What is the ruling on traveling to European countries for trade, medical treatment, tourism, or calling people to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Another question: What is the ruling on traveling to European or Western countries in general? And is it permissible to travel there for the following purposes: trade, study, medical treatment, tourism and recreation, and visiting Muslims for the sake of da'wah?
The Shaykh : If he goes there for something that is not available in the Islamic lands, it is permissible; otherwise, it is not. Is that clear?
The questioner : ... Because, for example, this Salafi brother, in his lesson, said: It is not permissible to travel to European countries; based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 2645, and he made an exception, meaning he said that it is permissible to travel there out of necessity, such as for trade and medical treatment.
The Shaykh : So I say, regarding trade, if there is no trade in the Islamic lands, for example, he goes there to buy things he cannot find and trade with them in the Islamic lands, and so on. He goes to Europe for what? Recreation—as someone said earlier—if he does not find a place to relax in the Islamic lands, there is no harm. But all of this requires that the Muslim be protected in correct 'aqidah and Islamic character, and if there is fear for him...
The questioner : ...and he displays his religion?
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : ...and he displays his religion?
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : ...and he displays his religion?
The Shaykh : ...he displays it?
The questioner : ...he displays his religion.
Another questioner : ...meaning he does not assimilate with them.
The Shaykh : ...meaning he declares it?
The questioner : ...he declares his Islam.
The Shaykh: Of course.
Another questioner : ...visiting Muslims...?
The Shaykh : How?
Another questioner : ...he visits the Muslims.
The Shaykh : ...he visits the Muslims, brings them glad tidings there, and teaches them the religion, but he should not be from the Tabligh group who have nothing to offer the Muslims.
The Shaykh : If he goes there for something that is not available in the Islamic lands, it is permissible; otherwise, it is not. Is that clear?
The questioner : ... Because, for example, this Salafi brother, in his lesson, said: It is not permissible to travel to European countries; based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
I am not responsible for any Muslim who stays among polytheists
أنا بريئ من كل مسلمٍ يقيم بين ظهراني المشركينThe Shaykh : So I say, regarding trade, if there is no trade in the Islamic lands, for example, he goes there to buy things he cannot find and trade with them in the Islamic lands, and so on. He goes to Europe for what? Recreation—as someone said earlier—if he does not find a place to relax in the Islamic lands, there is no harm. But all of this requires that the Muslim be protected in correct 'aqidah and Islamic character, and if there is fear for him...
The questioner : ...and he displays his religion?
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : ...and he displays his religion?
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : ...and he displays his religion?
The Shaykh : ...he displays it?
The questioner : ...he displays his religion.
Another questioner : ...meaning he does not assimilate with them.
The Shaykh : ...meaning he declares it?
The questioner : ...he declares his Islam.
The Shaykh: Of course.
Another questioner : ...visiting Muslims...?
The Shaykh : How?
Another questioner : ...he visits the Muslims.
The Shaykh : ...he visits the Muslims, brings them glad tidings there, and teaches them the religion, but he should not be from the Tabligh group who have nothing to offer the Muslims.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.