What is the Sharia ruling on one who says that Christians and disbelievers are more honorable than Arabs and Muslims, and calls for emulating Christians in their successes and their life planning?
The ruling on preferring disbelievers over Muslims varies depending on the context. If it is due to their religion, then it is clear apostasy. However, if it is for other reasons, such as their conduct or civilization, then it is a fallacy that suggests attributing the weakness of Muslims to their religion, while the truth is that their weakness is due to their deviation from the rulings of Islam. Allah condemned the Jews for preferring polytheists over believers, cursing them for it.
As for preferring a disbeliever over a Muslim in another trait concerning aspects of life, it could be true or false. Wisdom is the lost property of the believer, and emulating the successes of others in worldly matters is permissible. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, benefited from the Romans regarding the issue of 'ghilah' (coitus interruptus with a nursing mother) and from the prisoners of Badr in teaching reading and writing, which indicates the permissibility of benefiting from non-Muslims in beneficial aspects of life.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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