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Fatwa CenterThe obligation to migrate to an environment safe from trials of faith
Question
As salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. In the area of United states where I live, their are no Islamic institutions that are upon the Manhaj of the Salaf for our family to attend. For this reason I have tried, for many years, to get my husband to move. I know several sisters and their husbands who have already done so to a particular community, in another state, which is thriving. I cry much because three of our five children, the oldest three, have already taken the kufr as intimates, and imitate them in much of their bad characteristics, despite the fact that I have tried to teach them, all I know, in regards to following what is from the Qur'an and Sunnah, and the importance of putting it into practice. My younger to are being raised without a strong Islamic community as well and I am so concerned for their well being. My question is what can I do? Being patient, at this point, is extremely difficult for me to do. I want to take my children and leave on my own, in hopes that my husband will follow, would that be permissible? I have even thought of asking for a khula, but that is not really what I want to do, I just want my husband to understand the importance of our family gaining knowledge and living amongst the Muslims who are upon the Manhaj of the Salaf. The community I want us to move to has already established a Masjid, consistent classes, and much Islamic education for the youth. Your advice is appreciated, Jazaka Allah khayran.
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.
The children are a trust in their parents care. It is an obligation to protect them from anything that could lead them to corruption. Allaah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allaah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.} [Quran 66:6]
Moreover, it is confirmed that Ibn ‘Umar 
said: “I heard the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, saying: “Every one of you is a guardian and is responsible for the people under his guardianship, …a man is a guardian in his house and is responsible for the people under his guardianship, and a woman is a guardian in her husband’s home and she will be questioned over the people under her guardianship.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Besides, it is an obligation to migrate from a country where one fears trials/troubles of faith as stated by the jurists 
. If the situation is as you mentioned - that this environment is corrupt - then it is an obligation to migrate from it. Therefore, you should try hard to convince your husband to migrate from it. You may seek help from righteous people whom you believe will convince him. If he is convinced, then this is desirable; otherwise, you are permitted to migrate without his permission to a place where you feel that your children are safe from trails of faith. It is better to reside in a Muslim country as temptation is less feared there and there is less risk.
Finally, we advise you to try to reach mutual understanding with your husband in a good and gentle manner on the grounds of the interest of the children and protecting their religion. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 81642.
Allaah Knows best.
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