I am a young Muslim man. I came to Canada four years ago for the purpose of study, and I have acquired permanent residence in this country, as well as a university degree. During my stay, I have learned a lot about Islam, and one of the things I have learned is that it is not permissible to settle in a non-Muslim country, and I decided not to stay here. But some brothers and my father, who is still living in our original homeland, advised me to take Canadian nationality, because of the persecution we face in our homeland, and because of the harrassment of those who are religiously-committed and have beards. According to their claim, this is taking necessary means so that we can be safe from the evil of those people. Is it permissible for me, in this case, to take Canadian nationality? If it is permissible, then is this contrary to putting one’s trust in Allah?

Praise
be to Allah

Firstly:

It is not permissible to
settle in a non-Muslim country, except for one who is able to practice his
religion openly. If he is not able to practice his religion openly, he must
migrate, if he is able to do so. In reality, the application of this ruling
differs from one person to another, and from one country to another.

We have discussed this
previously in the answer to question no. 13363.

Secondly:

With regard to obtaining the
nationality of a non-Muslim country, that is not permissible except in the
case of necessity, because of what results from it of grave evils, such as
being subjected to the rule of the disbelievers, and so on.

The Standing Committee for
Issuing Fatwas was asked:

Many of the Muslims who come
to this country intend to stay here and to obtain American nationality. Is
it permissible for them to do that? Please note that it is a land of
disbelief, shirk and promiscuity. How can they give their allegiance to its
government by giving up the nationality of their Muslim homeland and
accepting the nationality of this country? What is the Islamic ruling on
that, noting that they justify that by saying that they are active in
spreading Islam?

They replied: It is not
permissible for a Muslim to adopt the nationality of a country whose
government are disbelievers, because this will lead to them giving
allegiance to it, and agreeing with what those people follow of falsehood.

As for settling in a country,
without taking on the nationality, the basic principle is that doing so is
disallowed, because Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the
meaning):


““Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves – [the angels] will say, “In what [condition] were you?” They will say, “We were oppressed in the land.” The angels will say, “Was not the earth of Allah spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?” For those, their refuge is Hell – and evil it is as a destination.”

Except for the oppressed among men, women and children who cannot devise a plan nor are they directed to a way -”


[an-Nisa; 4:97, 98].

And because the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “I disavow any Muslim who
settles among the mushrikeen.” And there are many other hadiths which speak
of that. And there is consensus among the Muslim scholars that it is
obligatory to migrate from the land of shirk to the land of Islam when one
is able to do so. But if someone who is well-versed in knowledge of Islam
settles among the mushrikeen in order to convey the message of Islam to them
and call them to it, then there is nothing wrong with that, so long as there
is no fear of him becoming confused and tempted away from his religion, and
he hopes to have an influence on them and guide them. End quote.

‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abdillah
ibn Baz, ‘Abd ar-Razzaq ‘Afeefi, ‘Abdullah ibn Qa‘ood


Fatawa al-Lajnah ad-Daimah
(2/69)

Ash-Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (may Allah
preserve him) said: Whoever has no choice but to seek the nationality of a
non-Muslim country, such as one who cannot go back to his homeland for fear
of persecution and imprisonment, and cannot find any safe haven, it is
permissible for him to do that, on condition that he is able to practice his
religion openly. As for obtaining nationality for the sake of purely worldly
interests, I do not think that is permissible. End quote.

Please also see the answer to
question no. 6247

Based on that, if you are not
persecuted in your country, and you can live there, even with some kinds of
annoyance and pressure, then it is not permissible for you to take this
nationality.

If someone has no other
choice, and he takes the nationality (of a non-Muslim country), this is not
contrary to putting his trust in Allah, because that – in such cases – comes
under the heading of taking measures to avoid being harmed.

And Allah knows best.