20.6 Seeking The Assistance Of Disbelievers In Fighting
It is permitted to seek assistance from the disbelievers in their capacity as individuals on condition that they are under the Islamic flag irrespective of whether they are dhimmis or not, or whether they are citizens of the Islamic State or not. As for seeking assistance from them as a specific nation with an entity independent from the Islamic State, this is absolutely not allowed. So it is forbidden to seek their assistance in their capacity as an independent State. The evidence for permitting the seeking of assistance of disbelievers as individuals is
“That Quzman went out with the Sahabah of the Messenger of Allah (saw) on the day of Uhud while he was a polytheist. He killed three (men) from Banu Abd ad-Dar who carried the polytheists’ flag until he (saw) said: Verily Allah will assist this deen by a dissolute man.”
And the tribe of Khuza’ah went out with the Prophet (saw) in the year of the conquest to fight the Quraysh, and Khuza’ah at that point remained polytheist until the Messenger of Allah (saw) said to them:
“O people of Khuza’ah, raise your hands from fighting. Verily the fighting has exceeded (limits) if it occurs. You have performed a prohibited killing.”
All these ahadith are authentic, indicating explicitly the permission of seeking of assistance of disbelievers as individuals i.e. the permissibility of a disbeliever being in the Muslims’ army fighting the enemy together with Muslims. However, the disbeliever is not compelled to be in the army nor compelled to fight since jihad is not obligatory upon him. He is not given from the booty but an insignificant gift is given to him i.e. he is given a measure of money. If the disbeliever requests to fight together with Muslims i.e. that he be in the Muslims’ army, it is allowed in all types of services in the army if he is trusted and betrayal is not feared from him. As for what came from Aisha (ra) when she said:
