The Ruling on Traveling to the Lands of Disbelievers for Study
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Q: What is the ruling on traveling to the lands of disbelievers for study?
A: My advice is to be cautious of this, unless the traveler possesses knowledge and insight, calls to Allah, and teaches people, and does not fear for his religion because he is a person of knowledge and insight. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1604Da'if (Darussalam).
And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said in His Noble Book regarding the Muslims residing among the polytheists who are unable to manifest their religion:[An-Nisa 4:97] except the weak among the men, women, and children , the verses [Surat al-Nisa: 97 - 98]. And in the authentic hadith: from a polytheist after he has become a Muslim, either by action or by leaving the polytheists , and the meaning is: until he leaves the polytheists.
So my advice to all Muslims is to be cautious of going to the lands of the polytheists and sitting among them, not for trade, and not for study, except for one who has knowledge, guidance, and insight to call to Allah, learn other things his country needs, and manifest his religion. This is permissible, as Ja'far ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) and the Companions with him did when they emigrated to Abyssinia from the Noble Mecca due to the oppression of the polytheists toward them and their inability to manifest their religion in Mecca when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was in Mecca before the Hijrah.
A: My advice is to be cautious of this, unless the traveler possesses knowledge and insight, calls to Allah, and teaches people, and does not fear for his religion because he is a person of knowledge and insight. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
I am free from every Muslim that lives among the idolaters.
أنا بريء منهم من كل مسلم يقيم بين أظهر المشركينAnd Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said in His Noble Book regarding the Muslims residing among the polytheists who are unable to manifest their religion:
Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." The angels will say, "Was not the earth of Allah spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا فِيمَ كُنْتُمْ قَالُوا كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا فِيهَا فَأُولَئِكَ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا Allah does not accept
لا يقبل الله So my advice to all Muslims is to be cautious of going to the lands of the polytheists and sitting among them, not for trade, and not for study, except for one who has knowledge, guidance, and insight to call to Allah, learn other things his country needs, and manifest his religion. This is permissible, as Ja'far ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) and the Companions with him did when they emigrated to Abyssinia from the Noble Mecca due to the oppression of the polytheists toward them and their inability to manifest their religion in Mecca when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was in Mecca before the Hijrah.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.