Assalamu Alaikum Warahmathullahi Wabarakaathihu! Recently I got my very first job in a company with the help of Almighty Allah!. Since the company is very happy with my ranking in the interviews and my academic records, they asked me to recommend some of my friends who have good academic records like me. I should submit my friends' details next week. When thinking about whom to recommend, whisperings of shaitan comes to my mind. May Allah Almighty protect me. I began to feel that if I recommend my friends and then they got the job, they will be a threaten to my position I would have to compete with them to save my potion and for promotions. Sheikh, please advice me. I seek Allah's help to be guided in the right path. Also I'm wondering, should I give preference to my Muslim friends over non Muslim Friends in recommending their names? or should I give preference to their academic records/ talents in recommending their names? Sheikh, please advice me.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The provisions are in the hands of Allaah, He grants His provision to whomever He wishes and withhold it from whomever He wishes, none can prevent what Allaah has willed to bestow and none can bestow what Allaah has willed to prevent; Allaah Says (what means): {And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allaah is its provision.}[Quran 11:6]

Moreover, ‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood narrated that the Prophet said: “Jibreel (Gabriel) inspired in my heart that no soul will die until it would have consumed its (designated) provision, so fear Allaah and seek your provision in moderation.” [Al-Haakim – Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh (sound)]

Therefore, the whispers which you mentioned may really be from the devil, so we advise you to rely on the Ever-Living Who does not die, and be certain that no one can harm you except with the will of Allaah. Indeed, the Prophet advised Ibn ‘Abbaas saying: “Know that if the Nation (or the whole community) gathered together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you with anything except that which Allaah has destined for you; and if they gathered together to harm you with something, they would not harm you with anything except that which Allaah has destined against you. The pens have been lifted (i.e. stopped writing) and the sheets have dried” (i.e. everything has already been predestined by Allaah)." [At-Tirmithi]

On the other hand, you have been consulted about those whom you will recommend and the person who is consulted should be trustworthy as in the Hadeeth reported by Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah and An-Nasaa’i. As-Sindi commented on this Hadeeth saying: “It means that he becomes a trustee, so he should not cheat the one who consulted him by concealing a benefit or recommending a disadvantage.”

Therefore, you should do this (task) in a perfect manner by choosing the suitable candidates for work. However, if a Muslim person is of the same level of competence of a non-Muslim, then in this case, you should give priority to the Muslim person as it is better to benefit him than benefitting a non-Muslim, and the closest people are much more deserving of one’s favour than others, and it may be that the Muslim will help you in your religion and in your worldly matters as well.

Allaah Knows best.