Grand Ayatollah Shirazi remarks on ruling of emigrating from Islamic states to non-Islamic states

The daily scholarly meeting of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Sadiq al-Hosseini al-Shirazi was held on Monday, the 17th of Rajab. In this session, like the previous meetings, the Marja answered the questions of the attendees about various jurisprudence issues.

Regarding the permissibility of emigration, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi said: Emigration from an Islamic country to a non-Islamic country is not permissible if it involves doing haram deeds, and also involves not doing what is obligatory. But, if emigration leads to propagation of religion as well as illuminating and guiding others, it becomes permissible, even if that person is not a scholar, or preacher or trained to guide others.

His Eminance further said: Emigration is a wajib for those who do not even have enough religious information, but their move can lead to the guidance of some people, even a small number, as this emigration is the prerequisite of another wajib, that is guidance. However, if such emigration at the same time causes doing haram deeds, this creates a conflict. One should see which side is more important in this conflict? If fulfilling the wajib is more important, this emigration then becomes a wajib, and if avoiding the haram matters more, this emigration becomes haram. Therefore, the ruling on this matter differs according to the individuals and circumstances.

The Marja also emphasized: If emigration is not necessary, that is, staying in an Islamic country does not cause harm and hardship, then this type of migration is not permissible. But, this ruling is not applicable to everyone, and sometimes it is possible that a non-learned person immigrates to a non-Islamic country and settles there, and then later on, they establish a Hussainiya, for example, or sets up Majalis or mourning processions. Such a migration may even be obligatory since it serves as a prerequisite for establishment of wajib.