Genaral Advice Concerning Hijrah

Indeed all praise is for Allah we praise him and we seek his Aid and Forgiveness and may peace and prayers be upon the messenger of Allah...

As for what follows: It seems to me from what I have been reading that some serious advice is needed to those who seeking "HIJRAH" or at the very least are considering relocating to another country.

1. Hijrah is a religious obligation upon those who have the ability who live in a land of disbelief or a land in which the corruption is prevalent. It should be kept in mind that Hijrah is an act of worship so it must be done sincerely for Allah.

2.Making Hijrah may include moving from one kaafir country or place to another kaafir country that is less in opposition to Islam then the country that they live in as was done by the companions in their first hijrah from Makka to Habasha.

3. Hijrah may also include moving from one Muslim country to another fleeing from oppression or corruption or other than that.

4. It is not a condition in Hijrah that a person lives at the same or better level they were living in before they left as was the situation with the many of the companion after they were wealthy in Makka and other than that in Madeenah. And Allah revealed in that respect: (Say: If your fathers or sons or brothers or wives or family members of wealth in which you love or the business in which you fear a decline and dwellings in which you take pleasure in are more beloved to you the Allah and his messenger and striving in the way of Allah then wait until Allah brings about his decision and Allah does not guide a rebellious people) {Tauba<24} Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab explains that this ayah was sent down after the Ansaar had accepted Islam so the Prophet ordered everyone that remained in Makka to make Hijrah so some didn't fearing that which was mentioned in the ayah so after the second year came, Allah ordered the Muslim with Jihaad so the Muslims of Madeenah marched forth for the battle of Badr and those who had lagged behind were hiding their Islam so they came out along with the Kufaar pretending they were with them but there weren't. And as is well known there were no hypocrites in the ummah during this time, anyway the Shaykh went on to explain that some of those individuals were killed by stray arrows and when the companions heard about their deaths the felt sad and said: "We killed our brothers" so Allah sent down the ayah (Indeed those whom the Angels take their souls while they are wronging themselves (by residing amongst the disbelievers after hijrah was made an obligation) they say to them: What was your condition? They respond: We were weak and oppressed in the land. The Angels say: Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to make hijrah? Such will find their abode in the hell fire and what an evil destination.) The Shaykh then said: If this was the was Allah dealt with those who were foremost in entering Islam, then what about other than them?!) {Nisaa: 97}

3.Some people are not obligated to make Hijrah do to real inability but each individual has to access his own situation as Allah said; (Fear Allah as much as you are able). {Tagaabun16} As well as Allah's statement concerning hijra (Except for the men women and children who are really weak and oppressed who do not have the ability to devise a plan nor find a way, as for these Allah will forgive them for Allah is indeed often pardoning all forgiving) {Nisaa 98} Al Hafith ibn Katheer said; Ibn Abbas said: My mother and I were amongst the weak in oppressed.

4. Each individual should try to get in touch with a major Scholar and explain their situation in detail including their fears weaknesses and vices that affect their situation and not rely on a general ruling that may or may not apply to their situation.

5. The people must also realize that the Arab countries are not the only Muslim countries so hijrah is to were the people are Muslim not to were they are Arab, Lebanon for instance is a Arab Christian country so no one is trying to go their.

6. The goal of Hijrah is to be in a place were you can worship Allah at your best even if you never learn Arabic or memorize the Qur'an.

7.Some people were poor or just getting by while living in disbelieving countries and reject living that way in a Muslim country which is absurd indeed the Prophet said in a hadeeth that was reported by Imam Muslim (There are three that Allah wont look at on the day of judgment nor purify them and for them is a painful and from amongst them he mentioned the arrogant poor person.

8. The problems of racism or sexism or other than that from the obstacles people face exist in those kaafir countries that were abandoned so that is not a reason to return to or remain in a place that has just as many evil along with the evil of all evils which is Shirk.

9. A person might need to make hijrah step by step as Shaykh Abdur Rahman Sady said: That which leads to a thing or is needed to fulfill an act takes the ruling of that thing or act, so that which is needed to fulfill an obligation is an obligation and that which is needed to fulfill a recommendation is recommended and that which is needed to commit a haram act is haram and that which is needed to commit a disliked act is likewise disliked.

Last but not least I ask Allah to grant us all sincerity and doing that which he loves and is pleased with and correct the affairs of the Muslims in general our Rulers our Scholars our Men our Women and our Children Amiin!

Abufudayl www.almithaaq.blospot.com