بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

HIJRAH

Advice from Al-Imaam Ibn Baaz to the Muslim Minorities

“…My advice to my Muslim brothers in the Islamic minority communities and in every place is that they fear Allaah and that they strive to understand their deen and that they ask the people of knowledge about whatever is not clear and that they strive to learn the Arabic language so they can use it to help them understand the Book of Allaah a and the Sunnah of the Prophet c.  The first of that is to attach importance to the Book of Allaah, understanding (it) and acting (by it), as has come in the authentic hadeeth: “The best of you is he who has studied the Qur’aan and has taught it,” then reading the reliable acknowledged books of hadeeth and the other books from the books of Fiqh and Aqeedah that are considered reliable with Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, and that they learn all of that from Ulamaa known for having righteousness and piety and good Aqeedah and correct knowledge.  Also, it is upon (our) brothers, the Ulamaa in the societies that possess Muslim minorities that they be energetic in the domain of calling to Allaah amongst their brothers and amongst other than them, and for them is the reward from Allaah m.  This deed is from the most glorious and greatest of deeds as has preceded in His d statement:

( ومن أحسن قولا ممن دعا إلى الله وعمل صالحا و قال إنني من المسلمين )

“And who is better in speech than he who calls to Allaah and does good deeds and says: Verily I am one of the Muslims.”  Fussilat: 33

     Then after that it is incumbent upon them to convey this deen to those around them from the other religions because the religion of Islaam is for all people.  He d said:

( قل يأيها الناس إني رسول الله إليكم جميعا )

“Say: O people, indeed I am the Messenger of Allaah to all of you.”  A’raaf: 158

These societies are in the most need for this religion, and the caller to Allaah obtains a great reward if he is a reason for the guidance of these people and directs them to that which was unknown to them from the matters of the religion of Islaam as has preceded in the statement of the Prophet c to Ali ibn Abee Taalib: “For, by Allaah, that Allaah guide by you a single man is better for you than the red camels.”  Through this da’wah, groups, Allaah willing, enter into the religion of Allaah, the religion of Islaam, and the number of the disbelievers decreases.  Then the victory, Allaah d willing, will be for the Muslims.

     And if the Muslim is not able to give da’wah in those lands then it is upon him to adhere to his deen and uphold Islamic character and manners, for verily that is da’wah by actions and it is something that is loved by those who possess sound intellect, for people most often are affected by these praiseworthy characteristics.  Indeed some of the regions of southEast Asiahave entered Islaam because of the character of the merchants from trustworthiness and being truthful in dealings.  And whenever the Muslim is not able to openly perform his deen in the land he resides in whereas he does not feel safe for his deen and his honor and his wealth, then verily it is incumbent upon him hijrah to safe lands in which he is able to perform the rituals of his deen in safety and comfort if he is able to do that, working by the verses and hadeeths that have come concerning that.”

Taken from “Majmoo’ Fataawaa wa Maqaalaat Mutnawwiah”, volume 2, pages 377-379.  Translated by: Abdullah MacPhee in Daarul-Hadeeth Dammaaj.

Al-Imaam Al-Albaanee on why people don’t make Hijrah in this time period

     Al-Imaam Al-Albaanee l mentioned in his book ‘As-Saheehah’ in the explanation of hadeeth (2857), the wording of the hadeeth is:

“Verily you all, if you bear witness that there is no deity that has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and you perform the Salaah, and you give the Zakaah, and you separate yourselves from the Polytheists, and you give the fifth of the war booty and the share for the Prophet c and the Safee,” and at times he said, “Safeyahu (that which he c selects from the war booty before it is distributed), then you are safe with the protection of Allaah and the protection of His Messenger.”

     Al-Imaam Al-Albaanee said ruling on this hadeeth: “This chain is Saheeh on the conditions of the two Sheikhs (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) and the (name) of the Sahaabee not being known does not harm it as has been determined.”  Al-Imaam Al-Waadi’ee l also ruled it to be Saheeh in ‘As-Saheeh Al-Musnad’ (1458) and he brought a beneficial note on the name of the Sahaabee.  He said: “This is a Saheeh hadeeth and has been transmitted by Abu Dawud and An-Nasaa’ee, and the Sahaabee who was not named he is An-Namir ibn Tawlab as is mentioned in ‘Tuhfah Al-Ashraaf’.”

     Al-Imaam Al-Albaanee derived from this hadeeth the ruling that it is upon those who embrace Islaam in the lands of disbelief to make Hijrah to the lands of Islaam.  Then he said in his explanation:

     “And verily from that which is to be extremely saddened about is that those who embrace Islaam in this present time period despite their large number, and all praise is due to Allaah, they don’t conform with this ruling of separating themselves and migrating to the lands of Islaam except for a small portion of them, and I trace the reason for that back to two matters:

     The first is their greed for the dunyaa and the easy means of living and luxury in their lands pursuant to them living a materialistic life of joy that has no spirituality in it as is well known.  So it is usually difficult for them to move to an Islamic land in which the means of a decent life may not be sufficient for them in their viewpoint.

     The second, and it is more significant, is their ignorance of this ruling, and they in that are excused because they have not heard about it from any of the callers whom their words are publicized translated into some of the foreign languages nor from those who go to them in the name of da’wah because most of them are not Faqeehs, and in particular Jamaa’ah At-Tableegh, rather they cling more to their lands when they see many of the Muslims have reversed the ruling by leaving their lands going to the lands of disbelief.  So from where are those people whom Allaah guided to Islaam going to know the likes of this ruling while the Muslims themselves are acting contrary to it?

     Indeed, let these people and these people know that Hijrah continues to exist just like Jihaad, for he c has said:

“Hijrah does not cease as long as the enemy is fought.”

And in another hadeeth:

“Hijrah does not cease until Tawbah (repentance) ceases and Tawbah does not cease until the sun rises from the west.”

Its Takhreej (attributing the hadeeth to its sources) has been mentioned in ‘Al-Irwaa’ (1208).

     Also, from that which should be known is that Hijrah is different types and is for numerous reasons, and for its explanation there is a another place (to deal with it).  What is important here is that Hijrah from the lands of disbelief to the lands of Islaam, no matter how much the rulers in it have deviated from Islaam or have been negligent in implementing its rulings, it in any case is better, even with what it is described with, than the lands of disbelief, character wise and deen wise and behavior wise…”

Translated by Abdullah MacPhee

In Daarul-Hadeeth, Dammaaj

Ash-Sheikh Fawzaan on the Types of Hijrah

     “All praise is due to Allaah the Possessor of grace and favor. He has legislated for His servants Hijrah of the hearts and Hijrah of the bodies, and He has made these two types of Hijrah remain across the course of time, and let there be for us in the history of your Prophet c the best example to follow, and that is by following his footsteps and following his path and following him in his statements and his actions and his character as Allaah has ordered you to do that.  He said:

” لقد كان لكم في رسول الله أسوة حسنة لمن كان يرجو الله واليوم الآخر و ذكر الله كثيرا “

“Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah you have a good example to follow for he who hopes for (the meeting with) Allaah and the last day and remembers Allaah much.” Al-Ahzaab: 21

     In the beginning of the month of Muharram the people often talk about the Hijrah of the Messenger c in khutbahs and lectures and in the different means of spreading information, and their talk usually does not go beyond being historical tales with which they fill their free time for a couple of days then it is left and forgotten about without having any effect on the souls or being an example to follow in actions and character, rather that does not go beyond being an annual custom uttered on the tongues without an understanding for the meaning of Hijrah and working by what it indicates.

     Verily Hijrah, its linguistic meaning is for a person to separate himself from someone else with his body or with his tongue or with his heart.  Its legal (Islamic) meaning is to leave the lands of disbelief or to leave the evil people or to leave the evil deeds and the blameworthy traits, and it is from the religion of Ibraaheem Al-Khaleel i whereas he said:

” إني ذاهب إلى ربي سيهدين “

“Verily I am going to my Lord He will guide me.”

As-Saaffaat: 99

Meaning Muhaajir (migrating) from the land of disbelief to Imaan (faith), and indeed he i migrated with some of his offspring to Shaam where the sacred lands and Al-Masjid Al-Aqsaa existed and (he migrated) with the other part (of his offspring) to the lands of Hijaaz where the sacred land and the ancient house (the Ka’bah) existed as it has come in his supplication to his Lord:

” ربنا إني أسكنت من ذريتي بواد غير ذي زرع عند بيتك المحرم “

“Our Lord, I have settled some of my offspring in a valley with no cultivation by Your sacred house…” Ibraaheem: 37

     And Hijrah is from the Sharee’ah of Muhammad c whereas he ordered the Companions to migrate to Al-Habashah when the harm from the disbelievers in Makkah grew intense for them so they went to the land of the Habashah twice fleeing with their deen while the Prophet c remained in Makkah calling to Allaah and he would encounter from the people the most intense harm and he would say:

” رب أدخلني مدخل صدق و أخرجني مخرج صدق واجعل لي من لدنك سلطانا نصيرا “

“My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority.”

Al-Israa: 80

Then Allaah gave him permission to make Hijrah to Madeenah and He gave his companions permission to make Hijrah to it.  So they without delay set out to do that fleeing with their deen and they left their homes and their wealth seeking bounty from Allaah and (His) pleasure and supporting Allaah (by supporting His religion) and His Messenger.  Allaah has extolled them and praised them and has promised them the great reward.  Hijrah was mentioned together with Jihaad in the Book of Allaah a and the Muhaajirs became the best of the Companions due to the fact that they fled with their deen and left behind the most precious of things that they owned from houses and wealth, and relatives and tribe.  They gave that up for Allaah a and for His cause and seeking His pleasure.

     And that became a legal ruling lasting until the occurrence of the final hour, for it has come in the hadeeth:

“Hijrah does not cease until repentance ceases, and repentance does not cease until the sun rises from the west.”

So every person who is not able to openly perform his deen in a land, verily it is incumbent upon him to move from it to a land in which he is able to openly perform his deen.  And Allaah has threatened he who is able to make Hijrah but has not made Hijrah.  He d said:

” إن الذين توفاهم الملائكة ظالمي أنفسهم قالوا فيم كنتم قالوا كنا مستضعفين في الأرض قالوا ألم تكن أرض الله واسعة فتهاجروا فيها فأولئك مأواهم جهنم وساءت مصيرا * إلا المستضعفين من الرجال والنساء والولدان لا يستطيعون حيلة ولا يهتدون سبيلا * فأولئك عسى الله أن يعفو عنهم وكان الله عفوا غفورا “

“Verily, as for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves they say: ‘In what condition were you?’  They reply: ‘We were weak and oppressed on earth.’  They say: ‘Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?’  Those will find their abode in Hell, and what an evil destination.  Except the weak ones among men, women and children who cannot devise a plan, nor are they able to direct their way, for these there is hope that Allah will forgive them, and Allah is Ever Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving. “An-Nisaa: 97-99

This is a severe threat for he who leaves off Hijrah without an excuse, and this noble verse is general for everyone who resides amongst the polytheists while he is able to make Hijrah and he is not able to perform the deen, and that he is wronging himself and committing a forbidden act by ‘Ijmaa (consensus of the Scholars) and by the explicit text of this verse where He d says:

” إن الذين توفاهم الملائكة ظالمي أنفسهم قالوا فيم كنتم قالوا كنا مستضعفين في الأرض “

“Verily, as for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves they say: ‘In what condition were you?’  They reply: ‘We were weak and oppressed on earth.’ “

Meaning we were not able to leave the land or journey on the earth.  And this excuse from them is not correct because they were able to make Hijrah and they left it off, and because of this the angels said to them admonishing them:

” ألم تكن أرض الله واسعة فتهاجروا فيها “

“Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?”

     So whoever is not able to openly perform his deen in a land, it is incumbent upon him to go to a land in which he is able to do that, for verily the lands of Allaah are spacious and they are not void of good lands.  He d said:

” ومن يهاجر في سبيل الله يجد في الأرض مراغما كثيرا و سعة “

“He who emigrates in the cause of Allah will find on earth many dwelling places and plenty of provision,” An-Nisaa: 100

Meaning a place in which he can protect himself from the harm of the disbelievers and have abundance in sustenance.  Allah gives it to him as a substitute for what he has left behind in his land from wealth, as He d said:

” والذين هاجروا في الله من بعد ما ظلموا لنبوئنهم في الدنيا حسنة و لأجر الآخرة أكبر لو كانوا يعلمون * الذين صبروا و على ربهم يتوكلون “

“And as for those who emigrated for the cause of Allaah after suffering oppression, We will certainly give them goodly residence in this world, and indeed the reward of the hereafter will be greater, if they but knew.  Those who remained patient and on their Lord (alone) they rely.”  An-Nahl: 41-42

     And from the types of Hijrah is to abandon the sins from disbelief and Shirk (polytheism) and hypocrisy and the rest of the evil deeds and the blameworthy traits and bad character.  He d said to His Prophet:

” والرجز فاهجر “

“And keep away from ‘Ar-Rujz.” Al-Muddath’thir: 5

‘Ar-Rujz’ is the idols, and making hijrah from it is to abandon it and to free oneself from it and its people.  And the Prophet c said:

“The Muslim is the one who the Muslims feel safe from his tongue and his hand, and the Muhaajir is the one who abandons that which Allaah has prohibited.”

Meaning to abandon that which Allaah has prohibited from the actions and character and statements and food and drink which is forbidden.  All of these matters, it is incumbent to abandon them and stay away from them.

     And from the types of Hijrah is to abandon the people of sin from the disbelievers and the polytheists and the hypocrites and the evildoers, and that is done by staying far away from them.  Allaah d said:

” واصبر على ما يقولون “

“And be patient with what they say…” Al-Muzzammil: 10

Meaning be patient with what those who deny you say from the foolish ones of your people.

” واهجرهم هجرا جميلا “

“And abandon them in a good way.”  Al-Muzzammil: 10

Meaning abandon them an abandonment that has no blame with it.

     And from the greatest types of Hijrah is the Hijrah of the hearts to Allaah d by making worship sincerely for Him in private and public to the point that the believer does not intend by his statement and his action anything other than Allaah’s face.  And likewise making Hijrah to the Messenger of Allaah c by following him and giving precedence to obeying him and by working by what he brought.  In summary this Hijrah is a Hijrah to the Book and the Sunnah abandoning the different forms of Shirk and innovations and superstitions and statements and methodologies that oppose the Book and the Sunnah.

     So it has become clear from this that Hijrah is different types.  They are: Abandoning the places of disbelief, and abandoning the false actions and statements, and abandoning the methodologies and statements and concepts that oppose the Book and the Sunnah.

     So it is not the aim to talk about Hijrah in a story tale manner and in a historic rendition or to carry out for its occasion celebrations and festivities then it is forgotten and it does not have any effect on the souls nor does it effect behavior.  For verily many of those who talk about the Hijrah at the beginning of the new year they don’t understand its meaning and they don’t act according to it.  Rather, they oppose it in their behavior and their actions, for they talk about the Hijrah of the Messenger c and his Companions and how they left the lands of disbelief going to the land of Islaam while they themselves reside in the lands of disbelief or they travel to it to spend (their) vacation or for amusement or to spend (their) honeymoon as they call it after getting married.  They talk about Hijrah while they themselves don’t abandon worshipping graves and tombs.  Rather, they worship that besides Allaah just as the idols are worshipped or greater.  They talk about Hijrah while they themselves don’t abandon the false methodologies and the misguiding concepts.  Rather, they make that a substitute for the Islamic Sharee’ah.  They talk about Hijrah while they themselves don’t abandon the sins and bad character.  They talk about Hijrah while they themselves don’t abandon the customs of the disbelievers and blindly following them.  Rather, they try to resemble them.

     So where is the meaning of Hijrah and its types in comparison to the actions of these people?  Fear Allaah, O servants of Allah and take from the Hijrah and other than it from the events of the life of the Prophet c lessons that you act upon in your life and don’t let your talk about Hijrah be merely statements on the tongues or ink on the pages.  He d said:

” والذين آمنوا و هاجروا و جاهدوا في سبيل الله والذين آووا و نصروا هم المؤمنون حقا لهم مغفرة و رزق كريم “

 ”And those who believed and emigrated and fought Jihaad in the cause of Allaah, as well as those who gave (them) asylum and aid, these are the believers in truth.  For them is forgiveness and a generous provision.” Al-Anfaal: 74

و صلى الله على نبينا محمد و على آله و صحبه و سلم “

Taken from a post on Sahab.net titled للشيخ صالح بن فوزان الفوزان أعظم أنواع الهجرة – هجرة القلوب

Translated by: Abdullah MacPhee

In Daarul-Hadeeth Dammaaj

The Description of the Weak One who is excused from Hijrah

Ash-Sheikh Hamad ibn Ali ibn Ateeq An-Najdee said in his book ‘Sabeel An-Najaah…” as is mentioned in the book ‘Majmoo’ah At-Tawheed’ pages 369-370:

As for the fifth issue, and it is the issue of weakness, indeed many people, rather, most of those who are attributed to knowledge in these times are mistaken in the meaning of weakness and what is intended by it.  And Allaah has explained that in His Book a clear explanation.  He d said:

 وما لكم لا تقاتلون في سبيل الله والمستضعفين من الرجال والنساء والولدان الذين يقولون ربنا أخرجنا من هذه القرية الظالم أهلها واجعل لنا من لدنك وليا واجعل لنا من لدنك نصيرا

“And what is wrong with you that you do not fight in the cause of Allaah and for the weak ones from men and women and children those who say: ‘Our Lord, get us out of this town who its people are oppressors and raise for us from You one who will protect and raise for us from You one who will help.” An-Nisaa: 75

So He d made clear their statement which shows that they did not reside choosing to reside, and that is because they supplicate Allaah to get them out and that indicates their desire to leave and that it is not possible for them.  And their describing the people of the town with oppression also indicates that, and their asking their Lord to raise for them a protector who protects them and they protect him and to raise for them a helper to help them against their enemies who they are amongst them.

And He d said:

إِلاَّ الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاء وَالْوِلْدَانِ لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ حِيلَةً وَلاَ يَهْتَدُونَ سَبِيلا ً

“Except the weak ones among men, women and children who cannot devise a plan, nor are they able to direct their way…” An-Nisaa: 98

He mentioned in this verse their condition which they are upon and that is they cannot devise a plan.  Ibn Katheer said: ‘They are not able to free themselves from the Polytheists and even if they were able they don’t know how to take the route and because of this He said:

لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ حِيلَةً

“…who cannot devise a plan…”

Ikrimah said: Meaning to depart to Madeenah.

وَلاَ يَهْتَدُونَ سَبِيلا

“…nor are they able to direct their way…”

Mujaahid and Ikrimah said: Meaning a route.’ End quote (from Ibn Katheer).

In summary, the weak ones they are those who are not able to leave from being amongst the Polytheists and they with that

يقولون ربنا أخرجنا من هذه القرية الظالم أهلها واجعل لنا من لدنك وليا واجعل لنا من لدنك نصيرا

They say: ‘Our Lord, get us out of this town who its people are oppressors and raise for us from You one who will protect and raise for us from You one who will help.’  And they with that don’t know the route.

So whoever this is his condition and speech:

فَأُوْلَـئِكَ عَسَى اللّهُ أَن يَعْفُوَ عَنْهُمْ وَكَانَ اللّهُ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا

“For these there is hope that Allah will forgive them, and Allah is Ever Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving.” An-Nisaa: 99

As for if he is able to leave from the lands of the Polytheists and the only thing which prevents him from doing that is greed for his homeland or his tribe or his wealth or other than that, Allaah d has not excused the one who uses that as an excuse and He called him someone wronging himself.  He d said:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلآئِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ قَالُواْ فِيمَ كُنتُمْ قَالُواْ كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِي الأَرْضِ قَالْوَاْ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ اللّهِ وَاسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُواْ فِيهَا فَأُوْلَـئِكَ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَسَاءتْ مَصِيرًا

“Verily, as for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves they say: ‘In what condition were you?’  They reply: ‘We were weak and oppressed on earth.’  They say: ‘Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?’  Those will find their abode in Hell, and what an evil destination.” An-Nisaa: 97

Translated by: Abdullah MacPhee

In Daarul-Hadeeth Dammaaj