Is It Permissible to Swear an Oath of Allegiance to a Country?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Is it permissible to swear an oath of allegiance to the state, as required for teaching roles in some countries, without full commitment? Under what conditions would such an oath be allowed?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are well.
It is permissible to swear an oath of allegiance to the state.
Absolute Allegiance and Conditional, Worldly Allegiance
Our absolute allegiance is to Allah’s (Most High) commands and the teachings of His Prophet. In a worldly context, we may conditionally pledge allegiance to the laws of the land and commit to upholding them.
Living in Non-Muslim Countries
Living in a non-Muslim country and holding its nationality is permissible as long as one can fulfill one’s obligatory religious duties and there is no significant threat to one’s faith or that of one’s children.
One way to transform living in a non-Muslim country into an act of worship is by making a firm intention to embody Islamic principles and showcase their beauty to both Muslims and non-Muslims. Take proactive steps to implement this intention in your life and community.
[Usmani, Buhuth fi Qadaya Fiqhiyya Mu‘asira]
Related
- Pledging Allegiance to Gain Citizenship
- Is it Permissible to Move from a Muslim Country to a Non-Muslim Country?
- knowledge and Guidance: A Comprehensive SeekersGuidance Reader – SeekersGuidance
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
