Assalaamu alaykum scholars. My question is regarding what it means to not be able to practice one's religion in a non-Muslim country. Currently, I am 19 years old, and I live in Spain. I would like to migrate and live with the rest of my family in Algeria (as we are from Algeria), but my parents oppose that. Here in Spain, I am able to practice all the obligatory things, praise be to Allah, but in Algeria, my religious life would indeed be far greater, and Allah knows best. For example, in Algeria, I would be able to pray five times in the masjid, whereas here in Spain I live far from a masjid, so I cannot attend it every day. Likewise, I want to be a fully committed student of knowledge and want to apply for Madinah university, but until I get accepted, Allah willing, there are scholars in Algeria at whose hands I could study and benefit from. Also, in Algeria, there is less Fitnah (tempation [of women]), obviously. Is this situation regarded as not being able to practice the religion? Can I stay in Algeria even though that would anger my parents? Notice that my parents do not need me: they both work, and my father especially has a great salary; they both drive; they live in a big house; and I have two sisters who are younger than me. Please advise me, scholars.

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.

The ability to practice the religion means that a Muslim can establish the Islamic rituals without any difficulty or harm.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen when talking about the conditions for a Muslim to reside in a non-Muslim country, said:

“The second condition is that he should be able to practice his religion openly, so he can observe the rituals of Islam with no impediment. He is not prevented from establishing the regular prayer, praying the Jumu’ah (Friday prayer) and offering the prayers in congregation if there are others with whom he can pray in congregation and pray the Jumu’ah; and he is not prevented from paying zakaah, fasting, performing Hajj and doing other rituals of Islam. If he is not able to do that, then it is not permissible to stay there because it becomes obligatory to make Hijrah (migration) in that case.”

What you mentioned about your case does not include this meaning mentioned above; i.e. you are not unable to establish the rituals of your religion in a way that makes you obliged to migrate.

However, if the situation is as you mentioned, that you wish to return to your country and make use of what is in it, such as getting knowledge from some scholars and other Islamic benefits while your parents object to your travel, then our advice to you is to strive to convince your parents to agree to that. First, turn to Allah and ask Him to help you convince them, and then seek the intercession of those whom you think they would listen to.

What is important is to gain their pleasure. If this is achieved, then praise be to Allah, but if they insist on preventing you, then some scholars, like the Hanafi School, for example, facilitate the matter for the son in this regard as they said that he is not obliged to seek their permission for traveling to study, if this is not accessible to him in his country, provided that the road is safe and he does not fear that this will affect them adversely (by leaving them uncared for); that is because they are not actually harmed by that, rather they would benefit from it.

If you consider being patient until Allah makes it possible for you to satisfy them, then this is good. In this case, you can seek knowledge through modern means, such as the Internet and so on. We have audios and many useful materials from a number of scholars of this age, such as Shaykh Ibn Baaz, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, and others on our site.

Allah knows best.