Difficult for Muslims to return to India

29-6-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

After completing 15 years of service, I want to go back to India for good. But I find it very difficult to live there. Imams conduct the prayers very fast and Jumu'ah Khutbah are meaningless and readymade. For everything, we have to expect the help of non-Muslims, be it business, education, social gathering etc. etc. Would you please guide me?

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

We advise you to invite others to Allah and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) when you return to your country and to co-operate with your Muslim brothers. Such actions are among the best deeds that may bring one nearer to his Lord, The Great and Almighty.
Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)", and then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims".} [41: 33].
Muslims were rulers of India for a very long time. If those Muslim rulers thought in the same way as you and neglected Da'wah and Jihad, then Islam would not spread in India nor would you find 120 million Muslims in India.
Scholars of Islam state that if some group of Muslims can protect their religion, property and existence, it is their duty to remain in a non-Muslim country and invite others to Islam, since there is still hope for people to accept Islam.
Thus, we urge our brother to return to his country and to do his best for the sake of Islam. Also, you have to know that even if you have some objection to the work of Imams, this does not constitute a genuine justification to leave such a place where you can serve Islam.
As for dealing with non-Muslims and needing them for everything, we state that such a situation is a natural result of devoted Muslims migrating and leaving their countries to non-Muslims who feel free to do what they like.
From Shari'a point of view, there is no objection to dealing with non-Muslims as long as such dealing is related to Halal matters and this does not constitute help against Muslims.
Allah knows best.