—for the unbelievers are enemies who seek to divert people from the religion of Allah. When an unassuming youth with no grounding in knowledge arrives among them, they barrage him with specious arguments and doubts that pry him away from his faith without his even noticing. Therefore, anyone who lacks the learning required to counter such doubts is not permitted to travel to the lands of the disbelievers under any circumstance—except in the most extreme necessity, such as medical treatment—and even then he should take along a companion who can shield him from people’s harm.

The second condition is that he possess a level of piety strong enough to protect him from sinful desires. Lands of disbelief are, by definition, places where neither religious conscience nor state authority restrains people. They claim to be “free,” and free they may be to follow their passions, yet in truth they are slaves to those very passions. If a traveller lacks the religiosity that shields him from temptation, he is ruined, for he will find scantily-clad women, intoxicants, and every kind of vice. Without faith, he will tumble into the abyss.

The third condition is genuine necessity: that he travel to acquire knowledge unavailable in his own country—knowledge the community truly needs. In that case, there is no objection.

When these three conditions are satisfied, it becomes permissible for a Muslim to travel to enemy territory and remain there for a time; if not, it is forbidden. As for someone who goes merely to conduct business—buying goods and quickly returning—that is a lesser matter.