Joining with non-Muslims for good causes
16-6-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
Is it allowed to join with atheists and other non-Islamists for the purposes of making a better world, even without trying to convince them of the need for Islam? I think here of groups such as the International Socialist Tendency, who work closely with brothers in the Muslim Brotherhood.
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
There are some common factors among the people whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims, like humanitarian and moral factors.
They all agree, for instance, that justice is needed, that telling the truth is of good moral character, that everybody should be protected from injustice, and that everybody has the right to study and get health services, etc…
The Muslims have no objection in cooperating with others to attain justice, equality, and freedom according to the Islamic meaning of these terms. There is nothing more significant about this than the saying of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam): “I had witnessed in the house of Abdullah Bin Judaan a pact which is for me better than the best of camels the Arabs possess, and if I was called to it after Islam (because this pact took place before Islam), I would have accepted it”. [Reported by Baihaqi and the saying, “Any pact that took place in Jahilia (time of ignorance before Islam), Islam only strengthens it”. [Reported by Muslim]
The pact that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) had witnessed is the one for which some of the Qureish tribes gathered in the house of Ibn Judaan, because he had a noble status and well-known family, so they agreed and signed the pact that if they found a person from the people of Makkah or an outsider who was wronged, they would help him and stand by him until he gets back his right.
So the Qureish named this pact “a pact of Fudul” (a pact of excellence). Despite the fact that the people who signed this pact were ignorant and Kafir, it was in conformity with the Shariah, as it stated to be just towards a wronged person. So Islam supported this pact and strengthened it. But Islam demolished the pacts and agreements of falsehood, injustice and corruption.
Muslims cooperate with non-Muslims in what is good, but they believe that they are the people of the last revelation and true religion in which there is all good for humanity. It is indeed, a means of success in this world and in the Hereafter.
The Muslims call others with wisdom and good manners, and debate with soft words calling people to this religion.
They tell the whole world that what Islam wants is justice and freedom, and that equality with its true meaning is found in Islam and this is what Islam calls for.
In conclusion, the Muslim nation is not a confined nation rather it is a cooperative nation open to other nations in righteous and good matters.
First of all it is a nation of message (revelation) and mercy.
Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {And We have sent you (O Muhammad SAW) not but as a mercy for the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).}[21:107].
It is a nation of this noble Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam). It is a mercy to mankind and it holds the cure and medicine to all the diseases of this confused world. With the above facts this nation must help rescue this lost humanity (world).
Allah knows best.