Escaping to the West – answered by Shaykh Rabee’

Shaykh Rabee’ on Hijrah to Britain
Question about Escaping to the West answered by Shaykh Rabee’ Al-Madkhalee may Allaah preserve him.

On more than one occasion, Shaykh Rabee’ has made the points translated below. In fact, he says these things every time he is asked about migrating to the West and living there.

Question

May Allaah be benevolent to you; here is a question from the Salafi youth in Britain. They are asking about the ruling on residing in the lands of the unbelievers in order to escape the injustice of rulers in some Muslim countries. [They also ask about] the ruling on taking a British nationality.

Answer

Allaah knows best, 90% of those who go to Europe and America go there not because any government is chasing them, not because of anything [like this]. Even if a government is trying to pursue [a Muslim], he should be patient and endure. When Ahmad b. Hanbal was tortured, did he go off to the lands of unbelief? I ask you: Ahmad b. Hanbal and others, then Ibn Taymiyah, when [the rulers] harmed them incessantly and imprisoned them, did they flee to the lands of unbelief? Allaah bless you, he should be patient, he should live in his own country, even in prison, it is better for him than going to Europe and America, especially since these [countries] have measures and policies to recruit Muslims into their societies, to Christianize them and convert them to atheists and heretics (zanaadiqah). These are old strategies which they are applying now and many corrupt preachers and corrupt scholars are striving to recruit Muslims into European societies now.

So why go to these countries? Why not be patient even if the government [of the Muslim country] pursues you, be patient, it is better for you. Many people go [to other counties] without being pursued.They go to eat and drink and serve the Jews and Christians in their countries, degrading themselves and Islam. Allaah bless you, He has promised he will provide your sustenance, whoever fears Allaah and obeys Him, He will make a way out for him and sustain him from where he would not imagine (Quran 65: 3). All you have to do is fear Allaah the Mighty and Majestic and obey Him (practice taqwaa) and your provision will come from places you would not imagine. A person never dies until he has fulfilled everything that was written for him. But Shaytan beautifies for him the idea of going to the West, so he can live there the life of cattle, first in derision and meekness, and then in tribulation and danger surrounding him and his family. When your child is six years old, where will he study? He will study in the schools of the Jews, atheists, secularists and Christians, and they will teach him their way of life, and they will not distinguish [between Muslims and non-Muslims] in this regard, may Allaah bless you.

Adopting an unbelieving foreign nationality instead of an Islamic one has been declared an act of Kufr by some scholars. A person does not take this nationality except after becoming prepared by submitting to the laws of these countries and aligning his loyalty to them and his enmity for those who go against them. He might also be prepared by fighting [for them]. If the Islamic army approached the unbelievers land, he [would have to] face the Islamic army because he has become a soldier for the enemies of Allaah and is prepared. They might enlist and prepare him to fight the Muslims in their own lands, as has occurred in Afghanistan. They recruited Muslims to fight the Afghans and a fatwa (religious edict) was issued by some corrupt scholars stating it is allowed for [a Muslim] to fight the Muslims to confirm his nationality and his allegiance to America. This is the fatwaa of Al-Qardawi, who occupies a great status amongst Muslims due to this fatw?. All?h bless you, how many evil corrupt edicts there are! We ask All?h for protection and wellbeing!

Right now, measures are being taken in the West to achieve these goals: to recruit Muslims into Western societies. How can you go there in these circumstances? It is obligatory upon Muslims to migrate [back] to their lands when they hear of these actions and attempts to integrate and merge them into the Western societies.

From a recording entitled Means for the Rise of the Ummah by the Noble Shaykh Rabee’ b. Haadee al-Madkhalee may Allaah preserve him, attended also by Shaykh Abdul-Azeez al-Bur’ee (may Allaah preserve him) Part of the Ramad?n Sittings series, 20/09/1426H.

Transcript source: http://www.sahab.net/forums/showthread.php?t=347443accessed 25/09/2009.

Translated by: Abu Abdillaah Owais Al-Hashimi