Is it permissible for one to leave the city and seclude oneself from people in the wilderness to avoid the temptations of contemporary life and preserve one's religion, knowing that one has siblings who might be affected by their decision?
The speaker agrees with the questioner that the ultimate goal is the worship of the Most Merciful, that discussion of truth and the Muslim Ummah precedes politics and Arab affairs, and that politics should not deviate from religion. It is also impermissible to replace Islamic laws with man-made laws. He emphasizes the abundance of tribulations and the strangeness of Islam in this era.
Regarding the establishment of a central Islamic fatwa institution, the speaker clarifies that the Muslim world has recognized this need, and jurisprudential academies are striving to move from individual fatwas to collective fatwas to address emerging issues.
As for the desire to isolate oneself from people and retreat to the wilderness to escape tribulations, the speaker considers it a sound option if salvation cannot be achieved otherwise. However, he prefers mingling with people and enduring their harm if possible, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "The believer who mixes with people and endures their harm is greater in reward than the believer who does not mix with people and does not endure their harm."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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