I would like to for you to please assist me in understanding why Muslims in the Arab states make it difficult to migrate there for the sake of Islam. I am a revert to Islam living in South Africa, since my being Muslim I have encountered many things that have made it very difficult for to study Islam in South Africa. I then cam across a Hadeeth that one should migrate to an Islamic country if he finds it difficult to be a Muslim in the country he resides in. I fear for my Eemaan and my families Eemaan and have tried to get a study scholarship to study in Saudi and other countries but have failed due to age (26) or due to the fact that I do not have enough funds to contribute to the studies. I registered to study at Preston University on Qatar and was informed that they could not assist me with a visa. Now I have been offered to go and work and live in Australia whose government is very anti Islam. But they have a lot of migrant Muslims there from many parts of the world who might be able to help in attaining Islamic knowledge. Please advise on what to do as I have run out of options. I am married and have one child which makes it even more difficult I do not want to leave my wife and child alone while i search for knowledge because I fear for their Eemaan.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

First, we congratulate you on embracing Islam and we ask Allaah to make you and us firm on this religion until the day we meet Him.

There is no doubt that attaining religious knowledge is one of the greatest reasons which helps a Muslim remain steadfast on his religion. Indeed you did well by being determined to seek religious knowledge and we ask Allaah to make easy and fulfil your wish. We advise you to continue endeavouring to travel to one of the Muslim countries and do not despair in doing so. You have to ask Allaah as much as possible and invoke Him earnestly to make this easy for you. So if this matter has become easy for you, all perfect praise be to Allaah, otherwise we advise you to be patient and stay in your country as long as you are able to perform your religious rites and worship your Lord. Migration is not obligatory on you as long as you are able to perform your religious rites. It is only obligatory on whoever is unable to perform his religious rites and this is what is meant by the narration of the Prophet as he said: "I am free from every Muslim who stays among the polytheists." [Abu Daawood] We also advise you to keep in touch with Islamic foundations and organizations in your country and benefit from the religious knowledge that is available with them, and help those who are running these institutions in spreading Islam as this is of a great reward for you.

Allaah knows best.