Question:
You are aware—may Allah preserve you—of what happened a few days ago regarding the demolition of the Islamic mosque in India, which was carried out by the Hindus. I hope you can clarify what our role is in this regard. Is it only to deport the Hindu workers we employ? Is this sufficient?
Another person says: You are aware, Virtuous Shaykh, of what happened to our Muslim brothers in India regarding the demolition of the Babri Masjid at the hands of the resentful, cow-worshipping Hindus. We know that their creed is false, as they believe in the reincarnation of souls and other such things. So, what should be our stance toward the Hindus working in our country, whether in women’s tailor shops, hospitals, bakeries, or elsewhere? We want a stance that demonstrates our solidarity with our Muslim brothers at the ends of the earth, especially since this was followed by clashes between Muslims and Hindus, in which about 1,500 men from both sides have been killed so far. We hope you will clarify the correct stance that aligns with the guidance of our Prophet—may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—toward these people. Is it permissible to keep them for someone who has the capability to remove them? We hope you will clarify this, may Allah grant you success.
Answer:
There is no doubt that the enmity of the disbelievers toward Muslims is ancient and deep-rooted. Allah—Glorified and Exalted be He—has 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. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. Allah only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion and expel you from your homes and support other in your expulsion—[forbids] that you make allies of them. And whoever makes allies of them, then it is those who are the wrongdoers.” [Al-Mumtahanah: 8-9]
Our duty toward those who aggressed against our brothers is to reject them, and to feel that their aggression against our brothers is an aggression against us. This is because:
“A believer to another believer is like a building whose different parts enforce each other.”
“The example of the believers in their mutual love, mercy, and compassion is like that of a single body; if one part of it suffers, the rest of the body joins it in fever and sleeplessness.”
Perhaps there is good in what occurred. The Islamic nation across its various regions showed commendable responses, particularly in Pakistan and Bangladesh, as they made a praiseworthy effort in expressing anger over what these unjust aggressors did. Likewise, it is hoped that this serves as a wake-up call regarding the disbelievers’ enmity toward us, and that they respect neither treaty nor covenant concerning us whenever they get the opportunity.
Furthermore, among the outcomes is that the state of India yielded to the sentiments of the Muslims. Consequently, it dismissed the chief minister of the state where this demolition took place, and committed before the public to rebuild the mosque, which is a blessing.
So I say: Whatever Allah—Glorified and Exalted be He—decrees, its ultimate outcome will be good. There is no doubt that it is a duty upon the Muslim scholars who possess the ability to contact officials to clarify the reality of such matters, and that they pose a danger to Islam in the sense that they (the aggressors) want to scheme against Muslims and display their own rituals. We ask Allah safety for us and for you.
Questioner: Should a sponsor who has workers under him dismiss them?
The Shaykh: A sponsor who employs workers must fulfill what he has contracted with them, due to the statement of Allah Almighty: “O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts.” [Al-Ma’idah: 1]
Moreover, these workers might actually detest what happened; for as you know, India is a massive, vast country. However, I say: for any disbeliever whose contract expires, we should not recruit them again—neither these people nor others. This is because the presence of disbelievers in the Arabian Peninsula poses a danger. The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “Expel the polytheists from the Arabian Peninsula,” and he—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “Expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula.” He—may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family—also said during his illness: “I will certainly expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula.”
If there were no great danger in the presence of non-Muslims in this Peninsula, the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—would not have warned against it, nor would he have commanded their expulsion. Therefore, we hope that our brothers will replace any non-Muslim whose contract term has ended with a Muslim, and Allah will bring blessing into their livelihood.