The Legislated Interaction between Muslims and Non-Muslims
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Allah said:
And We have sent you (O Muhammad ) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).[ Al-Anbiyah :104]
عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : لاَ يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمُ النَّاسَ
Jarir bin `Abdullah narrated:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind.”
Instructions for this subject:
Some Muslims believe that it’s a Sunnah to act unkind towards non-Muslims; regardless if they are their relatives or not, and as long as they aren’t Muslims then there is no reason to even extend a smile in their faces. This way of thinking goes against the pillars of inviting others to Islam. In this series we will discuss the legislated social interactions between Muslims and non-Muslims from the Quran, the Sunnah and the Seerah of our Salaf. Hopefully this will educate Muslims around the world that live in Western Societies, or are possibly new reverts to Islam, or have non-Muslim family.
Allah said: And We have sent you (O Muhammad ) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alamin . The word Alamin is everything that exists and was created without restriction.
Shaykh Muhammad Al-Ameen Ash-Shanqeeti(1393H) said: Allah mentioned that He sent His Generous Prophet (ﷺ) to humanity as a mercy. Muhammad was a messenger to the human race and to the Jinn informing them about the methods to attain happiness in this life and in the next, if they follow him; otherwise they are only harming themselves and losing out on the Divine Mercy if they prefer to ignore him.
Some people of knowledge gave an example that if Allah erected a fountain with water springing fourth abundantly it would be easy for people to water their plant life and livestock and this in turn would give them a multipart bounty. At the same time there’s another group who are too lazy to benefit from this spring, and as a result they miss out on what this fountain has to offer. The source of water itself is a mercy from Allah and a blessing for the both parties, although the idle person punishes himself by preventing his plants and farm animals for taking advantage.
Allah said: Have you not seen those who have changed the Blessings of Allah into disbelief (by denying Prophet Muhammad and his Message of Islam), and caused their people to dwell in the house of destruction?[ Ibrahim: 28][1]
Our Prophet was sent with a message of glad tidings to those who follow him along with a warning to whoever closes their eyes to His message. He (ﷺ) said, I am Muhammad, and I am Ahmad, and I am the Nabi of Mercy, the Nabi of Repentance…[2]
Shaykh Abdur Razaq Al-Badr said: Allah sent his Prophet as a mercy for every living thing created and to those who follow him, and he’s the Prophet of mercy to call mankind and Jinn to repent to Allah.
The religion he taught us demonstrates his message of mercy for the Alamin. For example a woman was punished because of a cat. She had neither provided her with food nor drink, nor set her free so that she might eat the insects of the earth.[3]
And on the other hand the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “A man saw a dog eating mud from (the severity of) thirst. So, that man took a shoe (and filled it) with water and kept on pouring the water for the dog till it quenched its thirst. So Allah approved of his deed and made him to enter Paradise.”[4]
Just reflect over the reward and the punishment those people received due to their treatment towards animals! How about the treatment of a human being? How should we conduct ourselves towards others?
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity.“[5]
This hadith encourages Muslims to treat animals kindly and to be helpful towards non-Muslims. The Prophet (ﷺ) clearly said, “a human being”, so those words don’t restrict charity to only Muslims, nor does it limit aid towards a certain race of people, but in fact it recommends us to offer assistance to anyone; regardless of their race, color, creed and nationality.
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind.”
Ibn Battal (449H) said: This hadith persuades a person to be kindhearted towards people. Included among those deserving mercy are Muslims, non-Muslims, animals, and those who you responsible for, and towards those who you aren’t. Moreover, another part of the mercy mentioned in this hadith covers the pledge to give someone food and water, remove his burdens and avoid harming him physically.
Showing mercy towards others in general is a sign of complete faith. The Prophet (ﷺ) None of you will ever have complete faith until he shares his mercy with others. They said: “Oh Messenger of Allah all of us merciful. He said: “The mercy you show towards other Muslims isn’t what’s intended, but rather it’s the general mercy (for everyone and everything). [6]
To be continued- Inshallah
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Prepared by
Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle
Doha,Qatar 1437©
[1] Adwaul Bayyan vol 4 /525
[2] Sharh Shama’il An-Nabi by At-Tirmithi ,pg 401
[3] Sahih Muslim 2243
[4] Sahih Al-Bukhari 173.
[5] Sahih Al-Bukhair 6012
[6] An-Nisa’ in Al-Kubara (5928 )and Al-Hakim(7310)Shaykh Al-Albani graded this as hasan li Ghayra-hi