Sharʿī Guidelines on Benefiting from the Possessions of Disbelievers (Kuffār)
📚 Taken from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
❖ Question:
How can a Muslim benefit from the possessions, technologies, or skills of disbelievers without involving oneself in impermissible activities?
Is the principle of “Maṣāliḥ Mursalah” (unrestricted public interest) relevant to this issue?
❖ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
Disbelievers (kuffār), who are enemies of Allah ﷻ and the believers, produce many things. These can be broadly divided into three categories, and each has its own Sharʿī ruling:
➊ Religious Rituals and Worship (ʿIbādāt)
◈ It is strictly impermissible for a Muslim to imitate the religious practices or rituals of the disbelievers.
◈ Whoever imitates them in their acts of worship is exposed to great spiritual danger, and may even fall into disbelief (kufr) if the imitation affects foundational beliefs.
➋ Cultural Practices and Customs (ʿĀdāt)
◈ This includes clothing styles, personal habits, or social symbols.
◈ Imitating the disbelievers in such areas is also forbidden.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ»
“Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Libās, Ḥadīth: 4031)
➌ Benefiting from Their Technologies, Professions, or Useful Skills
◈ When it comes to industries, crafts, or useful tools and technologies that fulfill genuine public interest,
→ It is permissible to benefit from them and learn from their methods.
◈ This is not considered prohibited imitation; rather, it falls under the mutual utilization of beneficial resources.
✅ A person who engages in this is not considered to be imitating the disbelievers in a forbidden sense, but is instead partaking in what is beneficial for society.
➍ Regarding “Maṣāliḥ Mursalah” (Unrestricted Public Interest)
The questioner also asks:
Does the principle of Maṣāliḥ Mursalah apply to this issue?
The answer:
◈ Maṣāliḥ Mursalah is not an independent source of Shar‘ī evidence.
Rather, its validity depends on whether it aligns with or contradicts established Sharʿī principles.
❖ Three Scenarios for Maṣāliḥ Mursalah:
- If the perceived benefit is proven, and Sharī‘ah confirms its soundness,
→ Then it is part of the objectives of Sharī‘ah itself. - If the perceived benefit leads to something prohibited, or contradicts Islamic principles,
→ Then it is not considered a valid maṣlaḥah, even if someone assumes it to be so. - If the issue is neither supported nor rejected by Sharī‘ah directly,
→ Then the ruling returns to the original Sharʿī default:◈ For acts of worship: The default ruling is prohibition (i.e., nothing is acceptable unless explicitly prescribed).
◈ For non-worship (muʿāmalāt, customs, technology): The default ruling is permissibility, unless something is explicitly forbidden.
❖ Summary of Ruling:
✔ Benefiting from the useful, non-religious outputs of disbelievers (such as industry, science, or inventions) is permissible.
✔ Religious or cultural imitation, however, is forbidden.
✔ The principle of Maṣāliḥ Mursalah is not a standalone source of law, but must be validated or invalidated through the lens of Sharʿī guidance.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
This is what I hold to be correct. And Allah knows best what is right.
