A point that crossed my mind after reading this fatwa is that if people majorly migrate to non muslim land with the aim of spreading Islam and other people refrain since their intention is not spreading Islam or they don’t have the knowledge or expertise to do the work of deen, how would a muslim community build up or thrive in that non muslim country?
Wouldn’t the small group of people (who moved for the purpose of islam) find it difficult to survive in the non muslim country without a big muslim community there given that would mean difficultly in raising funds for mosques and access to halal food, halal restaurants etc. (just a few examples).
We see fundraising for mosques in Canada on a very regular basis and without a muslim community, who would be the means for such initiative.
Would really like to know if these factors were also considered while compiling this fatwa.
Bismillahi Ta’ala
Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah
JazakAllau Khairan for your pointers. These and many other factors are always considered. Aside from Mufti Taqi Saheb, who resides in a Muslim country (but has constantly visited non Muslim countries for more than half of his life), the answer quoted other mashayekh who have lived their lives in non-Muslim communities. So they do understand the possible difficulties you have highlighted.
Nonetheless, I would like to highlight just a couple of points here:
- Nowhere in the question is there any discouragement or prohibition of moving to a non-Muslim land. Instead, the instruction is to correct your intention to be serving one’s religion for da’wah purposes, and make that intention your primary motive.
- One could still achieve the secondary motives of halal earning and living standards while ensuring that the primary goal remains being a stalwart of deen and Iman in such a land, acting as a means of da’wah for the non-Muslims.
- The realm of da’wah has many levels, many of which are the responsibility of every Muslim, whether he is a layman or an academic scholar. So it is fallacious to think that since you do not have expertise, you may not work for deen. Living one’s life according to the dictates of Islam is da’wah in itself. Historically, deen spread more through practicing one’s religion than through speeches and propagation. So if one focuses on those duties, then everyone can have the right intention.
- Masajid, Ulama’, and the survival of Islam do not depend on finances or the assistance of fellow Muslims. They are solely and utterly dependent on Allah. Allah may provide from any means He so wishes or desires.
- We once lived in an era where small Muslim communities existed within a predominantly non-Muslim population, and I can affirm that those times were more cohesive and spiritually uplifting. Although in larger Muslim communities, we should have a stronger and more solid Muslim identity, the past decades have shown that cities with larger Muslim populations often exhibit a weaker “Islamic identity.” In those times and places, people practiced Islam with a genuine vigor to secure part of their islamic identity; however, today, that identity seems to be reduced to a few outward actions, mostly for display.
- While the point may seem valid that Masajid get their fundraisings from the extensive communities available here, we must remember that financial assistance is not the soul of our Ummah. Nor would any masjid expect to run their masajid only for the financial gains. That being said, such financial assistance can still be maintained by the community if their intentions to remain in the non-Muslim lands is genuinely changed for the pleasure and propagation of Allah’s Deen. The two are not mutually exclusive.
- Having lived through smaller Muslim community, we have observed over past 3-4 decades a rapid increase in Muslim Community by population does severe harm to the halal food industry as well. People no longer open restaurants with a sincere and genuine drive to provide “halal” food, rather for most it is purely a business venture catered to their Muslim client. There is mediocre to poor monitoring of halal standards, and the masses are uneducated about this important part of deen. They have a general tendency of consuming anything and everything advertised as “halal” regardless of all the dubious and shady practices in the backend. So, again, smaller communities have a better chance of proper due diligence in the 4-5 stores that aim to serve their community with halal.
Finally, do note that while the above input highlights many issues in our communities, the question of living in such communities does not necessarily depend on these factors. That is to say, anyone with pure intent to assist, help, propagate and flourish the deen of Allah can equally be a beneficial addition to the community regardless of their profession.
If someone has already spent time in the non Muslim lands with other intentions, then it is high time for them to renew their intention to work for deen for the pleasure of Allah and to gain His acceptance. Then, it is hoped that one will not be questioned about their immigration to non-Muslim lands, and one will be regarded as a da’ee of deen instead.
To limit one’s effort of da’wa to only catering for masajid or halal industries financially would be a great disservice to deen. We need people with genuine intent to aid and assist their religion, while they excel in all spheres of life and propagate Islam through careful, calculated practice of our Deen.
I hope that clarifies.
Wallahu A’lam
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi