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1776105/05/2003

Employing non-Muslim workers and allowing them to eat in front of Muslims at the time of fasting

Question: 43041

There is a company owner who has non-Muslim workers. Is it permissible for him to stop them from eating and drinking in front of Muslims working in the same company during the day in Ramadaan?.

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

Firstly: 

A person should not employ non-Muslims when
he is able to employ Muslims, because the Muslims are better than non-Muslims. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“… and verily, a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater), even though he
pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikoon) invite you to the Fire, but Allaah invites (you) to Paradise and forgiveness by His Leave, and makes His Ayaat
(proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember”

[al-Baqarah 2:221]

But if it is necessary to employ non-Muslim
workers, then there is nothing wrong with doing that, but only as far as it is necessary. 

Secondly: 

With regard to their eating and drinking
during the day in Ramadaan in front of Muslims who are fasting, there is nothing wrong with that, because the Muslim who is fasting will praise
Allaah for having guided him to Islam, which leads to happiness in this world and the hereafter, and he will praise Allaah for protecting him. For
even though he is deprived of food and drink in this world according to sharee’ah during the day in Ramadaan, he will have the reward of that on
the Day of Resurrection, when it will be said to him (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Eat and drink at ease for that which you
have sent on before you in days past!”

[al-Haaqqah 69:24]

But non-Muslims should be stopped from eating and drinking openly in public areas because that
goes against the Islamic identity of the country. 

Source

End quote, from the words of Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 8/79

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