OnIslam.net

*This answer was provided by Sister Dalia Salaheldin and Brother Mutahhir Sabree, who is an associate chaplain in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Columbia, SC.

Brother Mutahhir Sabree says:

Salam Anthony,

Thank you for your question.

First, I would like to congratulate you on your desire to become a Muslim and to follow the path ordained by Almighty Allah for His creatures. May Allah the Most High give you His Guidance and open your heart to Islam so that you may take that first step, which is the open declaration of faith called the Shahadah (witnessing that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger).

If I may give you some advice, for our religion, or deen, is sincere advice, let me say that in order to be a true Muslim, it is not required to migrate [make hijrah]. However, migration, or hijrah is a very important aspect of Islam, the rulings of which we should understand.

As Muslims, it is necessary that all of our actions be based on two conditions. These are:

• Sincere intention, for our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
  
  "The reward of deeds depends upon the intention and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for Allah and His Apostle, then his emigration was for Allah and His Apostle. And whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for."
• The action should be in accordance with the Sunnah (manners or traditions of the prophet).

Now, as to your migrating to a land where Islam is loved, you might like to know that last night I was just talking with one of our great scholars, Muhammad `Adly, about this subject. He said:

“Yes, things are getting real bad here in the US as it relates to Islam and Muslims. Yet, where would be that place, where the true practicing Muslim can go without facing what might even be worse than what we are faced with here?”

Yes, one could go to a land where there are a majority of Muslims. You might hear the Adhan (call for prayers) five times a day and you would have a masjid mosque in every neighborhood… Yet, can you really practice true Islam over there? Can you speak freely there?

In some of these countries, you might even be subject to being persecuted for practicing your religion as it is supposed to be truly practiced. You might even be imprisoned for a simple gesture like wearing a beard - if you are male - or be mistreated for wearing khimar (head cover known as hijab) - if you were a female).

There is a very good tape on the conditions of hijrah, by Imam Said Rageah. I highly recommend it, for he outlines in it these conditions according to the rulings of Shari`ah. Generally, there are four conditions regarding hijrah, as to it's lawfulness or applicability to one's circumstance. It can be obligatory in certain cases, highly recommended, undesirable or prohibited.

The condition is decided according to the details of each case, thus, consulting one of our brothers in the Fatwa Section might also be helpful. They might really help you take the correct decision, if you provide them with more details about your personal case.

I hope Anthony that my humble notes would be really helpful to you. Thank you.

Sister Dalia Salaheldin adds:

Salam Anthony,

I need first to express my appreciation of brother Sabree’s words and advice, and explain accordingly that you may need to ask yourself:

“Why do I want to leave my country?”

You said it is because you want to be a ‘good’ Muslim. Maybe you need to consider that you might be a better Muslim in your country than anywhere else.

According to Islam, any piece of land is naturally pure and accessible for all mankind to worship God peacefully. If you look around you, you will definitely find the Muslim community around you everywhere, as a practical example. Islam has, al-hamdu lillah, spread vastly in the USA and Europe.

This definitely was by the help of reverts – in sha' Allah – like you. This is where  your role and effort to become a ‘good Muslim’ comes. Muslim countries, my dear brother, are full of Muslims who might not be of great help to the Islamic cause over there.

As for you, maybe you need to study Islam more thoroughly and understand every bit and piece about it. Then, your real mission and real goal starts. This is to spread the peaceful word of God, through wisdom of speech and sincerity of attitude.

Think about it and see where you will serve as a better Muslim; as one of the millions in a Muslim country, or as an effective one who can help his fellow humans understand the religion of God. Islam, dear brother, has become like a fur-coat, which Muslims are wearing with its fur inside! The best of it is hidden and no one can really see it.

That is why many non-Muslims misunderstand it and believe the scary fairy tales spread about it. In fact, with the un-Islamic behavior of so many Muslims and the subjective media campaigns launched against Islam, they are not to be blamed… And, here comes your role.

You are one of them. You have seen Islam from the outside once, as they do right now. You can understand them more and you should sympathize with them because they don’t know. You should not see them as your enemies, rather as your fellow-humans who lack knowledge of the beauty of Islam.

Again, I emphasize that before taking on such a great and heavy duty, you need to pursuit sound knowledge and prepare yourself as a responsible da`i (someone who invites people to Islam). Maybe it would still be a good idea to visit some Muslim countries for a while. This is not for the reason you stated, but for perusing academic studies in the different disciplines of Islam.

As for the time being, my advice to you is to try to mingle with the Muslim community in your country. You will definitely find a mosque or Islamic center where you can socialize with Muslims. This will help you maintain your newly growing creed. It is also a chance to find a channel to start being an active Muslim and experience the different Islamic activities and roles.

Brother, welcome to Islam and my final advice to you here is to change your life towards the better gradually. Do not throw away all your past. On the contrary, use what was best in that and add it to the very best that you will find in Islam. Try to become a wise blend of your past and present to serve your future role in the service of God, the Most Merciful.

Thank you Anthony and please keep in touch.

Salam

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