“He is only my scribe, and he keeps to his own religion,” I replied. ʿUmar retorted, “I will not honour those whom Allah has humiliated, nor exalt those whom Allah has abased, nor bring near those whom Allah has cast away.”
Imam Ahmad and Muslim narrate that the Prophet ﷺ set out for Badr, and a man from the polytheists followed him. He caught up with the Prophet at al-Ḥarrah and said, “I would like to accompany you and gain a share of the spoils with you.” The Prophet asked, “Do you believe in Allah and His Messenger?” He answered, “No.” The Prophet said, “Then go back, for I do not seek help from a polytheist.” 1
From these texts it becomes clear that it is forbidden to appoint unbelievers to positions among the Muslims that enable them to learn the Muslims’ conditions and secrets and to plot harm against them.
A present-day example is the importation of unbelievers into Muslim lands—indeed, into the Land of the Two Holy Sanctuaries—and employing them as labourers, drivers, servants, or domestic tutors, thereby mixing them with families and with the Muslim populace in their own country.
6- Another manifestation of allegiance to the unbelievers is adopting their calendar, especially one that embodies their rituals and festivals, such as the Gregorian calendar, which commemorates the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him). They invented it themselves; it is not part of Jesus’ religion. Using this calendar amounts to participating in reviving their emblem and festival. To avoid this, when the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) wished, in ʿUmar’s caliphate, to establish a calendar for the Muslims, they abandoned the calendars of the unbelievers and dated from the Prophet’s migration ﷺ. This indicates the obligation to differ from the unbelievers in this and in other matters that are distinctive to them. Allah’s help is sought.
7- Further signs of loyalty to the unbelievers include taking part in their festivals or assisting them in…
1 This applies to situations other than dire necessity; some scholars held that it was later abrogated—Allah knows best—because it is established that the Prophet ﷺ did, on some occasions, seek assistance from certain unbelievers.