Assalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I have an Egyptian relative who lives with you in the United States. Here in Egypt, there are those who say he is wrong and that it is permissible to take him as an enemy because he pays taxes to the American government which then uses the money for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and to support Israel. I would like to know the Islamic ruling on that and your reply, for there is no one more qualified to issue fatwa than you in this and you live there.

Jazakum Allahu khairan.

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessing be upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his household, his companions and those who have followed him. To proceed:

The ruling on taking up residence beyond the lands of Islam differs from one individual to the next, according to his situation and any extenuating circumstances. Whoever is capable of fully practicing his religion and is safe from temptation therein, there is no blame on him for living wherever he pleases, for all lands belong to Allah and all people are Allah’s bondsmen. So, live wherever is good for you, provided that one has a good intention for living there, such as seeking knowledge, earning a living, fleeing from religious persecution, and so on. As for those who are not capable of fully practicing their religion or who fear temptation therein, it is not permissible for them to live there.

In terms of paying taxes, the general ruling on that is that the money comes back to those who pay taxes in the form of services, and whatever part of it is spent for unlawful purposes would fall into the category of a mixture of good and bad — the intertwining of harm and benefit in times of fitnah, which practically no act is free of. What should be considered in this situation and those like it is that which is predominant, or what was originally intended. As for the consequences or minimal, rare factors, I hope that these would be within that which will be forgiven, in view of the preponderance of overwhelming benefit.

And Allah Almighty is the Most High, and He knows best.