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Fatwa CenterHis father wants him to migrate to Canada
Question
AsalamoAlikum Warahmatullah Dear Brothers/Sisters I have a very important question. My father is telling me to apply for CANADIAN immigration. He says that in Toronto its not harder to stick to religious commitment since there is not much discrimination there. There are also some very good Islam's religious societies there. The currently I currently live in is Pakistan. It is in dismal situation with regard to implementation of true Islam. Although it is by name considered to be a Muslim country but realistically the level of evil here is enormous. It is extremely hard to maintain religious commitment here. Bribery, killing, mischief in the land, lies, family politics, lack of Hijab, among others, are at very high levels here. You feel like running away from this place. My question is straightforward. Can I settle in CANADA and from there begin my life with religious goals? Given that I am not allowed to form a proper base in Saudia Arab or Other Muslim country where level of evil is relatively 'low' and I am able to better manage my religious commitment and religous goals in Canada as compared to my current location,Pakistan, then can I move to canada? Kindly note that some very good Muslim societies there as well as dawa organisations. I even feel like being part of one of these societies. I also want to know the criteria used to judge whether some place is a Muslim land or not? there are so many places like Pakistan which are considered to be Muslim countries but if You visit these places then you would hardly find beauty of Islam. Infact, you will find enormous level of Jahalat. Kindly do not refer me to answer to similar questions. I hope Islamweb would cosider me a brother and guide on of the most critical decision of my life. Jazak Allah
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
There are great corruption, temptations and seductions in non-Muslims countries because of the laws of those countries that give the individual unlimited freedom. But whatever you say about corruption in your country or any other Muslim country, the fact remains that corruption in non-Muslim countries is many times greater than that in Muslim countries.
Nevertheless, migrating to non-Muslim countries for whoever predominantly thinks that he is able to establish the rituals of his region and stay away from the reasons of temptations is Islamically permissible. So, if you predominantly think that your situation is so, then you are permitted to migrate there and fulfill the desire of your father in this regard. But if you fear that you will be tempted in your religion, then it is not permissible for you to migrate to that country, and there is no obedience to a creature in disobeying the Creator. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 86405.
In our view, if a person wants to be safe and keep his religion, he should not migrate to a non-Muslim country without a necessity or a dire need to be safe than sorry.
Indeed, there is much good in Muslim countries. Allaah Says (what means): {… And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.}[Quran 65:2-3]
In addition to this, whoever abandons something for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better. the Prophet said: “You do not leave something out of the fear of Allaah except that Allaah gives you something better instead.” [Ahmad]
With regard to the Muslim countries where you mentioned that the real beauty of Islam is lacking, then its people have more right to your effort in Da’wah to Allaah. If the situation of the Muslims becomes better and they return to their religion, they will be an example for non-Muslims to embrace Islam as in previous centuries.
As regards the definition of Daar Al-Islaam (Muslim lands) and Daar Al-Kufr (non-Muslim lands), then please refer to Fataawa 81752 and 86528.
Allaah Knows best.
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