Question:
Respected Shaykh, is residing in a non-Muslim country permissible or not, whether for study or work, keeping in mind that there is a mosque in this country where prayers are held at certain times?
Answer:
Residing in the lands of the disbelievers is not permissible except for the oppressed (or weak) who are unable to emigrate (make Hijrah). Allah the Exalted says: “Verily! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves (as they stayed among the disbelievers even though emigration was obligatory for them), they (angels) say (to them): “In what (condition) were you?” They reply: “We were weak and oppressed on the earth.” They (angels) say: “Was not the earth of Allâh spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?” Such men will find their abode in Hell - What an evil destination! Except the weak ones among men, women and children who cannot devise a plan, nor are they able to direct their way. These are they whom Allâh is likely to forgive them” (An-Nisa’, 4:97-99)
Therefore, the oppressed individual who is incapable of emigrating resides there out of necessity, but they must hold fast to their religion and not be complacent about it.
This is the first case.
Secondly: Residing is permissible for learning/studying if this knowledge is needed by the individual or the society, and it cannot be found except in non-Muslim lands. In this case, it is permissible to reside there for the duration required to learn this specialization—whether it is medicine or something else—and then return to their country. They reside there only as much as needed.
Thirdly: If their residence in the non-Muslim lands is for the purpose of calling to Allah (doing Da’wah), guiding the Muslims who are there, and inviting the non-Muslims to Islam, then residing for the sake of calling to Allah (Mighty and Majestic is He) is permissible.
Consequently, these are the situations in which residence is permissible: either out of absolute necessity or genuine need.