Responsibilities of Muslims Living in non-Muslim Countries

6-2-2001 | IslamWeb

Question:

People say to me that as a Muslim living in the Britain I am leading a life of sin, is this true? Also they say that my priority should be to think of going and doing Jihad in Palestine, Afghanistan, etc. as they are being invaded by non-Muslims, is this my priority even though I am involved in the Dawah in Britain? Also they say Jihad has become Fard Ayn as there are so many Muslim countries being attacked and so it is a responsibility of all Muslims even those who are involved in the Dawah in the west. Please explain.

---

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.

All Muslims (individuals, states, groups) should know that the rights of Muslim brothers in general, and the right of those who are facing problems or are oppressed, in particular, are that we should love them, support them, and help them.

It is an obligation on all Muslims to support those Muslims who are in dire need and who face violation of their lands, rights, honours and lives. We have to support them with our money, by supplicating for them, and by explaining their case to others. In short, we have to spare no effort to help our Muslim brothers anywhere in the world.

Allah Says (what means):

• {And if they seek help of you for the religion, then you must help, except against a people between yourselves and whom is a treaty. And Allah is Seeing of what you do.} [Quran 8: 72]

• {The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.} [Quran 49: 10]

• {The believing men and believing women are allies of one another.} [Quran 9: 71]

The Prophet said: “A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he does not harm him nor does he hand him over to his enemy. One who fulfils the need of another Muslim, Allah the Supreme, will fulfil the former's need. Whoever removes a worldly hardship from a believer, Allah will remove one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection from him. Whoever conceals the fault of a Muslim in this world, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

The Prophet also said: “The Muslims in their mutual love, kindness and compassion, are like the human body where when one of its parts is in agony the entire body feels the pain both in sleeplessness and fever.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Allah Says in Quran that the non-Muslims support each other and they have good ties between them. If the Muslims do not support each others and do not help each others, then they will become weak and the non-Muslims will overcome them.
Allah Says (what means): {And those who disbelieved are allies of one another. If you do not do so, there will be fitnah on earth and great corruption.} [Quran 8: 73]

The current situation of the non-Muslims and the Muslims is a clear evidence for what Allah has mentioned.

Know that living in non-Muslim countries is forbidden except for a dire need.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 81142, 81464, and 81642.

A Muslim living in a non-Muslim country is obliged to engage in Dawah, i.e., calling to Islam and preaching it among Muslims and non-Muslims. This is also considered a kind of Jihaad.

We ask Allah to help you to perform this obligation in a best way.

Allah knows best.