Hijrah - my move to Oman and life here
As-salamu alaykum. I left the UK in September 2023 and made hijrah to Oman because I wanted a quieter life, away from the fitna of the West and the stress of raising a family in chaotic London. I’m not saying there’s nothing good in the UK - there are many masajid and sincere efforts, alhamdulillah - but I wanted peace and a place where my Islam fits naturally into society. I also wanted to be able to visit Makkah and Madina more easily and not constantly worry about taxes or rising living costs. I considered Dubai but it didn’t match what I was looking for - too crowded and overwhelming. Oman felt right: more nature, less hustle, and buying a home is actually very affordable. I’m not far from Makkah and Madina and I feel like I can raise a family here without them being exposed to things common in British society that conflict with my values. Moving wasn’t without challenges. I’d recommend being financially prepared before making the move. What we earn in the West can often get you a nice house here, and residency can be obtained if you buy property. Buying a house is straightforward and I can help walk someone through the process. There are payment plans - for example, you can find a flat around £100K in a good area, and for around £200K you can get a very comfortable 3-bedroom. Down payments might be 10–20% and monthly payments can be in the neighborhood of £1.6K, depending on the plan and your situation. I was surprised at how affordable and flexible it can be. The food is good, and there are mountains, beaches, and hiking - lots of nature to explore. People are friendly, mosques are beautiful, and my experience so far has been positive. Insha’Allah I plan to stay here and keep discovering more.