The required conditions of traveling to a country of disbelievers

Question:

What are the required conditions of traveling to a country of disbelievers in order to study? May Allah bless you.

Answer:

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Scholars consider traveling to a country of disbelievers permissible for a purpose of Da`wa (call to Allah) or for a worldly purpose on the condition that: the person knows his religion, that his faith and religion (Islam) be in security, to be able to show the apparent signs of Islam and be able to perform them in a complete way, and that nothing will prevent him from abiding by the right way as regards his appearance, clothes and his general appearance which is different from that of Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah). The person who travels to such country should also be able to comply with the belief of Al-Walâ' and Al-Barâ' (loyalty and friendship vs. disavowal and enmity) which is one of the requirements and conditions of Shahâda (saying: I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger); among the prerequisites of Al-Barâ' (disavowal); detesting polytheists and disbelievers and not to be like them as regards their characteristics, whether religious or worldly, and not contribute to their happy occasions and their festivals, not congratulate, befriend or like them. Allah عزَّ وجلَّ said:

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ تُلْقُونَ إِلَيْهِمْ بِالْمَوَدَّةِ﴾ [الممتحنة: 1].

Translation of the meaning of the verse:

﴾O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies (i.e. disbelievers and polytheists, etc.) as friends, showing affection towards them﴿ [Al-Mumtahana (The Woman to be examined): 1].

It is also of Al-Barâ' to not wheedle them, go for judgment to them or be content of their judgments instead of the judgment of Allah, and not greet them the first by saying "As-Salâmu `Alaykum" (peace be upon you) nor glorify them whether by a word or by action.

So, the conclusion is that it is not allowed to befriend them in general, overtly or inwardly.

However, if a person cannot show the rites of Islam in a complete way or that his religion is not in security, his travel is forbidden and is considered a major sin.

And if he travels there because he likes disbelievers and swears allegiance to them overtly and inwardly by approving them; in such case, he is considered a disbeliever out of the Islamic religion in accordance with Allah’s عزَّ وجلَّ saying:

﴿ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ ﴾ [المائدة: 51].

Translation of the meaning of the verse:

﴾And if any amongst you takes them as Auliyâ' (friends, protectors, helpers) then surely he is one of them.﴿ [Al-Mâ'ida (The Table Spread with Food) : 51].

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet, his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Algiers, Rajab 8^th, 1428 H
July 22^nd, 2007