Back to search

How should a Muslim deal with polytheists, disbelievers, and hypocrites in the workplace, especially if leaving the job is difficult and it is a source of livelihood?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

A Muslim must adhere to their religion and propagate it, and rescue those who are astray through dialogue and persuasion, while it is forbidden to befriend non-Muslims or imitate them. This is based on the Almighty’s saying: "O you who have believed, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies" and "You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger." And the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever imitates a people is one of them." However, it is permissible to treat them kindly and justly as long as they are peaceful, as the Almighty said: "Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes — from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them." It is also permissible to deal with them in buying, selling, lending, and pawning. Indeed, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, pawned his shield with a Jew.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy