How does a muslim minority deals with the non-muslim majority?

Question:
To what extent can Muslims work in a fair and friendly way with Christians and people of other faiths who live around them? Also, given that the Muslim minorities live amongst a majority of Christians, is it permissible for the Muslims to work and do business with them and to respond to their invitations and for them to respond to our invitations? Is it also permitted for Muslims to mix with them, whether in order to invite them to Islaam or merely out of courtesy? If the answer is that it is permissible, how can we reconcile it with the fact that in some books of usool al-fiqh it is stated that we should force them aside when we pass on a narrow path? In addition, it is stated that we should bring up our children to loathe, despise and avoid them. Could you possibly throw some light on this?

Answer:
Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:
{Allaah does not forbid you to be kind and just with those who have neither made war on your religion nor driven you from your homes. Allaah loves those who are just and equitable}, [Soorah al-Mumtahinah, Aayah 8].

A person's dealings with others falls into one of three categories:
1. He deals with them fairly and justly;
2. He deals with them fairly and justly;
3. He deals with them unjustly.

Dealing with people unjustly is prohibited. Even with the rights of non-Muslims, it is not permitted for you to deal with them unjustly and with oppression. Ibn Qayyim (Rah) when commenting on the words of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam):
((If the people of the Book give Salaam upon you, then answer them by saying, And upon you)) says, "This is if they say, 'As-Salaam' in a way which is not clear and it is possible and likely that they in fact said: "As- which means "poison". However, if they say, "As-Salaamu 'alaykum" clearly, then you should reply by saying, "Wa 'alaykum as-Salaam" also in a clear manner.

Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:
{If you are greeted by anyone, then reply with a better greeting or at least return the same greeting}, [ Soorah an-Nisaa, Aayah 86].

This is what justice calls for. However, the reason for the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) saying:

((If the people of the Book give as-Salaam upon you, then answer them by saying, And upon you)) is made clear in a hadeeth narrated by ibn 'Umar. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

((The People of the Book say, "As-Saam 'alaykum" (May you be poisoned) so if the People of the Book give as-Salaam upon you, then reply by saying, 'Wa 'alaykum)) (And upon you.). And so the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) clarified the reason for this ruling.

Therefore, if they say distinctly, "As-Salaam" there is no objection for you to reply clearly, "Wa 'alaykum as-Salaam". If they congratulate us or give us best wishes, we can return the greeting to them. However, to give them best wishes on the occasion of their religious festivals is completely forbidden. It is prohibited, for example, to give them best wishes at Christmas or on the occasion of any other of their festivals because to wish them well by affirming their festivals of disbelief is to be contented and happy that these are their festivals. In the same way that it is prohibited to wish them good health over a drink of wine or any other prohibited subsume, it is also forbidden to wish them well by affirming their religious rites.

The matter of responding to their invitations is something that needs elaboration. If there is benefit in it and it is an opportunity to invite to Islaam, then there is no objection to it. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) responded to an invitation of a Jew, who gave him bread, barley and dissolved fat. It is, however, something that we as Muslims must be very cautious about. Friendship and love for them, inclining to them and being content with their disbelief is not permitted because the need to have a sound and pure heart is extremely important for Muslims. The heart if it inclines to them or becomes content with their disbelief is in great danger.

For this reason, Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:
{You will not find a people who believe in Allaah and the Last Day being friendly with those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger, even though they are their fathers, sons, brothers, close relatives or from their own tribe}, [Soorah al-Mujaadalah, Aayah 8].

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
al-Aqalliyaat al-Muslimah - Page 81, Fatwa No.22