First of all, we would like to stress the fact that it is better for the Muslim to be active and to search for lawful means in earning his living. We cannot wait aimlessly for our states to help us. We should work and search for a decent way to earn a living. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught his Companions that the whole of a human being’s dignity is tied up with his work—any sort of work —and that real disgrace and humiliation lie in depending on other people’s help. He is reported to have said: “It is better that a person should take a rope and bring a bundle of wood on his back to sell so that Allah may preserve his honor, that’s better for him than begging from people, (regardless of) whether they give him or not.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Dr. `Ali Muyy Ed-Deen Al-Qara Daaghi, head of the Department of Principles Jurisprudence (Usul Al-Fiqh) at the Faculty of Shari`ah, Qatar Univ., states the following: “It is unlawful for the Muslim to act in contrary to the stated laws that regulate people’s affairs in the non-Muslim country where he/she lives as long as those laws do not contradict the texts of Shari`ah.
What I want to stress here is that the Muslims should stick to the high morals of Islam, especially while residing in non-Muslim countries. Muslims’ showing compliance to the laws in those countries will indirectly entice others to Islam by demonstrating its noble manners. Such demonstration reflects the true teachings of Islam and rectify its distorted image in the Western media.”
Moreover, Sheikh Faysal Mawlawi, deputy chairman of the European Council for Fatwa and Research adds: “It’s incumbent upon Muslims living in non-Muslim countries to respect the laws of those countries as long as those laws do not contradict the teachings of Islam. Thus, it’s unbecoming for Muslims to resort to practices, such as the one you referred to in your question, that are deemed unlawful in those countries.”