Assalamu Alykum
I am an Australian permanent resident & wish to know if it is permissible or me to apply for Australian citizenship & taking citizenship oath with consideration to live in Australia or leave at some later stage?
Jazak Allah
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.
It is permissible for one to take up citizenship of any country he wishes[1]. While doing so, he may also take the citizenship oath. In doing so, take note of the following Hadith:
جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ الْهِجْرَةِ، فَقَالَ ” وَيْحَكَ إِنَّ الْهِجْرَةَ شَأْنُهَا شَدِيدٌ فَهَلْ لَكَ مِنْ إِبِلٍ ” قَالَ نَعَمْ. قَالَ ” فَتُعْطِي صَدَقَتَهَا ”. قَالَ نَعَمْ. قَالَ ” فَهَلْ تَمْنَحُ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا ”. قَالَ نَعَمْ. قَالَ ” فَتَحْلُبُهَا يَوْمَ وِرْدِهَا ”. قَالَ نَعَمْ. قَالَ ” فَاعْمَلْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْبِحَارِ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَنْ يَتِرَكَ مِنْ عَمَلِكَ شَيْئًا ”
Translation: A bedouin came to Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and asked him about emigration. Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to him, “Woe to you. The matter of emigration is difficult. Have you got any camels?” He replied in the affirmative. Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then asked him, “Do you pay their zakaah?” He replied in the affirmative. He asked, “Do you lend them so that their milk may be utilized by others?” The bedouin replied, “Yes.” Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked, “Do you milk them on the day off watering them?” He replied, “Yes.” Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Do good deeds across the sea and Allaah will never disregard any of your deeds.” (Bukhaari 2633)
Wherever you may be, try your utmost best to live life in a manner pleasing to Allaah Ta’aala, according to the sunnah of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Avoid avenues of vice and sin. Also, be a representative of Islaam; invite others to Islaam, not just through your words but through your character as well. We make du’aa that Allaah Ta’aala grants you steadfastness on Deen. Aameen.
And Allaah Ta’aala Knows Best.
Muajul I. Chowdhury
Student, Darul Iftaa
Astoria, New York, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
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[1] [سورة النساء: 97 – 100]
{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا فِيمَ كُنْتُمْ قَالُوا كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا فِيهَا فَأُولَئِكَ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا (97) إِلَّا الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاءِ وَالْوِلْدَانِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ حِيلَةً وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ سَبِيلًا (98) فَأُولَئِكَ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يَعْفُوَ عَنْهُمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا (99) وَمَنْ يُهَاجِرْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يَجِدْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُرَاغَمًا كَثِيرًا وَسَعَةً}
[سورة الملك: 15]
{هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا مِنْ رِزْقِهِ وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ}
Contemporary Fatawa by Mf Taqi Uthmani (pg. 295)