As regards eating their food, again, as long as the food itself is halaal, there is absolutely no harm. For eg. Fruits, vegetables, non-alcoholic drinks, etc. is all fundamentally halaal, thus it does matter where and with whom you eat these halaal provisions of Allah. If the meat itself is halaal, but cooked by a hindu or any other non-believer, then it is legal for a muslim to consume such meat.

Thus there is absolutely no restriction in dealing or eating with the non-believers in Islam, as long as the transaction or food itself is fundamentally halaal in Islam. You never know, that maybe from your character and morals as a believer, you might be able to touch their hearts and they may come closer to Islam.

No Islamic army ever went to the Far East. Whole populations of Indonesia, Malaysia, and a huge number of people in other countries converted to Islam only through the high morals and honest trading of many of the muslim traders who went there to do business with them.

Your Comment: I know Hindus are Kafirs as they worship the idols and we have to dis-associate with them for Allah has the punishment for them as stated in the Qur'an.

Yes, the Hindu are non-believers in the Oneness of Allah, but it does not mean that we, as believers, have to disassociate with them. It is a duty upon us that we try to invite them to Islam, so that they too may be saved from the worship of idols and the Wrath and Anger of Allah.

Yes, Allah has decreed a severe punishment for those who associate other gods with Allah. But this punishment is only after one’s test of this life is over. Thus as long as one is alive, there is always a chance that the person might realize his mistake, recognize the True Lord of the Worlds, and become a believer. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people convert every year to Islam all over the world. The punishment of Allah is for those who die as ‘mushriks’, but as long as they are alive, we have to try our best to invite them to Islam, so that they may be saved from the terrible punishment that awaits those who associate other gods with Allah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan