Ruling on Residence in Non-Islamic Countries in The Light of Islamic Sharia

Abstract

Islam, as the ultimate and final divine religion followed by nearly one and a half billion people and encompassing around fifty Islamic countries, provides instructions and rules for Muslims on how to engage with non-Islamic states. These guidelines are available in Islamic texts, including the Quran, Hadith, and the sayings of esteemed jurists, and are intended to help Muslims navigate interactions with non-Islamic countries. The research findings indicate that residing in non-Islamic countries, according to both classical jurists and contemporary scholars, is neither completely permissible nor entirely forbidden. It varies based on different situations and conditions. In some circumstances, it is allowed or recommended, while in others, it is prohibited or discouraged, depending on the individual's specific context. This research adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology to examine the jurisprudential issues related to this topic, using documentation from Quranic verses, Prophetic traditions, and authoritative jurisprudential books from various schools of thought to elucidate the ruling on residing in non-Islamic countries.