How can the prophetic prohibition against initiating greetings with disbelievers be reconciled with the reality of disbelievers being managers in Islamic companies, given the importance of good conduct for spreading Islam? And when is dealing kindly obligatory or not obligatory, and does that depend on their treatment of us?
The religion of Islam calls for peace and justice with all human beings, with the exception of those who aggress against Muslims. It is permissible for a Muslim employee to interact kindly with a non-Muslim manager or colleague, and this includes:
Performing work with honesty and integrity.
Greeting them with phrases other than "As-salamu alaykum," such as "Good morning" and "How are you?"
Sharing in their worldly joys and sorrows, with the exception of religious holidays.
Embodying good morals to be an example of a Muslim.
Granting them their rightful status and appreciating them.
Accepting their intercession and gifts.
Forgiving them if they err.
Being gentle with them, fulfilling their needs, and praying for their guidance.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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