Assalamu'alaikum WarahmatullahYa Sheikh I have a question. I have just recently came across some website that are quoting fatwas from most orthodox and conservative scholars (May Allah be pleased with them). And one of the fatwas is that we are nearly not allowed at all to praise non-muslim (Kuffar) at all things. Recently, Japan's word cup fans have just done something great. They always left the stadium in such clean and tidy condition. Of course, some of us (muslims) praised them not because the world's popular opinion, but because their act (cleaning the stadium, keeping it tidy, etc) is just right according to Islam. Another example is, like a lot of us were amazed by how some of the non-muslims respect for time. Once again, we are praising them because it is right according to Islam.We all know that there are a lot of good muslims, Alhamdulillah, and there are some of good non-muslims (I am saying that they're good when it comes to akhlaq that are right according to Islam, not because of their false belief). We also know that there are a a lot of bad, bad non muslims, and there are some of bad muslims too. We all understand that "Islam" and "Muslim" are different. Islam is right, no matter what. But muslims is, of course, can commit sins, bad things, etc. I am totally agree that we are not allowed at all to praise their false belief (such as Japan's Shintoism, or Christianism, etc), but, how about praising their akhlaq?So the question is, is it allowed for us to praise the non-muslims when it comes to something which is right according to Islam (their akhlaq, such as their respect for time, their respect for cleanliness, their struggle for muslim's cause, not their false belief), and is it allowed to praise them for their technological advance (which is of couse, will be beneficial for us muslims) ?

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

There is nothing wrong with the simple mention of the virtues of non-Muslims, such as these examples that you mentioned in the question –while hating the disbelief upon which they are.

Indeed, Allah has described a group of the People of the Book with trustfulness, as He Says (what means): {And among the People of the Scripture is he who, if you entrust him with a great amount [of wealth], he will return it to you. And among them is he who, if you entrust him with a [single] silver coin, he will not return it to you unless you are constantly standing over him [demanding it]. That is because they say, "There is no blame upon us concerning the unlearned." And they speak untruth about Allah while they know [it]. But yes, whoever fulfills his commitment and fears Allah - then indeed, Allah loves those who fear Him.} [Quran 3:75]

As-Sa’di said in his Tafseer:

"Allah informs us about the People of the Book, that there is a group among them who are trustworthy, in a way that if you entrust them with a great amount of wealth, which is great amount of money, they will return it to you, but there is a group amongst them who are traitors, they will betray you in the least of things......" [End of quote]

It was reported that ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas said about the Romans:

"They have four qualities: They immediately restore themselves to sanity after trouble and attack again after flight. They (have the quality) of being good to the destitute, the poor, and the weak; They have the patience to undergo a trial. The fourth good quality in them is that they put resistance against the oppression of kings.” [Muslim]

Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut said: "Its chain of narrators is authentic according to the conditions set for the authentic Hadeeth."

Allah knows best.