Emigration or Hijra

Today’s topic is on Immigration or Hijra

We hear in the media the topic of immigration but this is something which has a place in Islam also. The topic of Immigration or Hijra is mentioned both in the Quran and through the sayings of the beloved Prophet SAWS.

The imam mentioned sura Al-Hajj, ayat 40 in reference to this topic. It’s translated to say:

[They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right – only because they say, “Our Lord is Allah .” And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned. And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.

Dear brothers, it is evident from the Quran that immigration is something that is permitted and sometimes necessary.

We need to understand that the action of immigration does not come lightly and often it is done to escape persecution. The imam mentioned the following hadiths of the prophet SAWS which is translated to say:

(The value of) an action depends on the intention behind it. A man will be rewarded only for what he intended. The emigration of one who emigrates for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) is for the sake of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) ; and the emigration of one who emigrates for gaining a worldly advantage or for marrying a woman is for what he has emigrated.

And the hadith which illustrates that hijra was hard even for the Prophet SAWS. It says:

“I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), when he was on his she-camel, standing in Al-Hazwarah* saying: ‘By Allah, you are the best land of Allah, and the dearest of the land of Allah to me. By Allah, had I not been expelled from you I would never have left.’” *A place in Makkah.

Dear brothers, we need to be mindful of this and therefore not fall into the culture of looking down on those who have emigrated here or elsewhere as these people are often portrayed negatively in the media.

Often, an interpretation of immigration that isn’t pondered upon is the immigration of the heart to Allah SWT. This isn’t only for those who enter Islam but for those of us who reform, repent and improve our worship for the sake of Allah SWT.

The Prophet SAWS is reported to have said:

“A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands the Muslims are safe; and a Muhajir (Emigrant) is the one who refrains from what Allah has forbidden”.

Dear brothers, we can see from this then that we are all capable of falling into this category.