Islamic Rulings on Trade with Disbelievers

Understanding Islamic Guidelines on Interacting with Disbelievers: Trade, Worship, and Customs

The actions of the enemies of Allah Ta’ala and our enemies, meaning the kuffar, are of the following three types:

(1) Acts of worship (Ibadat)

(2) Customs and habits (A’adat)

(3) Acts of industry and craftsmanship

Every Muslim knows that adopting the religion of the kuffar is to fall into a great danger that can take one outside the fold of Islam. And matters of dress, customs, rituals, etc., are forms of imitation which the Noble Prophet ﷺ has forbidden.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

« مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ »

Sunan Abi Dawood, Al-Libas, Bab ma jaa’a fi libs al-shuhrah, H: 4031.

“Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

As for economics, industry, and craftsmanship, this is participation in beneficial acts, in which there is no harm.

Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, says:

“Chapter: On buying and selling with the polytheists and people of war.”

Then he narrated the following tradition:

“Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Bakr, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: We were with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when a polytheist man came driving some sheep. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: (Are they for sale or for a gift?) or he said: (Or as a present?). The man replied: ‘For sale.’ So, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, bought a sheep from him.”

Sahih al-Bukhari: (2216)

Imam al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, says in his commentary on Sahih Muslim (11/41):

“The Muslims are unanimously agreed on the permissibility of dealing with the Ahl al-Dhimma and other disbelievers, as long as the object [of the transaction] is not proven to be forbidden. However, it is not permissible for a Muslim to sell weapons or any instrument of war to the people of war, nor anything that they could use to strengthen themselves in their religion…”

Shaykh Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, says:

It is not permissible to help the warring disbelievers in any way, because helping them can take a person out of the fold of Islam, as Allah the Exalted says:

﴿وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ﴾ (Al-Ma’idah 5/51)

“And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them.”

Maqalat wa Fatawa Ibn Baz / Page 423

In response to a question, the Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah lil-Buhuth al-‘Ilmiyyah wal-Ifta’ (The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta) states:

There is no doubt about the legitimacy of financial and physical jihad against the warring Jews and other warring disbelievers. This includes every means and method that weakens their economy and causes them harm, because the economy has been the backbone of war in the past and present.

All Muslims should cooperate with one another in righteousness and piety and support Muslims everywhere in a way that increases the glory of Muslims, gives Muslims control over the land, allows Muslims to practice their religious rites freely, and enables them to implement Islamic teachings, Sharia rulings, and the limits of Allah. They should assist them with things that will aid and support Muslims against the disbelievers, Jews, and others. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

(Wage jihad against the polytheists with your wealth, your lives, and your tongues.) Sunan Abu Dawood (2504), Al-Albani declared it saheeh in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

Therefore, Muslims should use the means and resources that strengthen Muslims and Islam, and take all measures that break the back of the disbelievers and those aligned against Islam. Thus, Muslims should not employ them in jobs from which they can accumulate wealth to fight wars against Muslims, for example, they should not be hired as scribes, accountants, engineers, or servants.

Summary: The point is that whoever boycotts the goods and products of warring disbelievers, thereby expressing disassociation from them and intending to weaken their economy, will be rewarded for this good intention, Allah willing.

And whoever acts upon the original principle – that it is permissible to transact with disbelievers – and continues to deal with them, especially in purchasing items that a Muslim needs, then there is no harm in it, Allah willing. And by doing so, no restriction will be placed upon him concerning the Islamic principle of Al-Wala’ wal-Bara’ (Loyalty and Disavowal).

The Permanent Committee was asked the following question:

What is the ruling on Muslims abandoning cooperation among themselves, in a way that a Muslim does not like to buy from a fellow Muslim but prefers to buy from a disbeliever? Is this halal or haram?

The Committee’s response was:

The default ruling is permissibility; it is permissible for a Muslim to buy the things he needs, which Allah has made lawful for him, from a Muslim or a disbeliever, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also bought from the Jews.

However, if a Muslim does not buy from his Muslim brother despite the absence of cheating, overpricing, or poor quality of the Muslim’s goods, and always prefers to buy from the disbeliever, and prefers buying from the disbeliever over the Muslim without a valid reason, then this is forbidden (haram). This is because it expresses an inner connection, love, and preference for the disbelievers. Furthermore, it will cause stagnation and loss to the businesses of Muslim traders. And if Muslims make this a habit, then no one will buy from Muslims. However, if there is one of the aforementioned reasons for not buying from a Muslim, then one should advise his Muslim brother so that the Muslim trader can rectify these faults. If he accepts the advice, then all praise is due to Allah. Otherwise, he may stop buying from him and purchase from another honest and reasonably-priced trader, even if that trader is a disbeliever.

See: Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah lil-Buhuth al-‘Ilmiyyah wal-Ifta’: (13/18)

This, and Allah the Exalted knows best, and His knowledge is more complete and perfect, and to Him, knowledge is returned, which is safest. And thanks and prayers are for the one who alerted, guided, and corrected. And may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.