Shortened Question:

Is it a sin to break the law of the land if one is living in a non-Islamic country?

Question:

Is it a sin to break the law of the land if one is living in a non-Islamic country?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Every country has its own set of laws according to the constitution of that country. Whoever is in that country whether they are a visitor or a resident of that country they must abide by the laws of that country.

Rasulullah Salallahu Alihi wa Sallam says that you should obey those who were placed in command over you even if they were a slave.[1]

Allah says:

O those who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you….[2]

If there are any un-Islamic Laws, Muslims cannot abide by such laws. However, Muslims may use all diplomatic channels available to them to communicate their concerns to the authorities and to request for concession or relaxation in such laws based on the freedom of religion clause which is an entrenched clause in all democratic dispensations.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Saeed Ahmed Golaub

Islamic Solutions

Jamaica

[1]:7142 – حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي التَّيَّاحِ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «اسْمَعُوا وَأَطِيعُوا، وَإِنِ اسْتُعْمِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَبْدٌ حَبَشِيٌّ، كَأَنَّ رَأْسَهُ زَبِيبَةٌ» صحيح البخاري (9 / 62)

[2]{ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا} [النساء: 59]