‫بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬

Translator's Introduction

Verily, all praise is due to Allah, we praise Him, and seek His aid, and ask for His
forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls, and from our evil
deeds. He who Allah guides is truly guided, and he who Allah misguides, no one can
guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity who deserves to be worshipped except
Allah, alone, without any partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and
messenger.

To Proceed: Before the reader are questions and answers on an extremely

important topic that directly faces the Muslims in the West, the topic of Al-Hijrah.
These questions and answers have been transcribed from audio-tape, then translated
for the benefit of the English speaking Muslims. These questions were answered by
our beloved Sheikh, Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Umar Al-Adanee. Ash-Sheikh Abdur-
Rahmaan is from the students of the Imaam, the reviver of the Sunnah, Muqbil ibn
Haadee Al-Waadi'ee, ‫رحمه هللا‬. The Imaam Al-Waadi'ee mentioned Ash-Sheikh
Abdur-Rahmaan in his auto-biography first published eight years ago in the year 1417
and said about him, "He has become a source for his brothers to refer to in various
sciences." The Imaam also mentioned Ash-Sheikh Abdur-Rahmaan in his farewell
advice to be amongst the Scholars whom, if a problem were to befall the people of the
Sunnah in Yemen, they should meet to deal with it. Also, the successor to the Imaam,
the beloved Sheikh Yahya ibn Ali Al-Hajooree mentioned Ash-Sheikh Abdur-
Rahmaan in his book 'At-Tabaqaat' to be amongst the Major Scholars in Yemen and
described him as, "a person of sound intellect, Allah has given him much good from
the knowledge along with humbleness and much good character and firmness upon
the Sunnah." I ask Allah, the Exalted, to reward Ash-Sheikh Abdur-Rahmaan with
good, and bless him for taking time out to answer these important questions.

1
 ‫بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all that exists. I bear witness that there is no
deity who deserves to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without any partner, and I
bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His messenger, may the peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him and his family and his companions.

To Proceed : These are a group of questions that our brothers from France, may
Allah protect them, have brought forward about the issue of making hijrah to Allah,
for the sake of Allah,‫عز و جل‬, from the lands of disbelief to the lands of Islaam. We
ask Allah, ‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, that He help us answer them, and that He grant us the success
and the proper answers when answering, and that He bring about benefit with the
answers, and that He correct all of our intentions.

The First Question :

Our brothers, may Allah protect them, say, "What is the definition of Al-Hijrah
linguistically and in Islamic law, and what is its ruling, and what is the wisdom in it
being legislated?"

The Answer :

Al-Hijrah linguistically means to leave, and hijrah to something means to move to

it while leaving other than it. Al-Azharee has mentioned that the original meaning of
Al-Hijrah is the Bedouin's departure from the nomadic region to go to the city and
reside there.

As for its definition in Islamic law. Al-Hijrah in Islamic law is to leave the land of
disbelief to go to the land of Islaam out of fear of tribulation, and to seek the ability to
perform the deen(religion of Islaam). This is the definition of Al-Hijrah in Islamic
law specifically, otherwise, in reality, the definition of Al-Hijrah is as Ibnul-Mulaqqin
said in the explanation of 'Al-Umdah', "Leaving that which Allah,‫عز و جل‬, dislikes for
that which He loves." In this last definition is an explanation of the reality of Al-
Hijrah. The hijrah of deeds is included in this definition, meaning to leave off sins
and disobedient acts, as has come in his,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, statement, "The
Muslim is he who the Muslims are safe from his tongue and his hand, and the
Muhaajir is he who leaves off that which Allah has prohibited." As is in the two
Saheehs from the hadeeth of Abdillah ibn Amr ibn Al-Aas. Also, the specific hijrah
which is our topic of discussion is included in this definition that Ibnul-Mulaqqin has
mentioned because the act of a Muslim leaving the land of disbelief in which he is not
able to worship Allah, nor is he able to openly perform his deen, this is something
beloved to Allah,‫عز و جل‬.

As for the ruling of Al-Hijrah is concerned, Al-Hijrah is obligatory upon whoever

is not able to worship Allah,‫عز و جل‬, and perform that which Allah has made
obligatory upon him from the rituals of Islaam, nor is he able to openly perform his
deen, and along with that he is able to make hijrah. So this person, in regards to him
it is obligatory. Al-Hijrah in regards to this person who is upon the previous
description is obligatory, so he can flee with his deen from the tribulations, and so he

2
can seek the ability to perform the deen. As for he who is able to perform that which
Allah has made obligatory upon him, and is able to openly perform his deen, and
show pride in it, and along with that he feels safe for his deen and for himself from
the tribulations, then Al-Hijrah with regards to him is Mustahab(highly
recommended)
, so he can put himself in a position where he has the ability to perform Jihaad against
the disbelievers, and so he can increase the masses of the Muslims and support them,
and also so he can free himself from looking at the abominations amongst the
disbelievers.

Therefore, Al-Hijrah is of two categories, obligatory in one circumstance and

highly recommended in another circumstance. The proof that it is obligatory under
the first circumstance is the statement of Allah,‫ عز و جل‬:
( ‫إن الذين توفاهم المالئكة ظالمي أنفسهم قالوا فيم كنتم قالوا كنا مستضعفين في األرض قالوا ألم تكن‬
‫أرض هللا واسعة فتهاجروا فيها فأولئك مأواهم جهنم و ساءت مصيرا * إال المستضعفين من الرجال و النساء‬
‫) و الولدان ال يستطيعون حيلة و ال يهتدون سبيال * فأولئك عسى هللا أن يعفو عنهم و كان هللا 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)
Ibn Katheer,‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬, said in the explanation of this verse, "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 his deen, and in so, he is wronging himself and
committing something forbidden by 'Ijmaa' (universal agreement of the Scholars) and
by the explicit evidence of this verse." Therefore, whoever does not leave the lands
of disbelief while he is able to leave, and while he is not able to perform the deen, nor
openly perform the deen and announce this deen and show pride in it, then he, and
Allah's refuge is sought, if he dies, he dies as a sinner committing a major sin.

As for the question, "When is it highly recommended?" As you have heard, it is

highly recommended if he is able to perform the deen, and worship Allah, and openly
perform the rituals along with him feeling safe for himself from tribulations in his
deen and in his own self, and this is something which is almost impossible, that the
Muslim in those lands of disbelief feels safe for himself from tribulation, and , Allah
willing, a discussion about this topic, the condition for residing in the lands of the
disbelievers, will come. Also, more than one Scholar has reported 'Ijmaa' that it is
obligatory to hijrah when the Muslim is not able to perform the deen and openly
perform the rituals.

As for the wisdom in the legislation of Al-Hijrah, the answer to that is because the
Muslims in the beginning of Islaam were few and in a state of weakness, and they
were harassed and tortured by their own people. Some of them would undergo
torture then leave his deen, so Al-Hijrah was legislated for them so they could be
protected from tribulations in their deen. Also, the Muslims in Madeenah, at first,
were few and in a state of weakness, so it was made obligatory upon the Muslims to
make hijrah to Madeenah because of the need to group together and help one another

3
and unite, and also so they could build-up their might and increase their masses. In
brief, the reason for the legislation of Al-Hijrah is that the Muslim is called to
perform the rituals of his deen, and worship Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, as He ordered, and
show pride in that, and come out openly with that, and openly perform these rituals
and announce them openly, and along with that he is called to safeguard himself and
his deen from tribulations, so because of this and that Al-Hijrah was legislated, and it
is as Sheikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah,‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬, has said, "No one is safe from shirk
except by leaving and being different from its people."

The Second Question :

What is the degree of authenticity of the hadeeth: "There is no hijrah after the
conquest, rather Jihaad and intention," and what does it mean?

The Answer :

The hadeeth has been transmitted by the two Sheikhs, Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim,
on Ibn Abbaas, ‫رضي هللا تعالى عنهما‬. As for its meaning, the Scholars have given many
explanations for this hadeeth, and their interpretations of this hadeeth are numerous.
One of the most concise explanations of the understanding of this hadeeth, and one
that clarifies its meaning is what Ibn Qaasim Al-Hanbalee,‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬, said in his
commentary of the book 'Al-Usool Ath-Thalaathah', "What is meant is there is no
hijrah after the conquest of Makkah from it to Madeenah, since Makkah, after its
conquest, became a land of Islaam. For indeed, there was a group of people who
wanted to make hijrah from it to Madeenah thinking that was something desirable, so
he,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, explained to them that he only encouraged that when
Makkah was a land of disbelief, and as for when it became a land of Islaam, he does
not encourage that. So the meaning is there is no hijrah from Makkah to Madeenah,
and as for the existence and continuation of Al-Hijrah from the land of shirk to the
land of Islaam, this is well known by way of explicit evidence and by way of 'Ijmaa'."

So we come to know from this that his,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, statement, "There
is no hijrah after the conquest", meaning the conquest of Makkah, why? Because it
became a land of Islaam, and it became a place for the Muslims to meet and gather,
so the wisdom by which the legislation made Al-Hijrah from Makkah incumbent
upon the Muslims no longer existed after it became a land of Islaam. As for us
understanding from the hadeeth that the hijrah which Allah encouraged to do, and
ordered to do, and also the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, has ceased and been
abrogated and has gone away with the conquest of Makkah, this is not the meaning of
the hadeeth of Ibn Abbaas, and if that is not the case then there are a number of
hadeeths on the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, in which it can be derived from
them the continuation of Al-Hijrah up to the final hour as long as the lands of
disbelief exist and as long as the enemies who fight the Muslims exist.

The Imaam Ahmad has narrated in his Musnad from the hadeeth of Junaadah ibn
Abee Umaiyah that a group of men from the Companions of the Messenger of Allah,
‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, some of them said, "Verily, Al-Hijrah has ceased." They
then differed about that, so I went to the Messenger of Allah,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬,
and said, "O Messenger of Allah. Verily, people say Al-Hijrah has ceased." So the
Messenger of Allah,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, said, "Verily, Al-Hijrah does not cease

4
as long as there is Jihaad." This is a saheeh hadeeth. Also the Imaam Ahmad
narrated in his Musnad from the hadeeth of Abdillah ibn As-Sa'dee that the Prophet,
‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, said, "Al-Hijrah does not cease as long as the enemy is
fought." Its chain is hasan. Also, in this issue there is a hadeeth which is da'eef, but it
is alright if we mention it for the sake of benefit. It is the hadeeth of Muaawiyah ibn
Abee Sufyaan,‫رضي هللا تعالى عنهما‬, on the Prophet, ‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, that he
said, "Al-Hijrah does not cease until repentance ceases, and repentance does not cease
until the sun rises from the west." It has been transmitted by the Imaam Ahmad, and
Abu Daawud, and An-Nisaa'ee, and Ad-Daarimee, and Al-Baihaqee. In its chain is
Abu Hind Al-Bajalee who is Majhool (unknown).

As for his,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, statement: "rather Jihaad and intention" An-
Nawawee,‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬, has said, "He means the good which has ceased with the
ceasing of hijrah, it is possible to obtain that through Jihaad and intention."

The Third Question :

What are the types of hijrah, and what is the ruling of each one?

The Answer :

There are numerous divisions for the types of hijrah which the people of
knowledge have mentioned. From these divisions is that which Ibn Hajar has
mentioned in Al-Fath (his explanation of Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree) under the hadeeth :
"The Muhaajir is he who leaves that which Allah has prohibited" he said, "and this
hijrah is of two types, outer and inner. The inner is to leave that which the soul which
commands evil and Ash-Shaytaan call to, and the outer is to flee with the deen from
tribulations." Some of them phrase this as hijrah of the place and hijrah of the deeds.
The hijrah of the place, its proofs have preceded. As for hijrah of the deeds, it is that
the Muslim leave that which Allah has prohibited from disobedient acts and the
different types of sins and transgressions. This type is as Ibnul-Mulaqqin, ‫رحمه هللا‬
‫تعالى‬, has said, "Some of the later Maalikee scholars have said it is the greatest hijrah
in which all of the divisions fall under." This division of hijrah, hijrah of deeds or
hijrah of sins, its proof is what the two Sheikhs have transmitted on Abdillah ibn Amr
ibn Al-Aas on the Prophet, ‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, that he said, "The Muslim is he
who the Muslims are safe from his tongue and his hand, and the Muhaajir is he who
leaves that which Allah has prohibited." Also, An-Nasaa'ee has transmitted with a
chain that is saheeh on Abdillah ibn Amr ibn Al-Aas that he said, "A man said, 'O
Messenger of Allah. What hijrah is best?' He said, 'That you leave that which your
Lord,‫عز و جل‬, dislikes.' " Also, Ibn Maajah has transmitted with a chain that is hasan
on Fudaalah ibn Ubaid on the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, that he said, "The
believer is he who the people trust him with their wealth and their own selves, and the
Muhaajir is he who leaves off crimes and sins." Ibn Hajar,‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬, has said
under the previous passage, under the hadeeth: "The Muhaajir is he who leaves that
which Allah has prohibited," he said, "It is as if the Muhaajirs were addressed with
that in order that they don't rely solely upon the migration from their land, and in
order that they act according to the commands and prohibitions of the legislation, or it
is possible that was said after the hijrah had ceased, when Makkah was conquered, to
soothe the hearts of those who did not attain that, however, the essence of hijrah is
obtained by he who leaves that which Allah has prohibited." Ibn Hajar,‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬,

5
derived and summarized this from the statement of Ibnul-Mulaqqin in his explanation
of the book 'Al-Umdah'.

There is also another division of Al-Hijrah, that is Al-Hijrah is divided into

general and specific. The specific hijrah being the hijrah from Makkah to Madeenah,
and it is well known that hijrah to Madeenah before the conquest of Makkah was
obligatory upon the Muslims, and that it was obligatory upon the Muslims in Makkah
and elsewhere to reside in Madeenah in order to help the Prophet, ‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله‬
‫و سلم‬, and assist him with person and wealth and other than that. Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬,
emphasized that before the conquest of Makkah in numerous verses to the point
where He cut the ties of guardianship between whoever made hijrah and whoever did
not make hijrah. Allah,‫عز و جل‬, said :
( ‫) و الذين آمنوا و لم يهاجروا ما لكم من واليتهم من شيء حتى يهاجروا‬
" And as to those who believed but did not emigrate you owe no duty of
protection to them until they migrate "(Al-Anfaal:72)
So this specific hijrah is the one which its ruling of being obligatory was abolished
by his,‫سلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, statement : "There is no hijrah after the conquest,
rather Jihaad and intention." So when Makkah was conquered and it became a land
of Islaam, the ruling of making hijrah to it (Madeenah) was abolished. Al-Bukhaaree,
‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬, has transmitted in his Saheeh from the chain of Ataa ibn Abee Rabaah
that he said, "I along with Ubaid ibn Umar Al-Laithee visited Aishah and we asked
her about Al-Hijrah, so she said, 'There is no hijrah today. It used to be that the
believers, one of them would flee with his deen to Allah,‫تعالى‬, and His Messenger,
‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, out of fear of being tortured because of it (his deen). As for
today, Allah has made Islaam victorious, and today the person can worship his Lord
wherever he pleases, however, there is Jihaad and intention.' " What Aishah means
by her statement "today" is after the conquest of Makkah. So this is the specific
hijrah which its ruling of being obligatory has been abolished.

As for the general hijrah, which is the migration from the land of shirk to the land
of Islaam, this remains until the final hour as the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, has
stated for he who is not able to perform his deen and openly perform its rituals in the
land which is not the land of Islaam. How long has there continued to exist lands of
disbelief and enemies that fight the people of the Religion of Islaam, so hijrah
continues to be a prescribed practice.

There is also another division of hijrah, that hijrah is of two types : The hijrah
from the land of shirk to the land of Islaam which has previously been discussed and
its ruling- when is it obligatory and when is it mustahab (highly recommended)- has
also preceded, and Allah,‫تعالى‬, willing, the discussion about the rule defining the land
of shirk will come in the answer to the fifth question. The second type is to leave and
make hijrah from the land in which innovations and sins have become widespread to
the land where that is few and less intense.

So with regards to leaving and making hijrah from the land in which misguiding
innovations are many and widespread, and the man on the Sunnah is not able to
openly perform the Sunnah and defend it and wage war against those innovations, this
type of hijrah has been mentioned by a group of Scholars, among them is Ibnul-
Arabee,‫رحمه هللا‬, in his book 'Ahkaam Al-Qur'aan'. He said, "Ibnul-Qaasim said, 'I
heard Maalik say, 'It is not permissible for anyone to reside in a land where the Salaf

6
are reviled therein.' " Al-Qurtubee added that he also said, "and falsehood is
practiced therein." Ibnul-Arabee commented on this statement of Maalik saying,
"This is true, for verily the munkar (abomination), if you are not able to change it
then get away from it. Allah,‫تعالى‬, said :
( ‫و إذا رأيت الذين يخوضون قي آياتنا فأعرض عنهم حتى يخوضوا في حديث غيره وإما ينسينك الشيطان فال‬
‫) تقعد بعد الذكرى مع القوم الظالمين‬
" And when you see those who engage in a false conversation about Our verses,
stay away from them till they turn to another topic. And if Ash-Shaytaan causes
you to forget, then after the remembrance sit not you in the company of those
people who are the wrong doers. "(Al-An'aam:68) "
So due to that, there are many Scholars who have mentioned this type of hijrah,
leaving the land in which innovations are many, and the people of innovation are out
in the open, and the Sunan are hidden. Many Scholars from the Maalikee Scholars,
and the Shaafi'ee Scholars, and Scholars from some of the other madhhabs amongst
them the Hanbalee Scholars take the position of leaving (such a land), for he has said
in the book 'Al-Muntahaa', "…or the land of the oppressors or misguiding innovations
like Rafd or I'tizaal. It is obligatory that he leave there and go to the land of the
people of the Sunnah if he is not able to openly perform the methodology of the
people of the Sunnah therein." Also, others such as Al-Baghawee in his tafseer, and
Al-Qurtubee, and Ibn Hajar in Al-Fath, and Ash-Shawkaanee, may Allah have mercy
upon them all, they have mentioned this type of hijrah, while (on the other hand)
some Scholars remained in the lands where innovations were many and widespread
thinking he would be able to confront these innovations and abominations and
establish, for Allah's,‫عز و جل‬, sake, the proof against the slaves of Allah, so he would
defend (the truth) and combat and reduce the evils. Ibnul-Arabee mentioned in his
book 'Ahkaam Al-Qur'aan' that he requested from his Sheikh Abee Bakr Al-Fihree
that he leave the land Misr and go somewhere else because of the innovation and
forbidden acts that existed there. So his Sheikh gave as an excuse that there is good
in him staying there, from spreading the guidance, and directing the people, and
spreading Tawheed, and warning from false beliefs, and calling to Allah. Thereafter,
the dispute between them became severe over the issue. Ibnul-Arabee said, "…to the
point that the dispute between he and I grew extremely intense, " or a statement
similar to that,‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬. Many Scholars have mentioned this type of hijrah to be
obligatory, from the Maalikee Scholars, and the Shaafi'ee Scholars, and the Hanbalee
Scholars.

Likewise, leaving the land in which sins and different types of crimes and
disobedient acts are many, and the Muslim there is not able to enjoin the good and
forbid the evil and reduce the evil, rather he is scared for himself, and for his family,
and for those who Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, has made him responsible for. A group of
Scholars from the Maalikee Scholars, and the Shaafi'ee Scholars, and the Hanbalee
Scholars have also mentioned this, and that it is upon the Muslim to make hijrah.
However, some Scholars dispute it being obligatory, they dispute it being obligatory
to make hijrah in this type. They have reported on a group of Scholars of Fiqh, from
the Hanbalee Scholars of Fiqh, that hijrah from the land in which sins are many and
widespread is mustahab (highly recommended) and it is not obligatory because of the
statement of the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬,"Whoever amongst you sees an evil,
let him change it with his hand." Likewise, the Imaam Ash-Shawkaanee,‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬,
in his book 'Nail Al-Awtaar' disputed the obligation of leaving the land of sins, rather
he saw that to be highly recommended. However, in his book 'As-Sail Al-Jarraar' he

7
took that back and declared it to be obligatory. A group have mentioned it to be
highly recommended, while others see this type of hijrah to be similar to the previous
type of hijrah, hijrah from the land of innovations and desires. They see leaving the
land in which sins are widespread, and the Muslim therein is not able to combat that
and suppress that, and he does not feel safe for himself there, they see this type to also
be obligatory. Whatever the case may be, this is a division from the divisions of
hijrah that the people of knowledge have mentioned. The proof the people of
knowledge use for this type of hijrah, hijrah from the land of sins and hijrah from the
land of innovations is the statement of Allah,‫ عز و جل‬:
( ‫) إن الذين توفاهم المالئكة ظالمي أنفسهم قالوا فيم كنتم قالوا كنا مستضعفين في األرض‬
" 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.' "(An-Nisaa:97)
They have reported on Sa'eed ibn Jubair that he extracted from this verse that it is
obligatory to make hijrah from the land in which sins are many, and they similarly
reported that on Ataa, and similarly a group of the people of knowledge have used
this as a proof. So in brief, the hijrah from the land in which sins are many and
widespread, a group of Scholars of Fiqh, as you have heard, declare it to be
obligatory, and some of them say it is highly recommended. As for the first type,
making hijrah from the land of innovations, many people of knowledge see it to be
obligatory to leave this type of land.

The Fourth Question :

When was Al-Hijrah legislated, and what were the types of hijrah in the era of the
Prophet,‫?صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬

The Answer :

The Muslims hijrah from Makkah to Al-Habasha, which is the first hijrah, took
place in the month of Rajab five years after the mab'ath (the time when the Prophet,
‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, was sent with Islaam) as the historians mention. As for the
hijrah of the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, from Makkah to Madeenah, it took
place in the month of Rabee' Al-Awwal thirteen years after being sent.

As for the types of hijrah which existed in the era of the Prophet, ‫صلى هللا عليه و على‬
‫آله و سلم‬, a group of Scholars have mentioned various types of hijrahs to the point that
some of them mentioned eight types, however, some of these types are not accepted
as being called hijrah, rather they are delegations. Whatever the case may be, the
hijrahs that occurred in Islaam and have the right to be called hijrah are of two forms:
1. Moving from the land of fear to the land of safety, as occurred in the two
hijrahs to Al-Habasha, for verily Al-Habasha was a land of disbelief, but it
was safe and secure for the Muslims in compared to Makkah, and likewise in
the beginning of the hijrah from Makkah to Madeenah, for verily Madeenah at
first was a land of disbelief, but it was safe and secure for the Muslims.
2. The hijrah from the land of disbelief to the land of belief. That occurred after
the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, took residence in Madeenah, and those
Muslims who were able to, made hijrah to it. Al-Hijrah at that time was only
relevant to moving to Madeenah, until Makkah was conquered. The specific

8
 ruling then ceased, while the general ruling of leaving the land of disbelief for
whoever was able to do so remained.

The Fifth Question :

What is the rule defining the land in which it is obligatory to make hijrah from?

The Answer :

It has already preceded that hijrah is made from the land of disbelief to the land of
Islaam, so if what is meant by this question is an explanation and clarification of the
rule defining the land of shirk or disbelief then the Scholars have many interpretations
defining that rule. The most famous rule amongst the Scholars defining the land of
shirk and the land of disbelief is: 'The land in which shirk or disbelief is in the open
and predominant,' as has been mentioned in 'Sharh Al-Iqnaa' by Al-Buhootee, and in
the Fataawaa of Ash-Sheik Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem, and in the Fataawaa of Ash-
Sheikh Ibn Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon all of them. The Imaam Ash-
Shawkaanee,‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬, has also mentioned in his book 'As-Sail Al-Jarraar' a rule
defining the land of disbelief, and the land of shirk, and also the land of Islaam. He,
‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬, said, "What is considered is who's word is predominate. If the
commands and prohibitions in the land belong to the people of Islaam, then it is a
land of Islaam, and that ruling is not impaired by the appearance of certain traits of
disbelief because they didn't appear by means of the might and force of the
disbelievers as is witnessed in Ahl Adh-Dhimmah (those disbelievers who pay a tax
to live in the Muslim lands) from the Jews and Christians, and in the Muaahadoon
(those who have a pact with the Muslims) who reside in the Islamic cities, and if the
situation is opposite to that, the land takes the opposite ruling." Also, there is a nice
discussion by Ash-Sheikh Ibn Uthaimeen,‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬, in his explanation to 'Al-Usool
Ath-Thalaathah'. He,‫رحمه هللا‬, said, "And the land of shirk is the one in which the
rituals of disbelief are performed and the rituals of Islaam, such as the Adhaan, and
the Salaah in congregation, and the Eids, and Jumu'ah are not performed in a general
universal manner." He said, "We only said: 'in a general universal manner' in order to
exclude those places in which these rituals are performed in a limited way like the
lands of the disbelievers that have Muslim minorities, for verily they don't become
the lands of Islaam by the Islamic rituals that the Muslim minorities perform therein.
As for the lands of Islaam, they are the lands in which these rituals are performed in a
general universal manner." This statement of Ibn Uthaimeen,‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬,could be
used to refute that which Al-Maawardee mentioned. He is a Shaafi'ee Scholar who
said, "If he is able to openly perform the deen in a land from the lands of disbelief,
then that land has become a land of Islaam, and therefore, residing in it is better than
leaving it because of the hope that others will enter Islaam." Ibn Hajar,‫رحمه هللا‬,
reported that on him. So the statement of Ibn Uthaimeen,‫رحمه هللا‬, could be used as a
refutation against what Al-Maawardee,‫رحمه هللا تعالى‬, mentioned. So this is the rule
defining the land of shirk and the land of disbelief which hijrah from it is obligatory
upon whoever is not able to openly perform his deen nor perform the rituals therein.

9
The Sixth Question :

After we have come to know the ruling of hijrah, and the rule defining the land
from which hijrah is made, are there any circumstances considered exceptions to this,
and if so, what is the condition on this resident?

The Answer :

Allah,‫تعالى‬, says is His Noble Book :

( ‫إن الذين توفاهم المالئكة ظالمي أنفسهم قالوا فيم كنتم قالوا كنا مستضعفين في األرض قالوا ألم تكن‬
‫أرض هللا واسعة فتهاجروا فيها فأولئك مأواهم جهنم و ساءت مصيرا * إال المستضعفين من الرجال و النساء‬
‫) و الولدان ال يستطيعون حيلة و ال يهتدون سبيال * فأولئك عسى هللا أن يعفو عنهم و كان هللا 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)
So those who are excused for not making hijrah when it is obligatory upon them, they
are these people, the people who have excuses, those who are in no way able to make
hijrah. So these people, they are the ones in which an exception is made, and this
incapability is under certain circumstances:
1.It could be because of an illness. Either because he is sick with an illness that
forces him to stay in bed, and with this illness he is not able to mount any
means of transportation required to leave the land he is in, this person is then
excused, or likewise if he has an illness that he can't find treatment to stay
alive except in the land of disbelief which he is in, this person is also excused.
2.Or this incapability could be because of compulsion, like a prisoner for
example, or likewise some countries prevent its citizens from leaving to go
somewhere else except under extremely difficult measures as we saw and
witnessed in the south of Yemen in the days of Communism.
3.Or it could be because of weakness as is the case of the women and children
who are unable to travel from one land to another because of their weakness
and lack of experience. So these also are from those who an exception is
made. However, if there exists from the women she who is rational, and
resolute, and possesses insight and comprehension, and is able to travel and
leave the land of disbelief to go to the land of Islaam, and she feels safe for
herself from fitnah (tribulation), then this woman, it is obligatory upon her to
leave and make hijrah when she is in the circumstance where it is obligatory
upon her, and it is not a condition that she have a mahram (a guardian who,
because of ties, she is never able to marry) because of the statement of Allah,
‫ تعالى‬:
( ‫) يا أيها الذين آمنوا إذا جاءكم المؤمنات مهاجرات فامتحنوهن‬
" O you who believe, when believing women come to you as emigrants
examine them, "(Al-Mumtahanah:10)
For verily Umm Kulthoom bint Uqbah ibn Abee Mu'ait left, and also Zainab
the daughter of the Messenger of Allah,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, left, they
both left without a mahram, and likewise many women left from Makkah to

10
 Madeenah without mahrams, so the hadeeths which mention the condition of
having a mahram for a woman to travel don't apply in the particular case of
hijrah.
4.Or this incapability could be because of the obstacles which have been put in
place today, from the visas and things similar to that, thus if he is not able to
enter the lands of Islaam because of the likes of these obstacles, and this is
rare that all of the Islamic lands shut their doors on he who comes from
Europe, and America, and other lands of disbelief, however, whatever the case
may be, if something like that were to happen to a Muslim, then it would be
an excuse for him.
5.Also, there are some extremely rare cases where the person has fled from an
oppressive muslim ruler who wants to kill him, or he wants to do something to
him that he can't handle, and he could not find a land where he is safe from
the evil of this oppressor other than a land of disbelief. This is a rare case,
otherwise, the Islamic countries are many, however, sadly you find many of
these people who flee from their oppressive rulers choose the countries of
disbelief over the Muslim countries without necessity. They only desire easy
living and luxury, and Allah is the one who's help is sought.

Whatever the case may be, it is upon these people who are excused to avoid
falsehood and the people of falsehood, and stay far away from the tribulations as
much as they are able to do so, and it is upon them to hold firm to the truth and the
Sunnah in those lands which they were forced to stay in. And we ask Allah,‫عز و جل‬,
for grace.

Also, it is upon the Muslims to help their brothers who are not able to make hijrah,
while they are in the circumstance where it is obligatory, with everything they can, so
they can rescue them from the situation they are in. Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, says in His
Noble Book :
( ‫) و تعاونوا على البر و التقوى و ال تعاونوا على اإلثم و العدوان‬
" Help you one another in righteousness and piety, and do not help one another
in sin and transgression."(Al-Maaidah:2).
Also, the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, he is the one who said, "One of you
doesn't believe until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." (This
hadeeth is) agreed upon (by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) from the hadeeth of Anas.
Likewise, in Muslim from the hadeeth of Abee Hurairah on the Prophet, ‫صلى هللا عليه و‬
‫على آله و سلم‬, that he said, "Whoever relieves a believer of an anxiety from the anxieties
of this life, Allah will relieve him of an anxiety from the anxieties of the day of
resurrection, and whoever makes things easy for the mu'sir (the one who is in
financial straights and is not able to repay his debt), Allah will make things easy for
him in this life and the next, and Allah supports the slave when the slave supports his
brother."

As for the condition on the one residing in those lands, it is that he have the ability
to openly perform his deen, and perform the rituals of his deen, and openly profess it
without hindrance. The second condition is that he feel safe for his deen, whereas he
has enough knowledge and insight and strength of faith and contentment and
conviction and firmness and composure that will help him to stand firm on his deen.

11
 With regards to the first condition, it is the one the Muslims focus on in order to
justify them residing in the lands of disbelief, and most of their questions are about
that while they are negligent when it comes to fulfilling the second condition, and at
the same time the first condition, which is to be able to openly perform the deen in a
manner which frees you from guilt, most of the people residing over there, this
condition is not possible for them. For example, the Adhaan, to call it publicly out
loud is prohibited over there as is well known, and it is from the important rituals of
our deen. The Permanent Committee of Scholars (in Saudi Arabia) gave a legal
verdict that: 'whoever is not able to call the Adhaan out loud then he has failed to
openly perform the rituals of the deen, and it is upon him to make hijrah.'

Likewise, the second condition, which is the resident feels safe for his deen, do we
truly believe that there is anyone over-there who is able to feel safe for his deen, and
stand firm upon it with all those tremendous causes of corruption that exist over-
there. In brief, in residing in the lands of disbelief there is tremendous danger for the
belief of the Muslim and for his deen and for his character. Over-there the causes of
disbelief and sin are strong and many and of various kinds, and add to that the
weakness the Muslims over-there have in adhering to their deen. Look how he and
his family are brought up amongst the disbelievers and how they then acquire their
despicable character and their evil habits, rather, at times they get affected by them in
beliefs and types of worship. So he who lives in those corruptive, bestial societies, he
does not take interest in his deen, nor does he take it into account, nor does he pay
attention to its commands and its good manners. How sad it is!

How can his soul feel at ease about residing in the land of disbelief in which the
rituals of disbelief are publicized, and the unlawful things and despicable things are
considered lawful, and in which every wicked person is deemed good, and in which
every forbidden act is performed, and in which every secret thing is brought out into
the open, and over-there every evil and abomination is at hands reach. How can the
soul of the Muslim feel at ease about being in a land in which the rule is for other
than Allah and His Messenger,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬. He hears that, and witnesses
it, and touches it, then he persists to remain there with his children. It is upon the
Muslims to beware of the plots, and conspiracies, and plans, and schemes of the
enemies of Islaam which aim to turn the Muslims away from their deen and weaken
their adherence to it. We must be alert, and we must also ask ourselves: Why did the
enemies of Islaam open their lands to the Muslims? So they can reside there, and
work there, and study there, and amuse themselves and stroll about there? Did they
do that because of their love for the Muslims? Did they do that out of desire for their
wealth or for their need for laborers? The answer: No! By Allah! They didn't do that
because of their love for the Muslims, for verily they harbor in their hearts hatred and
enmity. Also, they opened up their lands to the poor Muslims and the weak Muslims,
so this shows us they are not ambitious for their wealth. Also, it is well known that
they have unemployment, so they are not in need of laborers. Rather, the goal from
that is to attempt to turn the Muslims away from their deen, and to corrupt the
Muslims, and wipe out the Muslims' identity over-there. By Allah, O my brothers in
Allah's deen, they envy us because of this deen, and because of this good that we live
in, and they are extremely eager for us to become like them in disbelief and
misguidance and decadence.

12
Allah,‫عز و جل‬, says in His noble book :
( ‫) ودوا لو تكفرون كما كفروا فتكونون سواء‬
" They wish that you disbelieve, as they have disbelieved, so you all become
equal."(An-Nisaa:89),
and He,‫سبحانه‬, is the one who said :
( ‫) و لن ترضى عنك اليهود و ال النصارى حتى تتبع ملتهم‬
" The Jews and the Christians will not be pleased with you until you follow their
religion."(Al-Baqarah:120),
and He,‫سبحانه‬, says :
( ‫) و ال يزالون يقاتلونكم حتى يردوكم عن دينكم إن استطاعوا‬
" and they will not cease fighting you until they turn you back from your
religion if they can."(Al-Baqarah:217)
So they are bent on making evil and discomfort reach the Muslims. They are
saddened by the good that reaches the Muslims, and they rejoice at the calamity that
befalls them. Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, has exposed them in His book, and He has disclosed
that which they conceal in their hearts. He,‫عز و جل‬, said :
( ‫يا أيها الذين آمنوا ال تتخذوا بطانة من دونكم ال يألونكم خباال ودوا ما عنتم قد بدت البغضاء من أفواههم و ما‬
‫) تخفي صدورهم أكبر قد بينا لكم اآليات إن كنتم تعقلون‬
" O you who believe, take not as your advisors those outside your religion since
they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you
severely. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their
breasts conceal is far worse. Indeed, We have made plain to you the proofs if
you understand."(Aal Imraan:118),
and Allah,‫عز و جل‬, says in His noble book :
( ‫) إن يثقفوكم يكونوا لكم أعداء و يبسطوا إليكم أيديهم و ألسنتهم بالسوء و ودوا لو تكفرون‬
" Should they gain the upper hand over you, they would behave to you as
enemies, and stretch forth their hands and their tongues against you with evil,
and they desire that you disbelieve."(Al-Mumtahanah:2).
So they, O my brothers in Allah's deen, they have not left the Muslims alone in their
(the Muslims') own lands and inside their own houses, so how much more with
someone who lives amongst them, and with someone who goes to them? No doubt,
they will not leave off any means or path that leads to diverting him from his deen
except that they will implement that. They have plots for that, and tricks, and secret
means, and apparent means. There is a war against Islaam and the Muslims, and
there are plots, day and night. So because of that they aspire to carry out these
schemes on the Muslims with all the might they have, and they spend large amounts
of money and take great efforts to achieve that. Also, they have plans to convert
people to Christianity in their lands and in the Muslim lands. They have revealed
those plans in many Muslim lands like Indonesia, and the Philippines, and Sudan, and
Bangladesh, and Uganda, and other Islamic lands. They use as a means to do that
giving charity to the weak Muslims by building schools and hospitals, and also by
forming what are called organizations for humanity, and there goal is not to benefit
the Muslims, nor develop the Muslim societies, there goal in that is only to destroy
the Muslims' character and destroy the Muslims' intellect and break the relationship
the Muslims have with their Lord, Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, and give free rein to their
desires. So we must beware of these plans.

In brief, residing in the land of disbelief has evil consequences, and it has bad
effects on the Muslim's deen, and this deen is the capital wealth of the righteous slave
in this life. So I ask you by Allah, is there anyone residing in the lands of disbelief

13
who has realized At-Taqwaa (piety and fear of Allah), and has become from the
Muttaqeen (the devout ones who fear Allah), and thus has performed the commands,
and has stayed away from the prohibitions in his eating, and drinking, and in his
clothing, and in his house, and in his street, and in his market, and in his school, and
in his job. It is rare that you find someone who has realized At-Taqwaa and has truly
become from the Muttaqeen, those who hasten to carry out the commands and stay
away from the prohibitions, rather, how many are the sins which the Muslims over-
there live in, and infatuation and love of the dunyaa (worldly pleasures), and being
attached to it, and putting it before obedience to Allah and His Messenger, for the
disbelievers, as is well known, the splendor of this life has been granted to them,
however, it is a small pleasure, and a short lived pleasure designed for tribulation, and
test, and trial. Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, says :
( ‫) ال يغرنكم تقلب الذين كفروا في البالد * متاع قليل ثم مأواهم جهنم و بئس المهاد‬
" Let not the free disposal (and affluence) of the disbelievers throughout the land
deceive you. A brief enjoyment; then, there ultimate abode is hell, and worst
indeed is that place for rest."(Aal Imraan:196-197),
and He,‫سبحانه‬, says :
( ‫) أ يحسبون أنما نمدهم به من مال و بنين * نسارع لهم في الخيرات بل ال يشعرون‬
" Do they think that We enlarge them in wealth and children. We hasten unto
them with good things (in this life so that they will have no share of good things
in the Hereafter). Nay, but they perceive not."(Al-Muminoon:55-56),
and He,‫تعالى‬, says :
( ‫) سنستدرجهم من حيث ال يعلمون * و أملي لهم إن كيدي متين‬
" We shall gradually seize them with punishment in ways they perceive not.
And I respite them; certainly My plan is strong."(Al-A'raaf:182-183)and(Al-
Qalam:44-45).
The Muslim over there gets amazed and dazzled by the civilization of the disbelievers
and by the material goods of the disbelievers which leads to glorifying them.

Also, the temptation of the women. It is well known the nudity, and the
decadence, and the lack of morals, and the lack of values in those bestial societies.
They have no deen, no shame, no morals, no obstacles, nothing preventing them from
the forbidden things, and the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, he is the one who said
as has been transmitted in the two Saheehs from the hadeeth of Usaamah, "I have not
left a fitnah (trial) more harmful on the men than the women." And the hadeeth of
Abee Sa'eed on the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, which has been transmitted by
the Imaam Muslim, "Verily, the dunyaa (this life) is sweet and succulent, and indeed
Allah has made you successors to one another in it, so beware of the dunyaa, and
beware of the women, for verily the first fitnah (trial/temptation) for the children of
Israa'eel was in the women." And his,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, statement, "I have not
seen from the females who are deficient in their intellect and deen she who has more
power to take away the heart of the prudent man than one of you."

The highlight is that the Muslim over there is in serious danger, he, and his family,
and his children. It has to amaze you how can the Muslim feel safe for his children,
boys and girls, in those societies, in the schools, and in the streets, and in the different
sections of town, and in the roads, everywhere! These little-ones who are like moths,
they don't distinguish between that which is beneficial and that which is harmful, nor
between guidance and misguidance, nor between what is permissible and what is
forbidden, rather, whoever directs them to the path of good, they follow it by the

14
success granted by Allah, and likewise, whoever directs them to the path of evil, they,
in most cases, rush to it, except for he who Allah protects. So the infant over-there
from his infancy is being led to that which has evil in it, and that which has corruption
in it, and to decadence, and to being detached from the deen, and from morals, and
from modesty. From kindergarten to the highest grades; while it is incumbent upon
those in charge of their affairs to fear Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, in dealing with these
offspring and these families, and they must take care of the responsibility facing their
children and their families, and they must show them the path to paradise and help
them follow that path, and it is also upon them to warn them from the path to the fire,
and warn them from these paths, and help them to leave alone these paths, and help
them to stay far away from them. It is also upon them to raise their children a
righteous up-bringing, and bring them up in a good way, and order them to observe
the Islamic rituals and codes of behavior, and it is also upon them to forbid them from
despicable forms of behavior and the forbidden things and all means which lead to
that, and that is not possible except by keeping them far away from evil companions,
and far away from criminal groups and places of corruption. It is also upon them to
implant in them outstanding character. All of that must be done in compliance with
the statement of Allah,‫ عز و جل‬:
( ‫) يا أيها الذين آمنوا قوا أنفسكم و أهليكم نارا وقودها الناس و الحجارة‬
" O you who believe, save yourself and your family from a fire whose fuel is
people and stones,"(At-Tahreem:6)
Likewise, the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, he is the one who said, "Each one of
you is a herdsman, and each one of you is responsible for his flock." So I ask you
by Allah, is the one who resides over-there able to do that with his family and his
children, or is the reality that the Muslim over-there is subject to the systems of the
disbelievers and to the laws of the disbelievers? Over-there he does not have true
authority over them, rather, how often are the incidents of rebellion, and dispute, and
quarrel between the man and his family, for verily if he does not respond to their
demands the disbelieving Police Force is the judge, and because of that you notice
that he sees the abomination and the indecency in his family, and he is not able to do
anything about it. O how distressing it is! O how sad it is!

Also, from the dangers is the existence of complete social intercourse with the
disbelievers which causes him and them to come closer together, and brings about
love through the perception that he is a fellow citizen, and this is a dangerous matter
because it is incumbent upon the Muslim to hate the disbelievers because they are the
enemies of Allah, and the enemies of His Messenger, and the enemies of Islaam and
the Muslims. Allah has ordered that, and He has warned against loving them and
befriending them. He,‫عز و جل‬, said :
( ‫ال تجد قوما يؤمنون باهلل و اليوم اآلخر يوادون من حاد هللا و رسوله و لو كانوا آباءهم أو أبناءهم أو‬
‫اآلية) إخوانهم أو عشيرتهم أولئك كتب في قلوبهم اإليمان و أيدهم بروح منه‬
" You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the last day making
friendship with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were
their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred. For such He has
written faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with ruh (proofs, light and
true guidance) from Himself."(Al-Mujaadilah:22),
and He,‫عز و جل‬, said :
( ‫ال يتخذ المؤمنون الكافرين أولياء من دون المؤمنين و من يفعل ذلك فليس من هللا في شيء إال أن تتقوا‬
‫) منهم تقاة و يحذركم هللا نفسه و إلى هللا المصير‬

15
" Let not the believers take the disbelievers as protectors instead of the believers,
and whoever does that will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you
indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself, and to
Allah is the final return."(Aal Imraan:28),
and Allah,‫عز و جل‬, says :
( ‫اآلية) يا أيها الذين آمنوا ال تتخذوا بطانة من دونكم ال يألونكم خباال ودوا ما عنتم‬
" O you who believe, take not as your advisors those outside your religion since
they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you
severely."(Aal Imraan:118),
and He,‫سبحانه‬, says :
( ‫يا أيها الذين آمنوا ال تتخذوا اليهود و النصارى أولياء بعضهم أولياء بعض و من يتولهم منكم فإنه منهم إن‬
‫) هللا ال يهدي القوم الظالمين‬
" O you who believe, take not the Jews and the Christians as Awliyaa (friends,
supporters) they are but Awliyaa to one another. And if any amongst you takes
them as Awliyaa then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those
people who are the wrongdoers."(Al-Maa'idah:51),
and our Lord,‫سبحانه‬, says :
( ‫ترى كثيرا منهم يتولون الذين كفروا لبئس ما قدمت لهم أنفسهم أن سخط هللا عليهم و في العذاب هم‬
‫) خالدون‬
" You see many of them taking the disbelievers as their protectors. Evil indeed
is that which their ownselves have sent forward before them, for that (reason)
Allah's wrath fell upon them and in torment they will abide."(Al-Maa'idah:80),
and our Lord,‫سبحانه‬, says :
( ‫قد كانت لكم أسوة حسنة في إبراهيم و الذين معه إذ قالوا لقومهم إنا برآء منكم و مما تعبدون من دون هللا‬
‫) كفرنا بكم و بدا بيننا و بينكم العداوة و البغضاء أبدا حتى تؤمنوا باهلل وحده‬
" Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibraaheem and those
with him, when they said to their people: 'Verily, we are free from you and
whatever you worship besides Allah, we have rejected you, and there has started
between us and you, hostility and hatred forever, until you believe in Allah
alone,"(Al-Mumtahanah:4).
So when he loves them, then, no doubt, he will agree with them, and follow in their
footsteps, and blindly follow them and imitate them, while the Prophet, ‫صلى هللا عليه و‬
‫على آله و سلم‬, he is the one who said, "Whoever imitates a people then he is from
them."

Also, from the evils of residing in the lands of the disbelievers is, in doing so, their
masses are increased, and their societies are stimulated, and it also strengthens their
economy, while we are ordered to irritate them, and show enmity to them.

In brief, it is almost impossible for the Muslim to feel safe for his deen in most
lands of disbelief. Add to that, the enemies of Islaam over-there are eager to make
the Muslim doubt about his deen, and his creed, and his faith in his Lord and His
Messenger, and it is known that faith does not accept doubt, rather, it is the certain
belief, so if the Muslim becomes doubtful, and uncertain, and irresolute about that
which it is incumbent upon him to be firmly convinced about, then he, and Allah's
refuge is sought, becomes a disbeliever. They spread their specious arguments, and
their falsehood, and their ways of skepticism everywhere, and with every means, and
because of that, it is from the conditions of the one residing in those lands that he feel
safe for his deen, and this does not happen except if he learns his deen with its proofs,
and evidences and arguments, so he will be able to defend it, and so he can refute the

16
specious arguments of the disbelievers which they have spread everywhere. Yes, it is
upon him to have knowledge of the legislation and know that which will enable him
to distinguish between truth and falsehood, so he won't be deceived by the falsehood
and the people of falsehood, and so the truth won't be made obscure to him. So it is a
must that the Muslim have knowledge to protect him from the specious arguments,
and so he can use it to protect himself from disbelief and disobedience. It is well
known that the hearts are weak, and the specious arguments are strong and grabbing,
and when it was the case that most of the people going and residing over-there were
not strong in deen, and were lacking in knowledge and insight, many of them returned
to us with something different from what he went with. He would return deviant in
his deen, and in his manners and behavior. He would return as a sinful person, far
astray, rather, some of them would return, and Allah's refuge is sought, as an apostate
disbelieving in his deen, the deen of Islaam. Rather, he would also disbelieve in the
rest of the religions whereas he would be upon total disbelief, and he would mock the
people of Islaam. He would return imitating the destructive ideology of the
disbelievers, and he would follow their way in lifestyle, and in clothing, and in
appearance, and in all of their affairs, and they would become spokesmen for the
enemies of Islaam in the lands of the Muslims. So it is upon every Muslim to strive
to reside in the lands of Islaam in which the abominations are few in comparison to
the lands of disbelief. Indeed, in that is good for him, and security and protection for
his deen. Nevertheless, we would like to point out, it is possible that there exists
remote lands of disbelief in which the Muslim is able to openly perform his deen, and
openly perform the rituals while feeling safe for himself from tribulations, so if there
are lands of disbelief out-there upon this description, then Al-Hijrah from it is
mustahab (highly recommended) for the Muslim, and residing there is makrooh
(disliked). However, as is well known, most of the lands of disbelief in the east and
the west are not like that.

The Seventh Question :

Is residing in the lands of disbelief for work and study from the exceptions to this?

The Answer :

With regards to working and gathering money, the discussion about the danger of
the Muslim staying in the land of disbelief has already preceded, so it is upon the
Muslim to strive to save himself, and protect his deen and guard himself against the
tribulations, for that, by Allah, is better than the dunyaa and what is in it. Also, it is
upon the Muslim to strive to remain in the lands of Islaam, even if the income there is
small. Rather, it is upon him to rely on Allah, and think good of Allah, and ask Allah
to bless that which He provides him, for indeed blessing is from Allah. How many
people, their incomes are limited, however, they are at ease, and in a state of
peacefulness, and happiness and blessing, while on the contrary, how many people
have gone to the lands of disbelief to gather money and to compete with the people of
the dunyaa in their dunyaa, then you find them in a state of loss and need, even if they
possess millions, and build buildings, and buy fancy cars. You find them in a state of
misery and unhappiness. This is the norm for the one who strives to compete for
dunyaa, that he be in a state of grief, and sorrow, and fatigue, and misery and distress.
Ibn Maajah has transmitted the hadeeth of Zaid ibn Thaabit on the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه‬
‫و على آله و سلم‬, "Whoever has the dunyaa be his main concern, Allah will make his

17
affair fall apart, and He will put poverty before his eyes, and only that which has been
written for him from the dunyaa will come to him, and whoever has the next life as
his determination, Allah will put together for him his affair, and He will put wealth in
his heart, and the dunyaa will be forced to come to him." The hadeeth is saheeh, and
we benefit from this hadeeth that Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, punishes he who strives to obtain
dunyaa and gather it even if it costs him his deen. Allah makes his affair fall apart,
and puts Him in disarray and in fear of want and poverty despite the fact that he
works morning and evening, and toils night and day. Some of them neglect the rights
of his wife and children, rather, he is also negligent in his forms of worship and
religious obligations, and at the same time, the only provision from the dunyaa that
will come to him is that which Allah has decreed for him, not what he himself wants.
Allah,‫عز و جل‬, says :
( ‫) من كان يريد العاجلة عجلنا له فيها ما نشاء لمن نريد ثم جعلنا له جهنم يصالها مذموما مدحورا‬
" Whoever wishes for the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this life), We
readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have
appointed for him hell, he will burn therein disgraced and rejected."(Al-Israa:18)
So he will only get from the dunyaa that which Allah wants and wills for him, not
what that person wants, and decides, and desires and wishes for. So it is upon the
slave to strive to obey Allah and His Messenger, and stay away from the tribulations,
and occupy himself with worship, and exert himself wholeheartedly for Allah, for
verily if he does that, then Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, will bless him in his provision, and He
will put satisfaction in his heart, and if not, if he does contrary to that, then let him
expect the opposite of that. Al-Haakim has transmitted with a saheeh chain on Ma'qil
ibn Yasaar on the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, that he said, "Your Lord,
‫تبارك و تعالى‬, says: 'O son of Adam, devote yourself to worshipping Me, I will fill your
heart with wealth (satisfaction), and I will fill your hands with provision. O son of
Adam, don't move away from Me, (if you do so) I will fill your heart with poverty,
and I will fill your hands with work.' " So every Muslim must beware of subjecting
his deen to tribulation because of some limited amount of money that he gathers. A
group of the people of knowledge have mentioned that remaining in the lands of the
disbelievers for the purpose of working is from those things which are forbidden.

As for going to the lands of disbelief to study, it has preceded that from the
conditions for the one residing over-there is that he is able to perform his deen, and
openly perform it, and also that he feel safe for his deen and for himself, and this, in
reality, is not being fulfilled with most of the students. In studying with them there is
great danger for the deen and character of the students, while most of the students are
negligent when it comes to learning their deen, and they have weakness in
differentiating between good and bad, and between that which is beneficial and that
which is harmful, and between right and wrong, and between misguidance and
guidance, and between that which is meager and that which is stout, so over-there
they are prey for the enemies of Islaam because they are under the supervision of the
disbelievers, and under the instruction and education of the disbelievers, so what do
we expect after that? Also, in most cases the student looks up to his teacher and
respects him, and his heart leans toward him, and when that happens he copies his
ideas and follows him in his character and behavior, thus he does not return to his
country except that he has abandoned his deen. It is rare that the student over-there
escapes sins, and disobedient acts, and the different types of abominations and sins
and disobedience. This is a very important point that the Muslims must be aware of,
and those who want to go over-there must beware of. Is it perceivable that there

18
exists education in those lands far free from having acts forbidden by the Islamic
legislation like intermingling and other things? So due to this, it is upon the Muslim
to strive to study in the land of Islaam so he can feel safe in the lands of Islaam for his
deen and his character. Also, there exists in the lands of Islaam different types of
studies which suffices having to go to the lands of the disbelievers, although we point
out that the places of education that contain acts forbidden by the Islamic legislation,
like intermingling and other things, it is not permissible to enroll in them, whether
they are in the land of disbelief or in the land of Islaam.

If someone were to say, "What if the field of study is something that is needed,
and it does not exist in the lands of Islaam, is it permissible to go to the lands of
disbelief?" The answer: this is not permissible, going to their lands, even if the type
of knowledge is something needed and it does not exist in the lands of the Muslims
because in that there is danger for the students as you have heard, and also, if we were
to refrain from studying this matter that the Muslims need, is straying from the truth
going to occur because of that, or is the worst that will occur is deprivation and some
extra effort, contrary to the Muslims need for knowledge of the Islamic legislation
and the beneficial knowledge, for verily if they were to leave that, straying from the
truth would befall them as the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, has informed of as is
mentioned in the two Saheehs from the hadeeth of Abdillah ibn Amr, "Verily, Allah
does not seize the knowledge by snatching it from the breasts of men, rather He seizes
the knowledge by the death of the Scholars, then when He doesn't let a Scholar
remain, the people will take ignorant people as their leaders, so they will be asked,
and they will give legal verdicts without knowledge, so they will go astray and they
will lead others astray." Thus if the knowledge of the legislation does not exist,
straying and misguidance occurs in the Muslim societies. As for the knowledge of
worldly affairs, the worst that could happen to them is some extra effort, although, as
we have mentioned, the types of knowledge which the Muslims need exist in the
lands of Islaam.

Also, look at the evil consequences that have occurred in the ranks of the Muslims
because of them sending their children to go study with the disbelievers, and that
could be because of a legal opinion of some of the people of knowledge, however,
look at the tremendous evils. What have the Muslims benefited from their children
going to the lands of disbelief? If we were to look at the evil consequences we would
find them to be many and tremendous.

The Eighth Question :

There are some travels to the lands of disbelief that don't include residing nor
settling there, like traveling for vacation, and tourism, and traveling for business, and
traveling for da'wah, or for someone who made hijrah to go get married over-there.

The Answer :

With regards to traveling for vacation and tourism we say; traveling to the lands of
disbelief for those matters of daroorah (extreme necessity), like seeking treatment and
such, there is no problem with this as has preceded. As for that which is for the
purpose of vacation, or tourism, or roaming around or recreation, this travel is not a
travel of extreme necessity because it is possible for him to go to the Islamic lands

19
whose people are conservative Muslims and take vacation there, and it will be less
expensive, and he will feel safe in his journey for his deen, although the advice we
give is that the Muslim focus on that which benefits him, as the Prophet, ‫صلى هللا عليه و‬
‫على آله و سلم‬, said, "Focus on that which benefits you." And as for traveling to the land
of disbelief and shirk for the purpose of tourism and recreation, no doubt, there is
great danger in that and trial on the deen of the Muslim and on his character because
of what has been mentioned. Also, in that great sums of money are wasted in these
types of journeys to the lands of disbelief, and over-there the temptations are intense.
How often has a righteous person traveled to those lands then returned corrupted.
Rather, how often has a Muslim traveled there and returned as a disbeliever.

So in brief, it is not permissible to travel to the land of disbelief for tourism, and
roaming around and recreation. That is so the (person's) deen can be protected, and
so he can be saved from the means of trial, and so he can distance himself from the
dangers and the evil consequences, especially since the traveler travels and searches
in his journey for everything that delights him and everything that entertains him, and
you know the laxity that exists in those lands for sins like drinking alcoholic
beverages, and fornication, and nudity, and decadence, and the many types of
abominations. Also, those disbelievers have prepared their lands for these purposes
and compete with one another in that. And, all praises are due to Allah, the people of
knowledge have given the legal verdict that it is forbidden to go to the land of the
disbelievers for tourism and roaming around.

As for traveling for the purpose of business, some of the people of knowledge
allow that, and some of the people of knowledge see that to be forbidden and don't
allow that because of the severe danger which the Muslim is subject to over-there.
Whatever the case may be, our advice is that the Muslim beware of going to the lands
of disbelief for the purpose of business as much as possible because of the danger in
that on the deen and on the character, and because of the great evils which have
already been mentioned, especially since the one who wants to do business, he brings
with him on his journey large sums of money, and you know that the abomination is
at hands reach, we ask Allah for safety and well-being. However, if he is going to
travel for his business to one of the remote lands of the disbelievers with trustworthy
company in a short time-period, in this instance it could be said to be permissible. As
for most of the lands of disbelief, there is great danger in that on the deen of the
Muslim.

As for the Muhaajir traveling only to get married, it appears that it is not
permissible because it is not an extreme necessity, rather, he is able to marry a
righteous woman over-there, if one can be found, over the telephone or by the
different means of communication without having to travel there because in the
Muslim traveling there, as you have heard, there is danger for him, and perhaps if he
goes to those lands after making hijrah from them he could long for staying there and
employ different types of tricks to stay there with the argument that he is still trying
to find the right wife, or with the argument that he is working for a little while so he
can save money to suffice the requirements of the marriage and the journey with his
family to the lands of Islaam, or with the argument that there are obstacles making it
difficult to return to the land of Islaam, or because he needs some treatment or things
like that, and Allah is the one who's help is sought. So we advise that he don't go for
this purpose.

20
 As for traveling to those lands for the purpose of calling to Allah, it is well known
the many proofs from the Book and the Sunnah mentioning the virtue of calling to
Allah. Allah,‫عز و جل‬, said in His Book :
( ‫) و من أحسن قوال ممن دعا إلى هللا و عمل صالحا و قال إنني من المسلمين‬
" And who is better in speech than he who calls to Allah and does righteous
deeds and says: 'Verily, I am one of the Muslims.' "(Fussilat:33),
and Allah,‫عز و جل‬, says :
( ‫) قل هذه سبيلي أدعو إلى هللا على بصيرة أنا و من اتبعني و سبحان هللا و ما أنا من المشركين‬
" Say, 'This is my way; I call to Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever
follows me, and glorified be Allah, and I am not one of the polytheists."
(Yusuf:108), and He,‫سبحانه‬, says :
( ‫) ادع إلى سبيل ربك بالحكمة و الموعظة الحسنة و جادلهم بالتي هي أحسن‬
" Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good preaching, and argue with
them in a way that is better,"(An-Nahl:125).
So traveling to the lands of disbelief for the purpose of da'wah is considered to be a
type of Jihaad, and it is fard kifaayah (obligatory on a part of the nation) upon he who
is able to do that. So calling to Allah, and instructing the people, and conveying
Allah's message to His slaves, and removing the people from the types of darkness to
the light, and explaining the good qualities of Islaam to the disbelievers, and
educating the Muslims over-there the rulings of the deen, and enlightening them, and
instructing them, and encouraging them to leave there and go to the lands of Islaam,
no doubt, these are important matters. The disbelievers are in need of someone to call
them, especially since Islaam in the lands of disbelief has been distorted. So many of
the disbelievers don't know anything about true Islaam because of the cover-up, and
misguidance, and distortion, and deterrence, and false allegations against the religion
of Islaam, that it is a religion of barbarity, and savageness and backwardness.

So in brief, calling to Allah in those lands is a matter of extreme importance

because of what results because of it from benefit and guidance for the creation, in
particular when sincerity, and truthfulness, and patience exists in the callers. No
doubt, by Allah's permission, good outcomes will occur. However, it is a must that
this caller to Allah, his da'wah must have some effect and influence, and this only
happens to a man who has with him knowledge and insight; a man who knows his
deen with its evidences, and he has the ability to call to it and refute the specious
arguments that he comes across, along with the ability to perform that which Allah,
‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, has made obligatory upon him, and all of this, meaning the
permissibility of going there for the purpose of da'wah, is under the condition that the
caller to Allah feels safe for himself from tribulation, for if he fears tribulation for his
deen, or fears for himself falling into that which Allah has forbidden, it is not allowed
for him to travel there even if it is for the purpose of da'wah.

The Ninth Question :

Is there a difference when it comes to residing in the land which it is obligatory to

make hijrah from between a short time-period and a long time-period?

21
The Answer :

Whoever is under the circumstance where hijrah is obligatory upon him, it is upon
him to rush to do it whenever he is able, and it is not permissible for him to delay
while he has the ability, not even one day, because if he delays without an excuse,
and if death were to reach him before making hijrah, then he dies, and Allah's refuge
is sought, as a sinner committing a major sin as He,‫تعالى‬, said :
( ‫إن الذين توفاهم المالئكة ظالمي أنفسهم قالوا فيم كنتم قالوا كنا مستضعفين في األرض قالوا ألم تكن‬
‫) أرض هللا واسعة فتهاجروا فيها فأولئك مأواهم جهنم و ساءت مصيرا‬
" 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).

The Tenth Question :

Is it permissible for the Muhaajir to return to the lands which he made hijrah from
if they become Islamic lands?

The Answer :

It is not permissible for the one who made hijrah from a land to return to it even if
it becomes afterwards and Islamic land, and the proof for that is what occurred to the
Companions of the Messenger of Allah,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, whereas they made
hijrah from Makkah when it was a land of disbelief and shirk, then when Makkah was
conquered and became an Islamic land, the person who made hijrah from it was
prevented from residing there and settling there, and it was only allowed for them to
reside there after the rites of Hajj for three nights only, so they could carry out their
basic needs as is mentioned in the hadeeth of Al-Alaa ibn Al-Hadramee on the
Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, that he said, "Three nights the Muhaajir remains
after performing the rites." It has been transmitted by Al-Bukhaaree, and Muslim,
and Abu Dawud, and At-Tirmidhee, and Ibn Maajah and others. Also, the position
that it is not permissible for the Muhaajir to return to the land he made hijrah from,
and it is not permissible for him to reside there is the position of the majority of the
people of knowledge the proof being the hadeeth of Al-Alaa ibn Al-Hadramee.

The Eleventh Question :

What is the ruling on the Muhaajir returning to the land which he made hijrah
from for the purpose of visiting relatives, and what is the condition for that?

The Answer :

It is not permissible for the Muhaajir to return to his land for the purpose of
visiting relatives because of what has preceded, except if he made his main purpose
be to call them to Islaam if they are disbelievers and he hopes they will embrace
Islaam, and there is no other way to call them except going to them and meeting them
directly. Something like that is alright, however, with the condition that he feel safe
for himself from tribulation, and also he must be qualified to call them whereas he has

22
knowledge of his deen with evidences, and also he is familiar with that which his
relatives are in need of for him to call them over-there. It is alright in this situation
for him to go for a couple of days whereas he does not leave the ruling of a traveler,
without residing nor settling. Likewise, if his relatives are disobedient Muslims, so
he goes to call them and encourage them to leave with the previous condition.
However, we point out that if they are Muslims and he is able to arrange a meeting
with them in the land of Islaam, like at Hajj and Umrah, that would be a good thing.
Also, we remind our brothers who have made hijrah about the danger of returning to
the lands of disbelief after making hijrah from them, for verily the person, it is
possible that he might long for staying there and forget that he has made hijrah from
it, and he could become weak in his faith and in-turn, desire to remain there. Also, in
the hadeeth of Abee Sa'eed which has been transmitted by the two Sheikhs on the
Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, the hadeeth about that person from the children of
Israa'eel who killed one hundred people then when he was guided to that Scholar who
he asked for his legal opinion, he then gave the verdict that there is repentance for
him and he said to him, "and don't return to your land, for verily it is a land of evil."
So it is upon he who has left those lands to beware and not return to them in order
that he does not turn weak, and that his intention does not change, and Allah is the
one who's help is sought.

The Twelfth Question :

What is the ruling on the Muslim going from his land to the lands of the
disbelievers for the purpose of visiting relatives, and what is the condition for that,
and what is the ruling on the person in this situation going to obtain the citizenship of
the disbelievers?

The Answer :

The answer to this is similar to the answer to the previous question; primarily, it is
not permissible except if the main purpose for going is to call them under the
condition previously mentioned, then it is alright.

As for if the purpose for traveling is to obtain the citizenship of the disbelievers,
then it has all the more reason to be forbidden than that which has preceded, and,
praise be to Allah, the people of knowledge have given the legal verdict that it is
forbidden to acquire the citizenship of the disbelievers because of what that includes,
from being under their control and falling under their rule of law.

The Thirteenth Question :

Some brothers, Ash-Shaytaan has deceived them, they only see hijrah to be to the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, or they only wish to make hijrah to it despite the well-
known hardship it takes to do that, so what is your advice to these people?

The Answer :

What we advise our brothers with is that they fear Allah,‫عز و جل‬, and that they
rush to flee with their deen from the tribulations. No doubt, Saudi Arabia is from the
best lands of Islaam due to the much good there, and the existence of the Scholars and

23
the scarceness of open abominations, however, it is a mistake for the Muslim to delay
leaving the land of disbelief and delay escaping with his deen with the argument that
he is still proceeding and following up so he can enter Saudi Arabia and reside there.
This excuse is not accepted because the lands of Islaam in which evil is scarce and
less intense in comparison to the other lands of disbelief, no doubt, these Islamic
lands are wide, and vast and many, and Allah,‫عز و جل‬, says in His Book :
( ‫) يا عبادي الذين آمنوا إن أرضي واسعة فإياي فاعبدون‬
" O My slaves who believe, certainly, spacious is My earth. Therefore worship
Me alone."(Al-Ankaboot:56),
and Allah,‫عز و جل‬, says :
( ‫إن الذين توفاهم المالئكة ظالمي أنفسهم قالوا فيم كنتم قالوا كنا مستضعفين في األرض قالوا ألم تكن‬
‫) أرض هللا واسعة فتهاجروا فيها‬
" 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?' "(An-Nisaa:97).
So it is upon the Muslim to, first and foremost, rush to leave the lands of disbelief to
go to the lands of Islaam that are easy to get to, then after that it is alright for him to
strive to take permanent residence in the best of places and the one that has the less
evil. Saudi Arabia has much good in it, and likewise Yemen, especially in its rural
areas and villages there is much good. Also, the other Islamic countries, despite the
great affliction that exists in them, there is no doubt that there is no comparison
between them and the other countries of disbelief. So it is upon the Muslim to rush to
escape with his deen, for today he has the correct intention and is eager but what will
make him realize that perhaps afterwards he will slacken in this determination even if
entering Saudi Arabia became possible for him, for the hearts are between two fingers
from the fingers of Ar-Rahmaan ( The Most-Merciful). So does the person over-there
feel safe for himself that he will stay upon what he is on till the next morning? Today
he is healthy but what will make him realize that perhaps something will happen to
him tomorrow. Today he possesses some money to help him make hijrah and travel
but what will make him realize how his situation will be days after. Today he is able
to travel to many of the lands of Islaam without any obstacles but he does not know
what will happen to him days later. So Rush! Rush! Escape! Escape! Allah, ‫عز و‬
‫جل‬, says in His Book : ( ‫ " ) فاستبقوا الخيرات‬so race to do good deeds "(Al-
Baqarah:148), and the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, he is the one who said,
"Hasten to do good deeds before the occurrence of tribulations that are like the parts
of the dark night; a man will enter the morning as a believer then enter the evening as
a disbeliever, or he will enter the evening as a believer then enter the morning as a
disbeliever, he will sell his deen for a commodity of the dunyaa." Muslim has
transmitted it from the hadeeth of Abee Hurairah. So this is what we advise our
brothers with, and Allah is the one who's help is sought.

The Fourteenth Question :

Some brothers live for years in the lands of the disbelievers with the argument that
they are preparing for hijrah, and when he is asked the reason for that he makes it a
condition that he has a large sum of money so he can buy his necessities, like a house
and a car. On the other side there are brothers who only make it a condition that they
have the price of the ticket, and these are the minority. So who is correct, and is this
considered to be money preparation for hijrah?

24
The Answer :

It has preceded in the answer to the previous question that we advise the brothers
to rush and hasten to leave those lands because the person does not know what will
happen to him in his present day, and tomorrow, and what will happen to him weeks
or months later. So these people, if they are from among those whom hijrah is
obligatory upon, and it is obligatory upon them to leave, then it is obligatory upon
them to hasten to do that, and in the future they will not be deprived of provision,
Allah willing, for verily he who leaves the lands of disbelief out of obedience to Allah
and His Messenger,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, and to escape with his deen from the
tribulations while he is sincere in his reliance on Allah and he has good thoughts
about Allah, then verily he, Allah willing, Allah,‫عز و جل‬, will not leave him to perish,
and our Lord,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, won't leave him to rely upon His creation, for Allah,
‫عز جل‬, is merciful to His slaves, and our Lord,‫عز و جل‬, will be with the good thought
that His slave has of Him, and He will make things easy for him, and He will give
him provision, Allah willing, from places he wouldn't think of, as our Lord,‫عز جل‬, has
promised in His statement :
( ‫) و من يتق هللا يجعل له مخرجا * و يرزقه من حيث ال يحتسب‬
" and whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for him, and He will provide
him from sources he never could imagine."(At-Talaaq:2-3),
and He,‫سبحانه‬, said :
( ‫) و من يتق هللا يجعل له من أمره يسرا‬
" and whoever fears Allah, He will make his matter easy for him."(At-Talaaq:4),
and At-Tirmidhee has transmitted with a hasan chain from the hadeeth of Umar,
‫رضي هللا تعالى عنه‬, he said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬,
say, 'If you were to rely upon Allah as He should be relied upon, He would provide
for you as He provides for the birds; they depart in the first part of the day with
bellies empty, then they return in the latter part of the day with bellies full.' " So the
birds depart early in the morning with their bellies lean from hunger, then they don't
return to their nests in the last part of the day except that their bellies are full. Also,
we must look towards the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, ‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله‬
‫و سلم‬, how they left their wealth and their homes making hijrah to Allah and His
Messenger, and how they arrived at Madeenah, many of them not owning a thing,
then we look; Did Allah,‫عز و جل‬, leave them to perish? The answer: No, rather Allah
our Lord,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, gave them a good substitute for that, whereas they were
granted enormous victories, and they gained many spoils of war, and they possessed
the dunyaa, and the ruled the world, and they became the wealthiest people. So this is
what we advise our brothers with.

25
The Fifteenth Question :

Taking money from the disbelievers (welfare) has made many of the Muslims lazy
from making hijrah, and that is because they, if they work they fall into forbidden
acts, and if they make hijrah they fear poverty. Also, they claim that with this money
they are able to live at ease and perform their deen. So what is your advise for these
people, and is hijrah from the means for provision, and what is the proof for that, and
are the rituals that the Salafees do over-there considered to be performing the deen?

The Answer :

Allah,‫عز و جل‬, the treasures of the heavens and the earth are in His hand, and He
has guaranteed provision for His slaves as He,‫عز و جل‬, said in His Book :
( ‫) و ما من دابة في األرض إال على هللا رزقها و يعلم مستقرها و مستودعها كل في كتاب مبين‬
" And there is no living creature on earth but its provision is due from Allah.
And He knows its dwelling place and its retreat, all is in a clear book."(Hud:6),
and as He,‫سبحانه‬, said :
( ‫) و كأين من دابة ال تحمل رزقها هللا يرزقها و إياكم و هو السميع العليم‬
" And so many a living creature there is that carries not its own provision. Allah
provides for it and for you. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower."
(Al-Ankaboot:60),
and Allah,‫عز و جل‬, says :
( ‫و ما خلقت الجن و اإلنس إال ليعبدون * ما أريد منهم من رزق وما أريد أن يطعمون * إن هللا هو الرزاق‬
‫) ذو القوة المتين‬
" And I created not the jinns and mankind except they should worship Me.
I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me.
Verily, Allah is the Provider, Possessor of power, the Most Strong."(Adh-
Dhaariyaat:56-58).
So it is upon every Muslim to know that his provision has already been determined
and has been written for him in a book with Allah, ‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, fifty thousand years
before He created the heavens and the earth, and that was also written while he was in
his mother's stomach; his provision was written, and his life-span, and his deeds, and
whether he would be miserable or happy. Also, the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬,
he is the one who said, "Verily the spirit of purity (Jibreel) has inspired me that no
soul will die except that it has fulfilled its provision and its life-span, so fear Allah
and do that which is good in seeking provision." So the only provision that will come
to the slave is that which has been written for him, so it is only upon him that he
strive to be righteous and he hasten to do acts of obedience, and it is not permissible
for him to think that his righteousness and his performance of that which Allah has
ordered is going to decrease his provision, and that his laxity and negligence and his
unstableness in his deen is going to be a reason for his provision to increase.

It is upon all of us to know that hijrah for Allah's sake is one of the great means of
provision as He,‫تعالى‬, said in His Noble Book :
( ‫) و من يهاجر في سبيل هللا يجد في األرض 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).
So whoever makes hijrah for Allah's sake seeking the pleasure of Allah,‫عز و جل‬, Allah
has promised him the good promise, provision and ease and comfort, that which will

26
be a means to infuriate his enemies; ( ‫) يجد في األرض مراغما‬, meaning that which will be
a means to infuriate the enemies. So it is upon every Muslim to ask Allah for a
portion of His bounty, and rely upon Him, and see Him to be sufficient for him, and
be modest because if he sees Allah to be sufficient for him, then Allah will be
sufficient for him, and if he strives to be modest, then Allah will enable him to
modest.

As for the question, 'are the rituals that the Salafees do over-there considered to be
performing the deen.' The answer is that the discussion about residing in the lands of
the disbelievers and its ruling has preceded, so you, after examining what has
preceded, will be able, Allah‫ تعالى‬willing, to give the ruling of our brothers over-there.

The Sixteenth Question :

Some of the students of knowledge who benefited from studying in Yemen and
Saudi Arabia with Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah have returned to the lands of the
disbelievers, however, there actions show that they are out for the money. So what is
your advise to these people?

The Answer :

There is no doubt that calling to Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, has a significant status and is
deemed to be an honor for the Muslim, for he who is sincere to Allah in doing it, for
verily an abundant reward and a great recompense is anticipated for him, and it is
upon the caller to Allah,‫ سبحانه‬, that he does not exchange that which is better for that
which is worse, and it is upon him to know that his mistake is not like someone else's
mistake, for verily he who knows is not like he who doesn't know. So he who Allah
has honored with knowledge then does something blameworthy, his punishment is not
like the punishment of that ignorant person who perhaps if he knew similar to what
this student or caller knew, perhaps he wouldn't do this forbidden act. Also, Allah,
‫عز و جل‬, has said in His Noble Book threatening His Prophet Muhammad, ‫عليه الصالة و‬
‫السالم‬, that if he were to lean towards the disbelievers and sway towards them, and he,
‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, is far above doing that, then Allah would double his
punishment as He,‫سبحانه‬, said :
( ‫و إن كادوا ليفتنونك عن الذي أوحينا إليك لتفتري علينا غيره و إذن التخذوك خليال * و لوال أن ثبتناك لقد‬
‫) كدت تركن إليهم شيئا قليال * إذن ألذقناك ضعف الحياة و ضعف الممات ثم ال تجد علينا نصيرا‬
" Verily, they were about to tempt you away from that which We have revealed
to you, to fabricate something other than it against Us, and then they would
certainly have taken you as a friend. And had We not made you stand firm, you
would nearly have inclined to them a little. In that case, We would have made
you taste a double portion of punishment in this life and a double portion of
punishment after death. And then you would have found none to help you
against Us."(Al-Israa:73-75).
So it is upon these people to fear Allah and know that Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, knows that
which is secret and that which is most hidden, and Allah,‫تعالى‬, knows what is in the
breasts, and that Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, knows the deceitful eyes and that which the
breasts conceal. So if they have gone over-there with the pretext of calling to Allah
while in reality there goal is to collect money and enjoy the pleasures of this life, they
must know that they are only fooling themselves and that they are only harming
themselves. Also, we remind them of the statement of Allah,‫ عز و جل‬:

27
 ( ‫يستخفون من الناس و ال يستخفون من هللا و هو معهم إذ يبيتون ما ال يرضى من القول و كان هللا بما‬
‫) يعلمون محيطا‬
" They may hide from the people, but they cannot hide from Allah, for He is
with them when they plot by night in words that He does not approve, and Allah
ever encompasses what they do."(An-Nisaa:108).
So we advise them to fear Allah,‫عز و جل‬, and to make their deeds sincerely for Allah,
and that they either stay over-there for the purpose of calling to Allah and be sincere
in doing that and strive hard to convey it, or if not, they must leave those lands and
return to the lands of Islaam, and by doing that they will be, Allah ‫ تعالى‬willing, a good
example for their brothers, and if not, if they don't do that, then we, by Allah, we fear
for them tribulation in their deen, and we fear that Allah will not bless them in their
knowledge nor in the wealth they gathered because of their turning away from the
truth after knowing it. It is upon us all to beware of that which our Prophet, ‫صلى هللا‬
‫عليه و على آله و سلم‬, has warned us, and he has warned us of the temptation of the
dunyaa and the temptation of wealth, for verily the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬,
he is the one who said as can be found in At-Tirmidhee from the hadeeth of Ka'b ibn
Maalik, "Two hungry wolves released into a flock of sheep are not more destructive
than the destruction that a person's desire for wealth and status has on his deen." It is
a saheeh hadeeth. Also, in At-Tirmidhee with a chain that is hasan from the hadeeth
of Ka'b ibn Iyaad, he said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬,
say, 'Indeed, for every nation there is a fitnah (trial), and the fitnah of my nation is
wealth." So we advise them to have contentment, and to strive to implement what
they know, and to beware of having greed for the dunyaa and competing with one
another for it, for verily, if they were granted small provision in the lands of Islaam
along with Allah granting them the success to obtain knowledge and implement it and
stand firm on the deen, then they, by Allah, would be in prosperity and success as the
Prophet, ‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, informed of in his statement: "He has prospered, he
who embraces Islaam and his provision is just sufficient means for living and Allah
has made him satisfied with what comes to him." Muslim has transmitted it from the
hadeeth of Abdillah ibn Amr ibn Al-Aas. So our advise to these people is that they
fear Allah,‫عز و جل‬.

And this previous advice of ours is only for he who is truly like that, he who has
focused on gathering money, and he has focused on remaining in the lands of
disbelief for that reason while at the same time he fronts as if he only wanted to go to
those lands for the purpose of da'wah. Also, we advise all of the brothers to think
good of their brothers and to beware of thinking bad of the callers and the students of
knowledge for nothing other than doubts and notions without a distinct clear proof
and clear signs which show that this is what they intend because Allah,‫عز و جل‬, says
in His Noble Book :
( ‫) يا أيها الذين آمنوا اجتنبوا كثيرا من الظن إن بعض الظن إثم‬
" O you who believe, avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicion is sin."(Al-
Hujuraat:12),
and the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, says as has come in the hadeeth of Abee
Hurairah,‫رضي هللا تعالى عنه‬, transmitted by the two Sheikhs: "Beware of suspicion, for
verily suspicion is the most false of speech." So we ask Allah,‫عز و جل‬, for safety and
well-being, and we seek refuge in Allah,‫عز و جل‬, from every act that our Lord does
not love and is not pleased with.

28
The Seventeenth Question :

Some of the Salafees travel from one land of disbelief to another land of disbelief
with the argument that the Salafee da'wah there is stronger, like those who go from
France to Britian, and they don't make hijrah to an Islamic land. So is this practice
permissible according to the legislation, and what is your advice to these people?

The Answer :

If these people who do that are able to make hijrah to the land of Islaam then this
act of theirs does them no benefit and this does not remove them from the disobedient
act and the sin. As for if they are not able to make hijrah to the land of Islaam and
they are from the people who have excuses, those who were previously mentioned in
the answer to the sixth question, then this act is alright and it is a good thing, and it
has a basis in the Sunnah as some of the Muslims made hijrah from Makkah by the
order of the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, to the lands of Al-Habasha. So in this
act of theirs, moving from a land of shirk to a land of shirk that has less evil and less
danger on the Muslim, it is said: "With evil there is a choice" (and as the poet said):
* ‫* حنانيك فبعض الشر أهون من بعض‬
* Have mercy, for some evil is lesser than other *

This is if in reality the land of Britian has less evil and less danger on the Muslim than
France, otherwise, this act of theirs is just a burden on one's self by crossing long
distances and the burden of moving, and Allah is the one who's help is sought. This,
as you have heard, is if they are not able to make hijrah to the lands of Islaam.

The Eighteenth Question :

A man wants to make hijrah, but he has parents who need his assistance, so what
does he do?

The Answer :

He must strive to convince them to make hijrah if they are Muslims and use wit
and artful means with them in order to leave, and likewise if they are disbelievers, he
must strive to call them to Islaam and save them from the state they are in. However,
if he is very afraid for himself and they refuse to leave with him, then it is upon him to
save himself and flee with his deen and distance himself from the tribulations, and he
must not be like the candle which burns itself to shed light on others, for verily before
everything else, he is commanded to save himself and he is commanded to be upright
on the deen of Allah,‫عز و جل‬, as our Lord,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, has said :
( ‫) فاستقم كما أمرت‬
" So be upright as you were commanded."(Hud:112)

The Nineteenth Question :

Some brothers, when they leave from France or other lands of disbelief, they leave
with the intention of seeking knowledge and they don't attach importance to making
hijrah, and when he is asked, "Are you a Muhaajir?" he replies with the statement: "I
want to seek knowledge, as for hijrah, I will look into it later, Allah willing." And at

29
the same time it is possible that he could return to the land of disbelief at anytime, so
what do you have to say about this?

The Answer :

The most important thing is that he leaves from those disbelieving lands so he can
escape with his deen, and it is upon him that he be firmly determined not to reside in
the lands of disbelief, whichever ones exist. If he were to do that then, verily, he
would be free from the sin, by Allah's permission, and he would be safeguarding his
deen.

As for the question: "Does he intend with this departure hirah or merely fleeing
with the deen from the tribulations without the intention of hijrah?" Some of our
Mashaayikh (Scholars),‫رحمهم هللا تعالى‬, used to advise to leave to flee with the deen
without making the intention of hijrah, for the fear that he will arrive at the Islamic
lands and he will not be able to remain there, so when that happens he will be able to
return to the land he left, contrary to if he were to leave with the intention of hijrah,
for verily he will not be able to return. This is the reason for this position due to the
many obstacles that are well-known and have been placed in front of the Muslims.
The second position that is well-known in this issue is that it is better to have the
intention of hijrah because the Prophet,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬, and his Companions,
‫رضي هللا عنهم‬, made hijrah from the most beloved of places to Allah,‫عز و جل‬, from
Makkah. And no doubt, this position appears to be closer and more correct. Also, as
has preceded, verily he who relies on Allah,‫عز و جل‬, and thinks good of Allah and is
sincere in his intention of escaping with his deen from the tribulations, Allah, ‫سبحانه و‬
‫تعالى‬, is more generous than to leave this slave to perish and have him rely on the
people and abandon him, He is glorified and exalted (above that). Also, Allah, ‫عز و‬
‫جل‬, has promised him help, and victory, and to make things easy, and facilitate things
for him, even if whoever is on earth were to plot against him.

In not intending hijrah when leaving, there is a clear cause for bad to happen to the
Muslim because for the least difficulty that occurs to him he will pack-up his
belongings and return to the land of disbelief. So what we advise our brothers with is
that they leave with the intention of hijrah and that they use as a lesson their brothers
who have left before them. Has Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, left them to perish? The answer:
No, rather, with praise to Allah, they live in the lands of Islaam in honor and respect
and happiness, and they have been granted knowledge and implementation of the
knowledge. So we ask Allah,‫سبحانه و تعالى‬, that He grant us and you all the success to
obey Him and obey His Messenger,‫صلى هللا عليه و على آله و سلم‬. We ask Allah,‫عز و جل‬,
for forgiveness and good health and well-being in the deen, and in this life and in the
hereafter. We ask Allah,‫تبارك و تعالى‬, to make us and you all from those who direct
with the truth and establish justice therewith. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all
that exists, and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad
and upon his Family and his Companions, all of them.

Translated by:
Abu Abdir-Rahmaan Abdullah MacPhee
In Daarul-Hadeeth Dammaaj

30