What Is the Legal Ruling on Evading Taxes in Non-Muslim Countries?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Is it allowed to evade taxes in Western countries where tax money is used to kill our brothers and sisters (e.g. in Palestine)? In Germany, for example, arms exports have increased from 32 to 303 million euros. But this has been the case in Western countries for a long time, and they use tax money to bring injustice and death to Islamic countries (Afghanistan, Iraq, etc).

Answer

I pray you are well.

No. You can use any legal means within the country you are in to minimize your tax payments, but using other means usually involves lying and deceit. This is not permissible.

Being a citizen of those countries means you have agreed to follow their laws. The Quran teaches us, “O Believers! Fulfil your pledges.” (Quran, 5:1). Besides, your taxes go to more than paying for bombs: they pay for the police service, the fire service, the general stability and security of the state, etc.

A viable alternative, if possible, is to move to a country that doesn’t engage in such acts. If that’s not possible, then obey the laws and don’t lie to defraud the system.

May Allah give relief to all those who are harmed by such immoral violence.
[Shaykh]Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital, and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.