Back to search

Is it permissible to emigrate to Western countries to enjoy human rights if a Muslim is unable to obtain their most basic rights in their own country?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

A Muslim should not emigrate to disbelieving lands except out of necessity or a compelling need, because such lands contain evil, temptation, and corruption that are feared for one's religion and children, and because preserving one's religion takes precedence over acquiring worldly possessions. Al-Qahtani said: "Religion is the capital, so hold fast to it, for its loss is among the greatest of losses." Similarly, Judge Ulaish narrated from Malik: "No one should reside in a place where falsehood is practiced." Therefore, one should appreciate the blessings found in Muslim lands, such as security, living among believers, and hearing the call to prayer, which may be lost in other lands.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy