How to deal with a non-Muslim work colleague
25-10-2005 | IslamWeb
Question:
We have one new staff handsome how we can deal with her specially. Ramadhaan is coming because she share everything with us and she treat Muslim women and see their 'Awrah. Please tell me.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
Islam urged the Muslims to treat the non-Muslims well as long as they are not fighting against the Muslims. Allaah Says (which means): {Allaah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes — from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allaah loves those who act justly.}[Quran 60:8]. Therefore, there is no harm in dealing with this non-Muslim by eating or drinking with her, offering her a gift or accepting a gift from her as long as this is within what is permissible, as a means to show her the merits of Islam. You should set an example to her [by having good morals and a good behaviour] and it might be that Allaah will make you a reason for her becoming a Muslim. However, you should be careful of taking her as a close friend or an ally as it is not permissible for a Muslim to befriend, love or like a non-Muslim. Allaah Says (which means): {Take not my enemies and your enemies (disbelievers and polytheists) as friends, showing affection towards them, while they have disbelieved in what has come to you of the truth (Islaamic Monotheism, this Quran, and Muhammad 
).}[Quran 60: 1]. So there is a difference between taking them as close friends and allies, and treating them well; the first is forbidden as it is an act of the heart which is showing them affection while the second type is an outside permitted act.
As regards her revealing the 'Awrah of Muslim women, this is not permissible. It is absolutely not permissible to reveal one's 'Awrah to anyone except a husband to his wife and vice-versa. Even if there is a necessity like seeking treatment, it is not permissible for a non-Muslim woman to do this if a Muslim woman is available to do this task.
Allaah Knows best.