Fathwa - She needs to study alone in Europe without a Mahram

Question
As-salamu alaikum, My question is about travelling without a mahram. I
was living in a place in Africa where there were a lot of Muslims. I
reverted to Islam there. Many there followed Sufi practices and had
other views which I felt uncomfortable with. Due to another issue, I
returned to my country in Europe with the intention of completing my
studies so that I could later move to a Muslim country where it seems
that Islam is practiced more correctly. The only way I have found to
do this is to have a university degree and work as a teacher (I have
teaching experience). When I returned to my country, I found out that
travelling without a mahram is haraam. I discovered that to complete
my studies I would have to spend a period in another European country,
and I travelled there, hoping it would be permissible to do so because
it was a necessary part of my plantowards making hijra. After I
arrived here, I doubted whether that was correct. I still want tomake
hijra in sha Allah because life in Europe is very difficult – I don't
feelat all inclined to their way of life, but I suffer from a lot of
waswasa and being surrounded bynon-Muslims and hearingtheir ideas
confuses me and I find it hard to remember what I have learned of
Islam correctly. Now I'm facing a dire situation: at the end of my
study period here in two months' I willhave nowhere to stay, nomoney
for food, no family, I don't know of any halal work to meet my needs
and I can't make hijra directly because I haven't finished my degree.
So which is correct: stay here, go back to Africa where there are
mostly Muslims but many doubtful practices, or go back to my own
country, complete the final year ofmy studies and then try to make
hijra? My non-Muslim mahrams arein my country and do nothave the
custom of supporting women financially; they expect usto be
independent and fend for ourselves. The only time a mahram travelled
with me was when he planned to go to the country anyway. Jazakum
Allahu khairan
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad
, is His Slave and Messenger.
First of all, we congratulate you for the favor of embracing Islam.We
ask Allaah to protect you and your religion, and make us and you firm
upon it until death so that we may inherit Paradise and abide therein
eternally.
There is no doubt that it is not permissible for a woman to travel
without a Mahram except if there is a necessity. The Mahram is only
stipulatedin travelling and not while residing. Accordingly, there is
no blame on you to stay in the country you are in to complete your
study. However, you should strive to be in a place in which you feel
safe for yourself. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 121191 .
We advise you to call Islamic Centers to learn about Islam there and
get to know some of your good Muslim sisters. Also, you may benefit
from some of the beneficial websites such as ours (Islamweb) and other
websites that refute the suspicious arguments of Christians and
atheists such as the website of Sheykh AhmadDeedat :
www.ahmed-deedate.co
If you need any help, youcan seek the help of Muslims in the country
you are in, and if you marry a good Muslim man, this may solve your
problems. For your knowledge, it is permissible for a Muslim woman to
search for a husband or introduce herself to the one whom she wants to
marry on condition that she shouldabide by the Islamic guidelines as
we have pointed out in Fatwa 82471 .
If you eventually are to choose between the three options you
mentioned, then we advise you to immigrate to a Muslim country in
which you will be safe for your religion or that African country that,
as you mentioned, has a Muslim majority for this may be better than
staying in Europe.
You should know that a Muslim woman is allowedto travel without a
Mahram when immigrating from a non-Muslim country to a Muslim one as
stated by scholars for the necessity of preserving her religion. For
more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 86565 .
Finally, we would like to note that Sufis are Muslims in general;
however, they practice many matters that involve Shirk and religious
innovations which have nothing to do with Islam. They do them
ignorantly, believing that they are part of the Islamic religion.
Thus, you have to beware of their Shirk-related matters and
innovations. You have to treat them kindly and teach them the correct
Islam.
Allaah Knows best.

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