Question:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Virtuous Shaykh, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “I am free (disassociated) from any Muslim who resides among the polytheists.” Today, we find hundreds of thousands of Muslims residing among the polytheists, and some benefactors have gone and built Islamic institutes there—firstly, to educate the children of Muslims, and secondly, to call people to Allah (Da’wah). If a teacher is requested to go and reside there to teach or to call people to Allah, is it permissible for him to accept, given that he will be residing among the polytheists?
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions, and those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
Residing among the polytheists undoubtedly causes harm, and a person exposes themselves to tribulation and evil. However, if this tribulation or evil leads to a greater good—such as going there to call people to the religion of Allah, or to teach the children of Muslims the correct creed—then there is no harm in it. This is because the benefit here is stronger or greater than the expected harm.
Furthermore, the hadith: “I am free (disassociated) from every Muslim”—or he said, “from anyone who resides among the polytheists”—can be understood to mean those who are unable to openly practice their religion. As for those who are able to openly practice their religion, they do not fall under this hadith.
Nevertheless, it is preferable to apply the hadith to its general meaning, and it is said: if their residence is more beneficial for Islam and the Muslims, then there is no blame in that.