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Fatwa CenterRefraining from marriage in non-Muslim country for fear of persecution
Question
Is it permissible for a man to marry when a potential Muslim husband, wife, and children may be exposed to grave danger, dishonor, and even death, due to their religion, and the husband may not be able to protect them, as in the US? Specifically, can you provide examples of marriages between Muslims who did not have the protection of a powerful tribe or family members during the time of the persecution of Muslims in Makkah before the Emigration? As you know, Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, married Sawdah, may Allaah be pleased with her, and became engaged to ‘Aa’ishah (AS) in Makkah, while he was being persecuted. However, my understanding is that, praise be to Allaah, his life and his family members were protected by Abu Talib, Banu Hashim, and Banu Al-Muttalib in Makkah, and later by the Covenants of Aqabah and Madina in Madina. A speedy reply would be most appreciated as I would like to make a major life decision soon. Thank you very much, and may Allaah reward you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
There is nothing in Islam that prevents a Muslim from marrying in conditions such as those you mentioned. The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, got married while they were in Makkah before the Emigration while they were faced with harm and persecution to the extent that they were forced to migrate to Abyssinia.
‘Uthmaan, may Allah be pleased with him, married Ruqayyah, the daughter of the Prophet and she migrated with him to Abyssinia.
However, although this matter is permissible in principle, it could be better sometimes, in some cases, to not get married, especially with the women of the People of the Book, and if a person has to get married, then he should get married to a Muslim woman and avoid having children with her so that he would not subject his children to the causes of corruption, as mentioned by the scholars of Fiqh when talking about marriage in the land of war.
We presume that the matter in the country which you mentioned has not reached this extent. In any case, it is more appropriate for a Muslim to reside in a Muslim country where he can live without any harm and not remain in a non-Muslim country except for a necessity or a need.
For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 86405.
Allah knows best.
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