Migrating From a Non-Muslim Country to a Muslim One
Fatwa No: 418324

Question

السلام عليكم و رحمه الله و باراكاته
I pray you are well. Please advise: I am am married to an Iraqi who is on the 10 year visa program to get british citizenship. He is at the beginning of his 3rd 2.5 year visa. We have 2 children aged 5 and 2. I have wished to depart and live in his home country for many years due to fearing temptation in religion for ourselves and our children. Do you advise us to depart by any means or to remain in the UK until my husband secures citizenship? Please note we have not found a suitable school for my son’s education, if I get pregnant I will most likely face a lot of difficulties with the government services, my husband does not have a full time job and we live in a one bedroom first floor flat which is almost completely unsuitable and inappropriate for our needs. I could work as an English teacher if necessary in his country to make money and my children could be close to their Muslim relatives and learn Arabic. My parents support my husband’s endeavours to stay in the UK; however they may approve returning to his home country if we can still visit and they can see their grandchildren. Please give as much detail as possible in your answer because we may be able to move to a bigger house near to the mosque whilst still in the UK but I need to make a decision quickly. I am unhappy living amongst the mushrikeen and suffer harm from them. جازاك الله خايرً

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, is His slave and Messenger.

Migration from that country to a Muslim one is either obligatory or recommended depending on the situation. It is obligatory on those who are unable to practice their religion or fear Fitnah (temptation) in religion. However, if they are safe from Fitnah and able to practice their religion, then migration in their case is only recommended and not obligatory. You are better aware of your own situation. If you are able to practice your religion and you do not fear for yourselves and your children to fall into Fitnah, then migration is not obligatory on you; rather, it is recommended. If there is a need that your husband gets the citizenship, then there is nothing wrong with staying in that country and waiting for this to happen.

Allah Knows best.

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