Question: Travelling to non-muslim countries

Ummah123

Junior Member
Assalamu Alaykum,

I heard that you can't travel to non-muslim countries except for valid reasons such as medical treatment, study, business or dawah. What about if you have to go there to keep up ties of kinship? Is that permissible?
 

uniqueskates

Rabbe Zidni Illma
Walaikumassalaam wa re wa barakatuhu.

Why shouldn't it permissible brother? I don't find much harm in you going to visit your family members rather, I believe we are commanded to maintain out ties of kinship.
 

Janaan

ربنا اغفر لنا ذنوبنا
Staff member
Assalaamu `alaikum warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh.

Why shouldn't it permissible brother? I don't find much harm in you going to visit your family members rather, I believe we are commanded to maintain out ties of kinship.

Akhy, I believe this is one of those areas in which we should not talk about (i.e., give our opinions) unless we have knowledge.

This covers practically everything about travel and tourism in Islam: http://islamqa.info/en/87846

Brother Ummah123 this question was posed to shaykh Saalih al-Munajjid of Islam Q&A and he answered:

Praise be to Allaah.

It is not permissible to travel to a kaafir country except for a valid reason such as studying to acquire knowledge or skills that are not available in a Muslim country, or for medical treatment. But the traveller should have sufficient religious commitment to protect him from temptation and sufficient knowledge to protect him from doubts. Keeping in touch with relatives and upholding the ties of kinship can be achieved through lesser means; you can call them by phone, or correspond with them in any fashion, or send greetings and gifts, and so on. A person should not expose himself to the risks of travelling to a kaafir country and committing sin for the sake of something that may be achieved through other means. And Allaah knows best.
 

uniqueskates

Rabbe Zidni Illma
Assalaamu `alaikum warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh.
Akhy, I believe this is one of those areas in which we should not talk about (i.e., give our opinions) unless we have knowledge.
Walikumassalaam wa re wabaraktuhu.

JazakAllah Khair for correcting sister. My bad.
 

Ummah123

Junior Member
Walaykum Assalam,

Jazakallah Khair sister , i did think of that but some family relationships are close (phones, gifts, etc. are not enough) and people want to meet up, shouldn't it be ok in that case? Also if we think about it, meeting up with family is actually much safer than going their for knowledge. When you go there for knowledge you are forced into mixed environments, whereas when u meet family you would stay with them so there is much less temptation involved. I'll ask this on islamqa.com so they can clarify.
 

Janaan

ربنا اغفر لنا ذنوبنا
Staff member
Brother, it's really not as difficult and complicated as it seems. Muslims have lived and continue to live in non-Muslim lands despite the rulings that have been passed against it.

Some of them really do not have valid reasons for living there because, truth be told, they're able to accomplish everything the same way and maybe even more in their Muslim country that they've left.

But for others, the opposite of the rulings apply because believe it or not, they are able to practice the deen openly, and way better in non-Muslim countries. These are the people who come from Islamic/non-Islamic countries where Muslims are persecuted in their lands. And it might not be possible for them to move to some Muslim country that applies share`ah law because of the strict visa, employment or settlement laws. So their only choice is to live in a non-Muslim country, just for the purpose of practicing the deen subhaanallaah.
This was the view of ibn `Uthaymeen, rahimahullaah.

One may also migrate from a mushrik land to another mushrik land that is less evil and where there is less danger to the Muslim, as some of the Muslims migrated from Makkah at the Prophet’s command to Abyssinia
[Fataawa al-Lajnat-ud-daa'imah lil buhuth al-'ilmiah wal-Iftaa' (12/50)]

And yes inshaa'Allaah do ask and let us know if you get a reply.
 

Hassan

Laa ilaha ilaa Allah
Staff member
This covers practically everything about travel and tourism in Islam: http://islamqa.info/en/87846

Brother Ummah123 this question was posed to shaykh Saalih al-Munajjid of Islam Q&A and he answered:

wa alaikum asalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.

Sister, is there any daleel that visiting relatives is not a valid reason? If we are not allowed to visit relatives, I really need concrete evidence of that.

I did read the islamqa page, but need to go back to it another time, in shaa Allah
 

um muhammad al-mahdi

لا اله الا الله محمد رسول الله
Staff member
Assalamu alaykum,

We should be aware that each fatwa is given for a specific situation. Now the general ruling, as explained in the fatwa, is that we cannot go to non-Muslim countries unless we have a specific reason but then there are different situations for each Muslim. This is when we should ask a person of knowledge inshallah who will ask several informations before giving you an opinion or, in case of a faqhi', will give you a fatwa.

Jazakhum Allahu khayran
 

Hassan

Laa ilaha ilaa Allah
Staff member
wa alaikum asalaam

I thought I had learned about travel, but it was still beneficial to read the islamqa page. Those different situations may be that some of us are already in non-muslim countries, and our relatives aren't muslims. It is clear to me there are some relatives I should be seeing less often though, but there are others...

Jazakallahu khairan for shedding some light on the matter.
 

Janaan

ربنا اغفر لنا ذنوبنا
Staff member
Sister, is there any daleel that visiting relatives is not a valid reason?

Not that I've come across. Even shaykh salih al-Munajjid didn't come right out and say it isn't valid, he just pointed out the better, and maybe safer, alternative that exists.

This is fatwa no. 2167 given by The permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' for the same question.

Q 2: We know a religious brother who wants to travel to Italy to visit his brothers there in order to maintain family ties. Is maintaining family ties considered a legal reason for this person to travel to the land of the disbelievers

A2: If the person who wants to travel to the land of the disbelievers needs to travel, for example, to maintain ties of kinship which is obligatory, can avoid temptation and guard his Islamic obligations, it is permissible for him to travel. However, he must not stay there for long.

May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
 
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