Is there a book that discusses the ruling on residing in the lands of the disbelievers? And is there an excuse for residing in the lands of disbelief?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : I have a brother who has a question, if Allah wills.
The Shaykh : So, please go ahead.
The questioner : Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The questioner : How are you, Shaykh?
The Shaykh : I thank Allah to you.
The questioner: May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : How are you?
The questioner : Praise be to Allah, I am well
The Shaykh : Welcome, please go ahead.
The questioner : O Shaykh, in which reference can we look into this matter of a Muslim residing in the lands of the disbelievers? A book or anything?
The Shaykh : The truth is, I do not know a specific source that gathers the discussion on this serious matter. However, I recall that Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) speaks on this topic in some of his comments on some of the military expeditions. Perhaps you can refer to *Zad al-Ma'ad*. Do you know his book?
The questioner : Yes, O Shaykh, ... the book of *al-Wala' wa al-Bara'*.
The Shaykh : No, I do not have it in mind.
The questioner : Okay, in the wise Shari'ah, is there no excuse for a Muslim to reside in the lands of the disbelievers?
The Shaykh : There is no excuse at all, except if it is in the manner of the Companions who used to travel to the lands of the Romans for trade, meaning they would spend a few days, a week or two, and then return. As for settling there, and some of them even reproducing there, this is not permissible, and a Muslim has no excuse for that. The sciences they travel to acquire in those lands are worldly sciences, meaning they want to obtain a means of livelihood. And the earth of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is vast. In the Noble Qur'an, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) addresses those who remained in the dwellings of disbelief after they had embraced Islam. They are told:[An-Nisa 4:97] This address is directed to the weak believers who are from the people of the land, and then Allah guides them. They are commanded to migrate to the lands of Islam. So what is the matter with you, O young Muslims, that you leave the lands of Islam for the lands of disbelief, and the legal reality has been reversed? It is said that so-and-so is migrating to America, instead of saying that the American is migrating to the lands of Islam. It is said that so-and-so, the Muslim, migrated from the lands of Islam to America, to a very serious degree, to the point that the lands of disbelief were named "al-Muhajir" (the place of migration). This is a reversal of legal realities, and this is a very serious matter. Therefore, I, in the capacity of religious advice, advised your brother, and I also direct this advice to you, so that you look into the matter and save yourselves before what you do not expect befalls you.
The questioner : There is no power nor strength except by Allah. I mean, your advice, O Shaykh, is that it is better for me to return to my country?
The Shaykh : Yes, without a doubt. And not only is it better, in the sense that this and that are permissible, but one is better—no—this is obligatory. It is obligatory for you to return to your lands.
The questioner : As soon as possible is better.
Yes
Okay, may Allah bless you and reward you with good for us.
And to you all, if Allah wills.
The questioner : Okay, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The questioner : Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The Shaykh : So, please go ahead.
The questioner : Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The questioner : How are you, Shaykh?
The Shaykh : I thank Allah to you.
The questioner: May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : How are you?
The questioner : Praise be to Allah, I am well
The Shaykh : Welcome, please go ahead.
The questioner : O Shaykh, in which reference can we look into this matter of a Muslim residing in the lands of the disbelievers? A book or anything?
The Shaykh : The truth is, I do not know a specific source that gathers the discussion on this serious matter. However, I recall that Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) speaks on this topic in some of his comments on some of the military expeditions. Perhaps you can refer to *Zad al-Ma'ad*. Do you know his book?
The questioner : Yes, O Shaykh, ... the book of *al-Wala' wa al-Bara'*.
The Shaykh : No, I do not have it in mind.
The questioner : Okay, in the wise Shari'ah, is there no excuse for a Muslim to reside in the lands of the disbelievers?
The Shaykh : There is no excuse at all, except if it is in the manner of the Companions who used to travel to the lands of the Romans for trade, meaning they would spend a few days, a week or two, and then return. As for settling there, and some of them even reproducing there, this is not permissible, and a Muslim has no excuse for that. The sciences they travel to acquire in those lands are worldly sciences, meaning they want to obtain a means of livelihood. And the earth of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is vast. In the Noble Qur'an, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) addresses those who remained in the dwellings of disbelief after they had embraced Islam. They are told:
Was not the earth of Allah spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?
ألم تكن أرض الله واسعة فتهاجروا فيهاThe questioner : There is no power nor strength except by Allah. I mean, your advice, O Shaykh, is that it is better for me to return to my country?
The Shaykh : Yes, without a doubt. And not only is it better, in the sense that this and that are permissible, but one is better—no—this is obligatory. It is obligatory for you to return to your lands.
The questioner : As soon as possible is better.
Yes
Okay, may Allah bless you and reward you with good for us.
And to you all, if Allah wills.
The questioner : Okay, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The questioner : Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.