and they have become numerous among us—may Allah not increase their numbers. Thus, it is obligatory that we know how to deal with these disbelievers.
Among the most important matters regarding the disbelievers is that it is not permissible to allow them to reside in the Arabian Peninsula. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade this; rather, he said: “Expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula” (1). While on his deathbed, he also said: “Expel the polytheists from the Arabian Peninsula” (2). And he said: “I will surely expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula, until I leave no one there but a Muslim” (3).
Therefore, we must know that it is not permissible to allow Jews, Christians, or polytheists to reside in the Arabian Peninsula. As for their presence for work, there is no harm in it, provided that we do not fear any prohibited consequence from them. But if we fear such a consequence—for example, that they may spread their ideas among us, drink alcohol openly, or manufacture alcohol and sell it to people—then it is not permissible to allow them
(1) Reported by Imam Ahmad (1/195), al-Darimi (2498), and al-Bayhaqi (9/208), on the authority of Abu Ubaydah, may Allah be pleased with him, with the wording: “Expel the Jews of the Hijaz and the people of Najran from the Arabian Peninsula.” Al-Haythami stated in al-Majma' (5/328): “Ahmad transmitted it through several chains; the narrators of two of them are trustworthy, and both chains are uninterrupted.”
It was also reported by al-Tabarani in al-Kabir (23/265), on the authority of Umm Salamah, with the wording: “Expel the Jews from the Arabian Peninsula.”
Al-Haythami stated in al-Majma' (5/328): “Al-Tabarani transmitted it through two chains, and the narrators of one of them are the narrators of the Sahih.”
(2) Reported by al-Bukhari, Book of Military Expeditions, chapter: “The Prophet’s Illness and Death” (4431), and Muslim, Book of Bequests, chapter: “Leaving No Will for One Who Has Nothing to Bequeath” (1637), on the authority of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both.
(3) Reported by Muslim, Book of Jihad and Expeditions, chapter: “Expelling the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula” (1767), on the authority of Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him.