BENEFIT 460: The Duty of a Student of Knowledge to His People
9 May 2025 • 1.04K views
This questioner asks: If a student of knowledge is living in his own country but fears for his faith due to potential fitnah, and he migrates to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—may Allāh preserve it—for the sake of safeguarding his religion, even though the people of his country are in dire need of him
Sheikh Salih Al-Fawzan hafidahullah:
No, if the Muslims in his country are in need of him, then his remaining among them is preferable. He should stay with them, call them to Allāh, and enlighten them about their religion. His presence among them serves a greater benefit—the benefit of calling others to Allāh and guiding the local Muslims—which outweighs his migration to Saudi Arabia(1).
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(1) The Sheikh's answer pertains to someone who can withstand the fitnah, as it is a duty to safeguard oneself from the Hellfire before helping others:
{یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوۤا۟ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَأَهۡلِیكُمۡ نَارࣰا وقودها الناس والحجارة}
"O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones." [Surah At-Taḥrīm: 6]
{ یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ عَلَیۡكُمۡ أَنفُسَكُمۡۖ لَا یَضُرُّكُم مَّن ضَلَّ إِذَا ٱهۡتَدَیۡتُمۡۚ}
"O you who have believed, upon you is [responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided." [Surah Al-Māʾidah: 105]