What is the ruling on a Muslim’s participation in non-Islamic religious events in Thailand, and what is the ruling on a Muslim’s interaction with non-Muslim diplomats in an environment where forbidden things are prevalent, and how can a Muslim preserve his religion in this context, and what is your advice to us regarding the differing fatwas of local scholars on these issues?

A Muslim is not permitted to attend or participate in the festivals of polytheists, because steadfastness in religion earns a Muslim the respect of others, as happened with the Muslim emigrants to Abyssinia. As for the questions raised by some, the reference point in the religion of Islam is the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and they are the arbiters of Muslims’ actions. Whoever commits something forbidden is sinful. The condemnation of deviation is directed at the sects that have strayed from the straight path, not at the true essence of Islam.