Praise be to Allah. May peace and blessings be upon the noblest of all messengers i.e. Muhammad as well as his family, his Companions, and those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Resurrection.
Scholars held two different views with regard to the ruling on seeking the help of the disbelievers to fight other disbelievers:
First: A group held that it is prohibited to seek the help of the disbelievers to fight against other disbelievers.
They base their argument on the following:
First:It is recorded by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) book of Hadithon the authority of `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) set out for Badr and when he reached Harrah Al-Wabarah, a Mushrik (one who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) who was known for his valor and courage met him. The Mushrik said, "I have come to follow you and take a share from the booty." The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him, "Do you believe in Allah and His Messenger?" The man replied, "No." The Prophet said, "Go back for I will not seek the help of a Mushrik." The Prophet (peace be upon him) went on and when we reached Al-Shajarah, the man met him again and repeated his request. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him the same question and the man gave the same reply. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Go back for I will not seek the help of a Mushrik." The man returned and overtook him at Al-Baida'. The Prophet (peace be upon him) repeated the question to him, "Do you believe in Allah and His Messenger?" The man replied, "Yes." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to him, "Then come along with us."
They also base their argument on the Hadithreported by Al-Hakim in his Sahih (authentic) book of Hadith from Yazid ibn Harun from Mustalim ibn Sa`id Al-Wasity from Khubayb ibn `Abdul-Rahman ibn Khubayb from his father on the authority of his grandfather Khubayb ibn Yasaf said, "A man from my tribe and I came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). I told him, "O Messenger of Allah! We feel ashamed that our people will fight in a battle and we will not take part with them." The Prophet (peace be upon them) asked, "Embrace Islam!" We replied, "No." He (peace be upon him) said, "We do not seek the help of the Mushriks." Khubayb ibn Yasaf said, "Thus, we embraced Islam and participated with them." Al-Hakim classified its Isnad (chain of narration) as Sahih (authentic) but Al-Bukhari and Muslim did not report it. Khubayb is a well-known Sahaby (Companion of the Prophet). [End of quotation.] This Hadith was also mentioned by Al-Hafizh Al-Zayla`y in his book entitled, "Nasb Al-Rayah" (p. 423.) He said that this Hadith was reported by Ahmad, Ibn Abu Shaybah, and Ishaq ibn Rahaway in their Musnads (Hadith compilations) while Al-Tabarany recorded it in his book: "Al-Mu`jam" on the authority of
It is stated in Al-Tanqih that Mustalim is trustworthy and Khubayb ibn `Abdul-Rahman is a reliable narrator. Allah knows best!
Al-Zayla`y reported another Hadith which was recorded byIshaq Ibn Rahawayh in his Musnad:It is reported by Al-Fadl ibn Musa from Muhammad ibn `Amr ibn `Alqamah from Sa`id ibn Al-Mundhir on the authority of Abu Hamid Al-Sa`idy who said, When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) went out on the day of Uhud and passed Thaniyyat-ul-Wada`, he looked behind him and there appeared a squadron. He (peace be upon him) inquired, "Who are these?" It was said, "This is `Abdullah ibn Ubay ibn Salul and his Jewish fellows; they are the allies of `Abdullah ibn Salam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, "Have they embraced Islam?" They said, "No, they still hold to their religion." The Prophet replied, "Tell them to go back. Verily, we do not seek the help of the Mushriks aganist other Mushriks."
This Hadith was also recorded by Al-Waqidy in his book entitled, "Kitab Al-Maghazy (Book of Battles),"with the following wording, The Prophet (peace be upon him) inquired, "Who are these?" It was said, "O Messenger of Allah! These are the Jewish fellows of Ibn Ubay." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "We do not seek the assistance of the Mushriks in fighting against other Mushriks."
Al-Hazimy stated in, "Al-Nasikh wal-Mansukh": Scholars held different opinions with regard to this matter. A group agreed on the prohibition of seeking the help of the Mushriks, such as Ahmad; they adhered to the Hadith of `Aishah which was previously mentioned. They stated that the other Hadith which contradict this Hadith are not as authentic as this one. Therefore, the claim that this Hadith was abrogated is disqualified.
A group held the view that it is permissible for a Muslim leader to permit the Mushriks to fight with them on two conditions:
First, if the Muslims are few in number and seeking the help of the Mushriks becomes necessary.
Second, it is permissible to allow the Mushriks who are trusted with Muslims' affairs. It is recorded that Al-Shafi`y said, "The Hadith in which Malik narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) refused to seek the help of the Mushriks in battle was on the occasion of the Battle of Badr. However, in the Battle of Khaybar years after the Battle of Badr, the Prophet (peace be upon him) sought the help of the Jews from Banu Qaynuqa`. In the Battle of Hunayn, which took place in 8 A.H., he sought the help of Safwan ibn Umayyah when he was a Mushrik.