The Ruling on Traveling to the Lands of Disbelievers and Its Harms
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It says at the end of this message: We observe a great contradiction between the words and actions of Muslims. The Muslims who testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, who frequent the mosques and perform the obligatory acts, we find that some of their behavior differs from the behavior of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And when one of the people travels to Europe, which has become without religion after it abandoned the teachings of the church, the traveler returns and says: I have seen better morals than the morals of Muslims. So what do you advise such people, may Allah guide you?
Answer: First: It is not permissible to travel to the lands of the people of shirk (associating partners with Allah); because traveling to them is one of the causes of misguidance, one of the causes of turning away from the religion, and one of the causes of hearing their doubts, their misguidance, and their plotting against Islam. So perhaps one will be misguided by their means and the doubts they cast upon him. Therefore, it is not permissible for a Muslim to travel to the lands of the people of shirk, nor to reside among them, because of the great danger in this, and because of the doubts they cast, and because of the great corruption he sees there, of shirk, zina (unlawful sexual intercourse), liwat (sodomy), and the rest of the many sins. So perhaps he will be affected by it and his heart will be deviated by the causes of that. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 2645, and it was narrated from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: . So it is obligatory for the Muslim to beware of traveling to the lands of the people of shirk and residing among them, not for trade or anything else. He must beware, especially in these times when evil and corruption have increased, and disbelief and atheism have spread. He should beware, except if he is one of knowledge and insight who calls to Allah, teaches people good, and guides them to the truth. Then this one is excused; because he calls to Allah and manifests his religion, so he is beneficial there, and perhaps Allah will guide through his hands a great multitude.
As for the ignorant one who has no insight in his religion, then he must beware and not travel. As for his being deceived by their morals and actions, this is part of the corruption that is feared from. Perhaps he will be deceived by them on the side of what they have of industries or inventions or other things... among them, this deceives this poor ignorant person who does not know Islam or the rulings of Islam, but only knows some Muslims, and some Muslims have bad morals... they have lying... they have riba (usury or interest)... they have zina... they have drinking intoxicants. Not every Muslim is scrupulous, leaving what Allah has forbidden him. So perhaps this poor person who traveled to the lands of shirk will see among some of them something of their worldly, livelihood morals and be deceived by it. So he must beware of traveling to them and residing among them. And it is obligatory for the Muslim to hold fast to his religion, cling to his religion, and increase in reading the Qur'an and reflecting on the Qur'an until he knows the religion of Allah. And thus he should gain insight into the biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the biography of his Companions, who are the best of creation after the prophets, until he knows their good deeds, their praiseworthy biography, and their sincere jihad. So he will know that they are the people of good, they are the role model, they are the masters, and they are those by whom one should take an example and follow their methodology. And if those who came after them among the Muslims differ from them in some morals, then the blame is on the one who differed from them and abandoned their path. So you, O servant of Allah, must follow the known path that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions followed in morals, actions, and biography. And do not be deceived by those who deviated from their path among the Muslims or others. We ask Allah for safety. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Answer: First: It is not permissible to travel to the lands of the people of shirk (associating partners with Allah); because traveling to them is one of the causes of misguidance, one of the causes of turning away from the religion, and one of the causes of hearing their doubts, their misguidance, and their plotting against Islam. So perhaps one will be misguided by their means and the doubts they cast upon him. Therefore, it is not permissible for a Muslim to travel to the lands of the people of shirk, nor to reside among them, because of the great danger in this, and because of the doubts they cast, and because of the great corruption he sees there, of shirk, zina (unlawful sexual intercourse), liwat (sodomy), and the rest of the many sins. So perhaps he will be affected by it and his heart will be deviated by the causes of that. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
I am not responsible for any Muslim who stays among polytheists. They asked: Why, Messenger of Allah? He said: Their fires should not be visible to one another.
أنا بريء من كل مسلم يقيم بين المشركين لا تراءى ناراهماWhoever associates with a polytheist or resides with him is like him
من جامع المشرك أو سكن معه فهو مثلهAs for the ignorant one who has no insight in his religion, then he must beware and not travel. As for his being deceived by their morals and actions, this is part of the corruption that is feared from. Perhaps he will be deceived by them on the side of what they have of industries or inventions or other things... among them, this deceives this poor ignorant person who does not know Islam or the rulings of Islam, but only knows some Muslims, and some Muslims have bad morals... they have lying... they have riba (usury or interest)... they have zina... they have drinking intoxicants. Not every Muslim is scrupulous, leaving what Allah has forbidden him. So perhaps this poor person who traveled to the lands of shirk will see among some of them something of their worldly, livelihood morals and be deceived by it. So he must beware of traveling to them and residing among them. And it is obligatory for the Muslim to hold fast to his religion, cling to his religion, and increase in reading the Qur'an and reflecting on the Qur'an until he knows the religion of Allah. And thus he should gain insight into the biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the biography of his Companions, who are the best of creation after the prophets, until he knows their good deeds, their praiseworthy biography, and their sincere jihad. So he will know that they are the people of good, they are the role model, they are the masters, and they are those by whom one should take an example and follow their methodology. And if those who came after them among the Muslims differ from them in some morals, then the blame is on the one who differed from them and abandoned their path. So you, O servant of Allah, must follow the known path that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions followed in morals, actions, and biography. And do not be deceived by those who deviated from their path among the Muslims or others. We ask Allah for safety. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.