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

Q) 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?

A) Praise be to Allaah.

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.



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