Among the important matters that Muslims face is emigration from a Muslim country to a non-Muslim one. Is such migration allowed by Islam? If so, under what set of rules and restrictions can such a migration take place? What are legitimate reasons for it and until when may they stay in the place of immigration? Other questions which arise in the same vein are when and under what circumstances is a Muslim immigrant obliged to return to his homeland (or another Islamic country), and what is the obligation of Muslim immigrants in their host country? Finally, How should a Muslim immigrant conduct himself in the host country?

According to the sharia' (the Islamic code of law), migration is not only acceptable, but may even be advisable. Migration may be to either an Islamic or non-Islamic country. In the Glorious Quran we read,

We may conclude from this verse that migration is preferable when a person feels that he is under oppression in his country. Also, if he feels that his or his family's religion or it's principles are in danger, or fears for violation of his human rights he may migrate. If he feels that he will lose his religion by not migrating, he must migrate granted he has the financial capability.

There are, however, other reasons for migrating. One may migrate for the purpose of higher education and to take advantage of resources not present in ones own country. A Muslim is also permitted to migrate to improve his financial standing. It is, however, forbidden to migrate if such migration will cause one to lose his Islamic values and principles. Even if one's own values are not affected, but that of family members over whom you have responsibility are affected, migrating from the host country is required. One must not forget that an immigrant retains a relationship with his country of origin and should help it financially and through means of bolstering its system of education. For example, a physician, or researcher may wish to return to his home country to teach for some time. This way, a person shares his advanced knowledge with his fellow Muslims and countrymen who may not have the opportunity to migrate and learn first hand.

Muslims in their host country have many obligations. He must both acclimate to new customs and ways of doing business and possibly a new language. Beyond this, he must also learn how to stay a good Muslim in a possibly unislamic environment. In this acclimatization is an inherent conflict. One the one hand a Muslim needs to blend in with his local environment and learn the ways of the local inhabitants. On the other hand, he has an obligation to Almighty Allah to maintain a firm belief in the practices of Islam. Let us examine the situation of Muslim immigrants in Western countries.

One of the most important questions facing the Muslim immigrant is whether he can hold the citizenship of his host country. Many reasons have been given. For example, some say that they are obliged to leave their country because of political or religious oppression, imprisonment, torture and/or confiscation of one's possessions. Others say that the Islamic laws in their country are not being applied, so it makes no difference living in their own country or in the West. Others, still, say that they feel more comfortable practicing their religion outside of their own country than within it.

There is no objection in Islam to holding the nationality of a non-Islamic country, granted that it does not lead to the practice of haram (forbidden) activities. The concept of nationhood and nationality is a new one and did not exist during the Prophet's (S) time. The Prophet has said, "Everything is hallal (permissible) to you until you know of its prohibition, henceforth you must stop the practice of it." Therefore, becoming the citizen of a non-Islamic country for access to services and facilities (that are not haram) is acceptable and has not been forbidden. If the purpose of gaining citizenship is for illicit means, it is forbidden. This is based on the principle that what leads to haram is haram.

The question of the effect of secular Western society on the attitudes of Muslim children is also an important one. Some say the environment in their home country is more anti-Islamic than the West due to Marxist and secular Socialist ideologies. They counter that in Western societies, no particular ideology in imposed on people, so they (and their children) are free to choose whatever suits them. It is the author's opinion that the pressure in the West is greater because their is a subtle ideology in the West that is indoctrinated through the schools and television and the cinema. It is the ideology of consumerism and secular democratic capitalism where money is placed before principle, and faith and religion are encouraged to stay in your heart and not be expressed in public. Islam says that if you fear that you will lose your faith, you must move to yet another country.

If the purpose of a Muslim's migration is for illicit gain, then it is not permissible to migrate. This includes the selling of haram meats, alcohol and other forbidden products. To sell these goods, or haram services, to Muslims is clearly prohibited. However, it is also prohibited to make profit from such sales and services to non-Muslims as well. This is because Allah has prohibited their value as well. We read in the Glorious Quran,

The Prophet (S) regarding alcohol has said, "Allah's curse rest upon the Liquor and its producer, its seller, purchaser and server, the beneficiary of its value and its drinker, he who transports it, delivers it, and to whom it is transported and delivered."

It seems that if a person is not involved directly in the selling "Everything is hallal (permissible) to you until you know of its prohibition, henceforth you must stop the practice of it." or serving of prohibited goods it is not a problem to work in such an establishment. For example, if someone works in a restaurant as a dishwasher but not as a waiter, it is not a problem. This is because the dishwasher is not involved in purchasing or serving the haram products. However, one can be a waiter in a restaurant which does not serve alcohol and still serve haram meats as long as you know that it will not be served to Muslims. Similar questions arise for other lines of work such as working in an atomic laboratory, arms factory, or in broadcasting (where unislamic programs are broadcast). If there is now enmity between the host country and Islamic countries, working in such fields may not be a problem.

In sum, immigration from a Muslim country to another Muslim country or non-Muslim one is permissible and in some circumstances may be obligatory. While in the host country it is permissible to obtain citizenship. One's obligations in the host country are to remain a good Muslim and not work or deal in haram products and services. Finally, if one fears for the safety of one's own faith or that of the people under your responsibility and protection, you are obligated to migrate once again to preserve the faith (although it does not need to be to one's home country or another Islamic country).