Non-believing countries are dangerous for Muslims
16-2-2015 | IslamWeb
Question:
Im 27 year old from a well known muslim country. I have recently repented from all the sins I was engaging in since I was 18. I have grown a beard, pray on time and follow sunnah. Married recently Alhamduliah. The last 5 years of my life I was studing in the U.S. I was trying to be an "American guy" and engaged in a lot of sins drinking, smoking, sex etc. I have repented the last six month of my stay in US and faced a lot of hardship and suffered from depression agreophobia and bad thoughts. These sypmotoms continued and have worsen when I came back home where I faced an extreme reverse cultural shock. However, I continued to strive to be a real muslim and the syptoms subsided gradually alhamdullilah. Also, I adopt to live in the new environment "home country" where corruption and fitnah are everywhere despite being a muslim land. Furthermore, now I have a job and feel better Alhamdulilah. Now my employer is sending me back to U.S for 7 months and have got the ticket for me and my new wife. However, Im not feeling good about this specially after the fitnah that is happening in the world right now. Please I need an advice. Shukran Jazeelan brothers
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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
You did well by turning back to Allaah and repenting of your sins. This is what the believer should do. Whenever he commits a sin, he hastens to repent and never despairs of Allaah's mercy and forgiveness. Allaah The Exalted says (what means): {Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allaah. Indeed, Allaah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."} [Quran 39:53]
Abu Hurayrah 
reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Allaah, the Exalted, said: 'A slave committed a sin and he said: O Allaah, forgive my sin,' and Allaah said: 'My slave committed a sin and he knows that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for sins.' He, then, again committed a sin and said: 'O my Lord, forgive my sin,' and Allaah said: 'My slave committed a sin and he knows that he has a Lord Who forgives his sin and punishes for sin.' He again committed a sin and said: 'O my Lord, forgive my sin,' and Allaah said: 'My slave has committed a sin and he knows that he has a Lord Who forgives sin and punishes for sin. Do whatever you wish for I have granted you forgiveness.'" [Muslim] Needless to say, the Hadeeth does not encourage us to commit sins; rather, it urges the Muslim to sincerely turn back to Allaah and repent whenever he commits a sin and never to despair of the mercy and forgiveness of his Lord.
Indeed, a person's religiosity and conduct are significantly affected by the environment in which he lives. Non-Muslim societies are among the most dangerous environments for the Muslim given the spread of immorality and Fitnah (temptations) there. Therefore, Muslims are advised to avoid living in non-Muslim countries especially where temptation is feared. Therefore, you should not travel to such a country, even if it means quitting your job. If someone gives something up for the sake of Allaah, He will compensate him with what is even better. But if you believe that you would be safe from temptation due to the presence of your wife with you, then there is no harm in traveling to that country. You are advised, then, to be stringent with yourself and to distance yourself from whatever leads to Fitnah, and to go back to your country as soon as your assignment is finished. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 86405.
Allaah Knows best.