Ruling on a Muslim travelling to the land of disbelief to settle and reside there

Firstly: 

With regard to a Muslim residing in the land of disbelief,
the scholars have stated that in principle it is not permissible, for the
following reasons: 

1.

There are hadiths from the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) which state that it is not allowed for a Muslim to reside
in the land of disbelief, and it is enjoined to leave and depart from the
disbelievers. Such hadiths include the following: 

It was narrated from the Messenger of Allah (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) that he said: “I disavow every Muslim who
resides among the mushrikeen.”

Narrated by Abu Dawood (2645) and at-Tirmidhi (1604). Classed
as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel (5/29-30) 

It was narrated that Abu Nukhaylah al-Bajali said: I came to
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) when he was accepting
oaths of allegiance, and said: O Messenger of Allah, give me your hand so
that I may swear allegiance to you, and stipulate conditions for me, for you
know best. He said: “I accept your oath of allegiance on the basis that you
will worship Allah alone, establish prayer, give zakaah, be sincere towards
the Muslims and depart from the mushrikeen.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (4177);
classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah
(2/227). 

2.

In the lands of disbelief at the present time there is a
great deal of immorality and they have to extremes in that, to the extent
that it has become something ordinary and common among them, and no one
denounces that among them but they criticise him. If the Muslim travels to
such a country to live there, he is exposing himself to temptation and
immorality. 

Secondly: 

Travelling and settling in the land of disbelief has only
been prohibited because it is a means that leads to corruption, as mentioned
above, either the corruption of whims and desires and immoral deeds, or the
corruption of religious commitment in general, in the sense that he may be
tempted away from his religion and move to another religion. 

It is well established that if something is prohibited
because it is among the ways and means that lead to what is prohibited, it
may be permitted in the case of necessity. 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him)
said: 

Whatever is disallowed so as to block the means that may lead
to something prohibited, not because it is wrong in and of itself, may be
allowed if a clear interest may be served by that.

End quote from Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (23/214) 

This case – i.e., where a clear interest may be served – may
be illustrated in our case here as being when two important conditions are
fulfilled with regard to the one who wants to travel to the land of
disbelief and settle there: 

the first condition is that he should be able to practice his
religion and perform its rituals openly, and he should think it most likely
that he will be safe from specious arguments and whims and desires that are
easily available there. 

The second condition is that there should be a real interest
to be served by his travelling and settling in the land of disbelief, that
cannot be achieved in the Muslim world, such as seeking important knowledge
that is not available in Muslim countries, or calling people to the religion
of Allah, and so on. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

Travelling to the land of the disbelievers is not permissible
unless preconditions are met: 

1.    

That the individual should have sufficient knowledge to
ward off specious arguments

2.    

that he should be religiously committed so as to ward off
whims and desires

3.    

that he should have a need to do that. 

If these conditions are not met, then it is not permissible
to travel to the land of the disbelievers, because of what that involves of
temptation or the fear of temptation. 

End quote from Majmoo‘ Fataawa ash-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen
(6/131-132) 

What appears to us to be the case – and Allah knows best – is
that urgent need is not applicable in your case, because from what you
mentioned there does not seem to be any urgent need or necessity that would
push you to go and settle in the land of disbelief. These incidents that you
mention, even though they may be many, have not – as far as we know –
reached such a level that life in Pakistan has descended into utter chaos.
So long as there are still many safe places inside Pakistan, the Muslim may
move from a city that is less safe to another that is more safe. 

But if it so happens that an individual is no longer safe, in
terms of his life for his religious commitment, in his own country, and it
is not possible for him to live safely in any part of the Muslim world, then
there is nothing wrong with him moving to a place where his religious
commitment, his life, and his family may be safe, even if that is in the
land of the disbelievers. 

In fatwa no. 13363 we have discussed
some important details about this matter. 

And Allah knows best.