Fatwa ID: 07603
Answered by: Maulana Yusuf Badshah
Question:
I am a doctor and planning to apply for a super specialist training in my medical speciality in the USA. After passing the exams I am confused about whether I should proceed or not as I heard a clip of an Arab scholar saying that it is haram to go to Western countries when they are funding enemies of Islam when they are in war with Muslims. In this case, the US is funding Israel and inhabitant Muslims are paying taxes to the government despite their will.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Answer:
Firstly, know that it is thanks to the Sahaba and those after them venturing into the lands of the non-Muslims and conveying the message of Islam [1] that Islam has spread to nearly every corner of the world. Rather, it is non-Muslim lands that are most in need of exposure to the message of Islam, and it is hoped that those who travel there with the intention of promoting and calling to Islam will be greatly rewarded [2].
As for the permissibility or disapproval of emigrating to a non-Muslim country for other purposes, this will come down to the intention and constitution of the individual in question [3]. In general, it is permissible for a Muslim to emigrate to any land wherein they are able to practice Islam freely [4], provided they are doing so for some beneficial purpose. However, should they be travelling to an area with a non-Muslim majority wherein sin is openly committed, and no significant Muslim community exists, then if one’s Iman is such that they risk falling into sin or losing their Iman upon prolonged exposure to immorality and Kufr then emigrating there would be disliked. Only if a land prohibited Muslims from performing their Fara’idh [5] or persecuted them [6] would emigrating to such a land be prohibited [7].
America is home to multiple thriving Muslim communities Alhumdulillah, and given the international nature of educational institutions, they often house a significant Muslim population, Islamic societies and dedicated Muslim facilities. Thus, travelling to America for specialist training would be deemed permissible. But before making this move, be sure to do your research and consider the strength of your Iman and knowledge of Islam, your resilience in abstaining from what is Haraam in the face of open sin and exposure to non-Muslim culture, the presence of a local Muslim community near your place of residence and the ease of access to necessities such as a place to pray Salah and Halal food.
With regards to the Muslim residents of non-Muslim lands paying taxes, first note that while a proportion of these taxes may be spent towards military funds, a far larger portion goes towards funding schools, hospitals and many other facilities that those Muslim residents themselves regularly benefit from, and it is this majority that overrides the minority in establishing the permissibility of paying taxes in non-Muslim lands [8].
In fact, the same applies to a Muslim land. That is to say, even if a Muslim government were to invest a portion of their tax gains in an impermissible venture, this would not automatically make every member of that country who pays their taxes as they are obliged to by law sinful for doing so.
On the contrary, a Muslim resident in a non-Muslim land would be obligated to pay their taxes as required of them by the law, alongside abiding by all of the other laws of the land provided such laws do not contradict the Fara’idh of Islam [9]. In applying to visit or reside in a nation, one is essentially taking an oath to uphold the laws of that nation, and violating one’s oath is not permissible in Islam [10]. Similarly, it can be deduced that just as a non-Muslim land funding wars against Muslims does not make usurping government funds permissible [11], so too will illegally evading tax remain impermissible.
The second point to note is that in no transaction is one responsible for who the recipient will give their earnings to or how they will spend it [12]. Were this the case, no Muslim could ever transact with a non-Muslim lest they use the proceeds to engage in Haraam, yet we know the Prophet s.a.w did so on multiple occasions [13].
In real terms, it is also understood that most governments do not stipulate a proportion of their tax gains towards their military but rather set a fixed budget. As such, even if the Muslim minority were to withhold their tax, it is other less valued services that would be the first to face budget cuts, and thus the paying or withholding of tax by the local Muslim populace would have no bearing on the military expenditure of their government. If anything, it is the protesting of the local Muslim residents and their challenging of anti-Muslim narratives that has the greatest possibility of making a difference.
Thus, on the basis of the above it can be concluded that in general paying taxes towards a non-Muslim state, whether that be through travelling there, residing there, studying there or shopping there, would be permissible, and for the one living there it would be obligatory, regardless of how a portion of that money is then spent.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Yusuf Badshah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] Sahih Al-Bukhari 7372:
وَحَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي الأَسْوَدِ، حَدَّثَنَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ صَيْفِيٍّ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا مَعْبَدٍ، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، يَقُولُ لَمَّا بَعَثَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُعَاذًا نَحْوَ الْيَمَنِ قَالَ لَهُ “إِنَّكَ تَقْدَمُ عَلَى قَوْمٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ فَلْيَكُنْ أَوَّلَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى أَنْ يُوَحِّدُوا اللَّهَ تَعَالَى فَإِذَا عَرَفُوا ذَلِكَ فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ فَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ فِي يَوْمِهِمْ وَلَيْلَتِهِمْ، فَإِذَا صَلُّوا فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ زَكَاةً فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ تُؤْخَذُ مِنْ غَنِيِّهِمْ فَتُرَدُّ عَلَى فَقِيرِهِمْ، فَإِذَا أَقَرُّوا بِذَلِكَ فَخُذْ مِنْهُمْ وَتَوَقَّ كَرَائِمَ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ”
[2] Sahih Muslim 1893a:
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ – وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي كُرَيْبٍ – قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي أُبْدِعَ بِي فَاحْمِلْنِي فَقَالَ ”مَا عِنْدِي” . فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَا أَدُلُّهُ عَلَى مَنْ يَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ”مَنْ دَلَّ عَلَى خَيْرٍ فَلَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ فَاعِلِهِ”
[3] Sahih Al-Bukhari 1:
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ ، قَالَ : أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيُّ ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنَ وَقَّاصٍ اللَّيْثِيَّ ، يَقُولُ : سَمِعْتُ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ، قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، يَقُولُ: “إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى، فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى دُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا أَوْ إِلَى امْرَأَةٍ يَنْكِحُهَا، فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ”
[4] Surah Mulk verse 15:
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًۭا فَٱمْشُوا۟ فِى مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِهِۦ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ
Raddul Muhtar, vol. 4, pg. 166, Darul Fikr:
بَابُ الْمُسْتَأْمِنِ أَيْ الطَّالِبِ لِلْأَمَانِ (هُوَ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ دَارَ غَيْرِهِ بِأَمَانٍ) مُسْلِمًا كَانَ أَوْ حَرْبِيًّا
[5] Sahih Al-Bukhari 7257
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ زُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَ جَيْشًا وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَجُلاً، فَأَوْقَدَ نَارًا وَقَالَ ادْخُلُوهَا. فَأَرَادُوا أَنْ يَدْخُلُوهَا، وَقَالَ آخَرُونَ إِنَّمَا فَرَرْنَا مِنْهَا، فَذَكَرُوا لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ لِلَّذِينَ أَرَادُوا أَنْ يَدْخُلُوهَا ” لَوْ دَخَلُوهَا لَمْ يَزَالُوا فِيهَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ”. وَقَالَ لِلآخَرِينَ ” لاَ طَاعَةَ فِي مَعْصِيَةٍ، إِنَّمَا الطَّاعَةُ فِي الْمَعْرُوفِ ”.
[6] Raddul Muhtar, vol. 4, pg. 174-175, Darul Fikr:
(لَا تَصِيرُ دَارُ الْإِسْلَامِ دَارَ حَرْبٍ إلَّا) بِأُمُورٍ ثَلَاثَةٍ: (بِإِجْرَاءِ أَحْكَامِ أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ، وَبِاتِّصَالِهَا بِدَارِ الْحَرْبِ، وَبِأَنْ لَا يَبْقَى فِيهَا مُسْلِمٌ أَوْ ذِمِّيٌّ آمِنًا بِالْأَمَانِ الْأَوَّلِ) عَلَى نَفْسِهِ
[7] Surah An-Nisa’ verse 97
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ فِيمَ كُنتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةًۭ فَتُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِيهَا ۚ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
[8] Qawa’id Fiqhiyyah, vol. 1, pg. 501, Darul Fikr:
الأكثر يقوم مقام الكل
[9] Sahih Al-Bukhari 7144:
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنِي نَافِعٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ السَّمْعُ وَالطَّاعَةُ عَلَى الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ، فِيمَا أَحَبَّ وَكَرِهَ، مَا لَمْ يُؤْمَرْ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ، فَإِذَا أُمِرَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ فَلاَ سَمْعَ وَلاَ طَاعَةَ
[10] Surah Al-Isra’ verse 34:
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ مَالَ ٱلْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ ۚ وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِٱلْعَهْدِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْـُٔولًۭا
Raddul Muhtar, vol. 3, pg. 705, Darul Fikr:
(قَوْلُهُ وَهِيَ كَبِيرَةٌ مُطْلَقًا) أَيْ اقْتَطَعَ بِهَا حَقَّ مُسْلِمٍ أَوْ لَا، وَهَذَا رَدٌّ عَلَى قَوْلِ الْبَحْرِ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ تَكُونَ كَبِيرَةً إذَا اقْتَطَعَ بِهَا مَالَ مُسْلِمٍ أَوْ آذَاهُ، وَصَغِيرَةً إنْ لَمْ يَتَرَتَّبْ عَلَيْهَا مَفْسَدَةٌ، فَقَدْ نَازَعَهُ فِي النَّهْرِ بِأَنَّهُ مُخَالِفٌ لِإِطْلَاقِ حَدِيثِ الْبُخَارِيِّ «الْكَبَائِرُ الْإِشْرَاكُ بِاَللَّهِ، وَعُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ، وَقَتْلُ النَّفْسِ، وَالْيَمِينُ الْغَمُوسُ»
[11] Raddul Muhtar, vol. 4, pg. 167, Darul Fikr:
(وَيُفْتَى الْمُسْلِمُ بِرَدِّ الْمَغْصُوبِ) زَيْلَعِيٌّ، زَادَ الْكَمَالُ (وَ) بِرَدِّ (الدَّيْنِ) أَيْضًا (دِيَانَةً) لَا قَضَاءً لِأَنَّهُ غَدْرٌ
[12] Surah Al-Baqarah verse 286:
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ
[13] Sahih Al-Bukhari 2196:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَدِرْعُهُ مَرْهُونَةٌ عِنْدَ يَهُودِيٍّ بِثَلاَثِينَ صَاعًا مِنْ شَعِيرٍ. وَقَالَ يَعْلَى حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ دِرْعٌ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ. وَقَالَ مُعَلًّى حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ وَقَالَ رَهَنَهُ دِرْعًا مِنْ حَدِيدٍ.
