Saeed Al-Suraihi

Okaz

 

It was really sad to hear the imam of a mosque prohibiting Muslims from traveling to non-Muslim countries and saying that doing so is haram. The imam said that it was only under strict conditions that it was permissible for a Muslim to go to a non-Muslim country.



It breaks one’s heart to hear him attacking students who travel to non-Muslim countries for educational purposes. Does he not know that there are thousands of Saudi students studying in such countries? The imam views the countries of the world from a very limited perspective and says that there are countries that want us to abandon our religion and want to distort our beliefs.



What is worse is that he has also prohibited any type of business with any non-Muslim country that might bring benefit to such a country. Does he not know that the thobe he was wearing and the microphone he was using when he was delivering his speech were the products of bilateral business relations with non-Muslim countries? How could he have spoken to the hundreds of people sitting in the mosque if he did not have a microphone to use so that his voice could be heard?



I have to be completely honest and say that the imam did not give any valid and convincing reason for prohibiting setting up small businesses in non-Muslim countries. His words were sheer fabrication and did not have a shred of truth in them.



Unfortunately, scholars who are supposed to fight extremism are themselves adopting extremist thoughts. They are supposed to show the public how to be tolerant and forgiving. Allah the Almighty prohibits us from doing business with or dealing with those who fight our religion. However, not all non-Muslims fight our religion.



The most extreme thought this imam expressed in his speech was that he was afraid that Muslims who die in a non-Muslim country would go to Hell. However, this was the same as saying that each and every Muslim who dies in a Muslim country would go to Paradise. Does he not realize that there are some Muslims who live in non-Muslim countries who are more observant of Islamic teachings than Muslims who live in a Muslim country?