Muslims in non-Muslim countries

Question: To what extent do Muslims have to obey
the governments of the non-Muslim countries in which they live?
To what extent can they disobey or resist those governments?

Answered by Sheikh Salman al-Oadah

The Muslims living a non-Muslim country, even if they entered that
country by means of forged documents, are considered to be living
in their adopted country under a covenant. They must, therefore,
comply with the laws of their country of residence without, at the
same time, disobeying Islamic Law.

Allah says: “Oh you who believe! Fulfill (your) obligations.”
[Sûrah al-Mâ’idah: 1]

He also says: “And fulfill (every) covenant. Verily! The
covenant will be questioned about.” [Sûrah al-Isrâ':
34]

He says: “And fulfill the Covenant to Allah when you have
covenanted, and break not the oaths after you have confirmed them.”
[Sûrah al-Nahl: 91]

A Muslim is not to break or violate oaths or promises. He will
not be a true faithful Muslim if he does so. Allah Said: “It
is not the case that every time they make a covenant, some party
among them throws it aside. Nay! The truth is most of them believe
not.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 100]

Among the characteristics of a hypocrite is that he: “…acts
treacherously toward covenants (pledges), and when entrusted he
betrays.”

Scholars have stated that those who enter non-Muslim countries
have to adhere to their respective laws and regulations even if
they entered those countries illegally, and they have no excuse
for breaking those laws, since they were entrusted to abide by those
laws upon entry into those countries.

The eminent Hanafî jurist, Mohammad b. Hasan Al-Shaybânî
writes [Biographies (2/6)]:

If it happens that a company of Muslims pass through the enemy’s
front lines by deceptively pretended to be messengers of the Muslim’s
Caliph carrying official documents – or if they were just
allowed to pass through the enemy lines – they are not allowed
to engage in any hostilities with the enemy troops. Neither are
they entitled to seize any of their money or properties as long
as they are in their area of authority. This also applies in case
of being truly trusted by the other party.

Accordingly, we conclude the following:

Muslims living in non-Muslim countries have to comply with laws
and regulations of the country they have been entrusted though valid
visas to enter. At the same time, they have to avoid whatever contradicts
Islamic teachings. In case they are obliged by law to uphold something
contrary to Islamic teachings, they have to adhere to the minimum
that the law requires of them.

One of the best approaches for a Muslim living in these countries
is patience. As long as he agrees to live in a non-Muslim country,
he is never to rebel against the people living in his choice of
residence, even it seems to hard for him to endure.