Question :
What does the Shaykh advise concerning those brothers from the West who want to bring their families to places like Egypt and leave them there and then they go back to America to work a little bit more and bring the second family after a year or so? Is this safe to leave their families in this type of environment?
Answer :
The Shaykh Abdullah Ibn Lamah Al Khawlaani hafidhahullah goes on to say surah 4 ayah 34
سورة 4, الآية 34:
الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنفَقُوا مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللَّهُ وَاللَّاتِي تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَاهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ وَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّا كَبِيرًا
Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allah and to their husbands), and guard in the husband’s absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband’s property, etc.). As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly, if it is useful), but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance). Surely, Allah is Ever Most High, Most Great.
And Allah said in surah 66 ayah 6
سورة 66, الآية 6:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ
O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded.
So since Allah didn’t stop at yourself and mention to save your family from a Fire, the People of Knowledge has taken a benefit from this that it’s not enough that you save only yourself from the Hell Fire. Rather, also you have to include your family that are under you and under your care.
Ibn ‘Umar said, I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace say:
“All of you are shepherds and each of you is responsible for his flock. An Imam is a shepherd and he is responsible for those in his care. A man is a shepherd in respect of his family and is responsible for those in his care. The woman is a shepherd in respect of her husband’s house and is responsible for those in her care. The servant is a shepherd in respect of his master’s property and is responsible for what is in his care. All of you are shepherds and each of you is responsible for his flock.”
(Agreed upon)
Since the man would be asked about his family, it’s not from the care for his family and fulfilling his responsibility that he leaves his family in such a place without someone who will take care of them and he leaves to go to another land. This might be from the effects and results of living in bilaadul kufr. The Shaykh mentioned that it’s not proper and it’s not permissible for a person to leave his family for such a period without a mahram as is mentioned in this question and leave them in such lands without any care, without any mahram and leaving them to go to another country. Maybe six months might also take longer than that. Allah knows best, this is not permissible.
Answered by : Shaykh Abdullah Ibn Lamah Al Khawlaani hafidhahullah
Transcribed by : Asadullah Abu Muwahhid At Tarinidadi