In around the year forty-seven (1947), scholars from Najd sent a letter to the Imam (the then Saudi King, Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman bin Faisal Aal-Saud), informing him that a foreign company was exploiting minerals in Najd. The contents of the letter are as follows:
“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
From Muhammad bin Abdul Latif, Saad bin Hamad bin Atiq, Sulaiman bin Sahman, Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Anqari, and Saleh bin Abdul Aziz, and Omar bin Abdul Latif. And Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Latif, Abdullah bin Hassan, and Muhammad bin Ibrahim, to the revered Imam: Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Aal-Faisal, may Allah Almighty protect him, guide him with righteousness and piety, and shield him from the harm of his own self and desires.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh (May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be with you).
And after that: May Allah protect you. We have been informed that a foreign company is becoming involved in mining activities, and we have only recently received news of it. It is understood that the participation of foreigners who are under the authority of Christians and their entry into Arab lands, which are under Islamic rule- is forbidden- and not permitted by in the Shariah. It entails various religious and worldly harms, both- immediate and long term.
Even if, initially, there may appear to be some benefit in it, preventing harm takes precedence over attaining benefits. Your authority is an Islamic religious authority, and it can only be upheld through religiously guided policies and adherence to the Shariah of Muhammad ﷺ.
As stated in the Hadith: [«ما منكم من أحد إلا وهو على ثغر من ثغور الإسلام، فالله الله أن يؤتى الإسلام من قبله»] ““There is not a single one of you (from amongst the Muslims) who is not (a guard) on one of the frontiers of Islam. And by Allah, Allah (a phrase of exclamation), be careful that no harm comes to Islam from your end.”” (From Kitab-us-Sunnah of Imam Al-Marwazi, Ad-Daifah of Al-Albani (1165))
And as for us, even if our minds are limited when it comes to worldly matters, they, by the will of Allah, should not fall short when it comes to religious matters and what brings righteousness to both the leader and the subjects, and happiness in both the worlds (i.e. this life and the hereafter). As the famous saying goes: ‘The wisest of people are those who do not commit an action without considering its consequences.’
This is what Allah has obligated upon us, to advise and clarify, breaking free from the confines of silence and concealment. We hope that Allah takes you by your forelock, guides you on the straight path, and protects you from the causes of misguidance and wrongdoing. Peace be upon you.
Al-Durar-us-Saniyya fil-Ajwibatin-Najdiyyah (9/333-334).
(Translated by Mohammed Manna.)
Saheehus-Seerah 