Islam Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for Muslims, experts in Islam, and those interested in learning more about Islam. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
Is it possible for muslims to accept the local laws(and culture)when they are living in a foreign country ?
For example, France.
Is it possible for muslims to compromise not to pray in public or wear the head gear ?
Or is it something essentially non negotiable ?
What if the local legislative body decides to ban halal, and so on ?
A Muslim in general is required to obey the law of the land he/she resides in and to follow all agreements they live under.
If the law conflicts with something that is obligatory in Islam, then it becomes incumbent upon them to move to a land where there is no such conflict. Allah says in the Qur'an:
Is not the earth of Allah wide enough so that you could migrate? Nisa':97
In democratic countries where the people get a say in deciding the laws, it becomes incumbent upon the Muslims to work within established channels to change those laws, because this is legal and permitted and encouraged. Doing so outside these means is expressly prohibited religiously.
When a religious action is not obligatory for a Muslim (e.g. praying in public) then there is no conflict. Women (and men) to cover their `awrah in public is obligatory; so is eating halal. Eating meat itself is not obligatory however, of course. Halal is a wider term than just for meat.
If you compromise one part of yourself, then you'll find it easy to compromise the rest. It is better not to compromise.
The best solution to this current predicament is Muslim Zones. Muslim population of those nations should come to one area, buy all the property and rent out only to Muslim and those who are willing to live under Muslim regulations.
The above is the most efficient solution, another solution is Hijra/migration, which can be difficult because you're moving to unfamiliar territory, even if that territory is governed by Muslim.
