What is the ruling on one for whom the Islamic lands have become narrow, and he finds no residence except that it be forged, or in a poor country, and he wants to emigrate to the lands of disbelief?

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : The situation in Iraq is such that they do not find a place, neither in Jordan nor in Pakistan, because no one gives them a visa unless it is a forged visa from Pakistan.

The Shaykh : Except.

The questioner : It is a forged visa from Pakistan, and this leads to problems at the airport. Other Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia and the like, do not give visas except Yemen, and they say that the conditions in Yemen are financially difficult; there is no work. So they are forced to go to the United Nations, which is located... for an interview on the basis that they are going to Australia on the pretext that there are Muslims there... So, does this mean he is asking about the validity of this action?

The Shaykh : I do not think that it is impossible for them to reside in any Islamic country. I do not think so. Are there not many Iraqis here?

The questioner : Yes, there are, but without residence, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : Without residence.

The Shaykh : Yes, without residence.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Yes, we have residence here.

The questioner : It is not that you have to pay a dinar for every day. We mean, for the Iraqis, you pay a dinar for every day. When you first enter Jordan, they give you a one-month residence. After the month, they extend it for two months, making it three months. Then it becomes six months, which is the maximum. After six months, you pay a dinar for every day. After six months, what does that mean...?

The Shaykh : Well, in these six months, would the man not be able to secure work from which he can earn a living, such that he pays thirty dinars a month from the wages of this work?

The questioner : No, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Why?

The questioner : Because, for example, he is married here. Most of them here, as you know, have low salaries. The maximum he pays is forty, forty. I do not think that covers only the housing, not including food, drink, clothing, and so on. This is for one person. If he is with his wife, it becomes sixty, meaning.

The Shaykh : These are matters we cannot issue a ruling on, either negatively or positively. Why? For two reasons. The first reason is that we are unable to assess the circumstances in which each individual Muslim living as a foreigner in the country they have settled resides. Second, we know in general that most Muslims do not have taqwa (mindfulness of Allah); for the slightest reasons, they consider permissible what is not halal (lawful) for the slightest reasons. So, for example, if he lives here in financial hardship, that is considered an excuse for him to reside in the lands of disbelief. If he suffers some harm to his body or his wealth, that is also considered a necessary reason for emigrating to the lands of disbelief, even though the intended emigration is to the lands of Islam. Therefore, I personally cannot say it is permissible, especially since you are asking for a general fatwa (scholarly legal ruling).

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Well, are all these Iraqis on the same level in terms of righteousness and taqwa (mindfulness of Allah)?

The questioner: No.

The Shaykh : Of course not. What do you want from us? If I give a fatwa (scholarly legal ruling) of permissibility, the pious one will apply it, and that wicked one will not apply it. I do not know. We speak in general terms, like if we are asked, what is the ruling on carrion? And Allah, necessity, necessity, by the explicit text of the Qur'an, is permissible. But I say, so-and-so is forced to eat pork or carrion; I cannot say that he is forced.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : And I cannot say that he is not forced; Allah knows his state.