The Importance of Hijrah in Islam: A Warning and Encouragement for the Regretful One
A warning and an encouragement for ‘the regretful one’ (i.e. the Muhājur who wants to turn back on his heels)
➢ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗷𝗿𝗮𝗵:
– You are committing a major sin:
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The one who consumes Ribā, the one who pays it and the one who writes it down, if they know that it is Ribā; the woman who does tattoos and the woman who has it done for the purpose of beautification; the one who withholds Ṣadaqah (Zakah); and the one who reverts to the life of a Bedouin after having made Hijrah (i.e. forsakes his Hijrah) – they will (all) be cursed upon the tongue of Muḥammad [ﷺ] on the Day of Resurrection.”
[Sunan An-Nasā’ē (5102) – graded Ṣaḥīḥ by Sheikh Albāni]
– The Prophet ﷺ supplicated for his Companions to remain steadfast in their Hijrah and not to forsake it:
He ﷺ said:
((اللهم أمض لأصحابي هجرتهم ولا تردهم على أعقابهم))
“O Allāh, complete for my Companions their Hijrah, and do not cause them to turn back on their heels.” [Bukhāri & Muslim]
This shows that Hijrah is a long term commitment!
An-Nawawi raḥimahullāh said in his explanation of this ḥadīth (Muslim – ḥadīth 1628):
«ومعنى أمض لأصحابي هجرتهم: أي أتممها ولا تبطلها، ولا تردهم على أعقابهم بترك هجرتهم ورجوعهم عن مستقيم حالهم المرضية»
“The meaning…is: Complete it (their Hijrah) and do not invalidate it, and do not turn them back on their heels by causing them to forsake their Hijrah and abandoning this pleasant, upright condition (that they are on).”
– Likewise in the same ḥadīth, towards the end, it mentions how the Prophet ﷺ felt grief for Sa’d ibn Khawlah due to him passing away in Makkah after having migrated from it.
– It is not permissible for a Muhājir to return to the country they migrated from for more than three day (as mentioned in the previous post) except for a valid reason.
Note: There’s no sin on a Muhājir if he gets deported back to his country unwillingly, however, after deportation he must leave as soon as he gets the chance.
Note: There’s no sin on a Muhājir if he gets deported back to his country unwillingly, however, after deportation he must leave as soon as he gets the chance. 
– Don’t fall for this trick:
“Forsake your Hijrah, go back and enjoy yourself. You can always repent, renew your intention and make Hijrah once again.”
The brothers of Yūsuf fell for it and they came to regret it.
Contemplate:
{ٱقۡتُلُوا۟ یُوسُفَ أَوِ ٱطۡرَحُوهُ أَرۡضࣰا یَخۡلُ لَكُمۡ وَجۡهُ أَبِیكُمۡ وَتَكُونُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ قَوۡمࣰا صَـٰلِحِینَ}
“Kill Yūsuf or cast him out to some ˹distant˺ land so that the favour of your father may be given to you alone, then after that you may ˹repent and˺ become righteous people!” [Sūrah Yūsuf: 9]
- Are you really going to fall for this?
- What if you go back, fall ill and die?
- What if you take your kids back and they rebel against you? Who is to blame if that happens? What if you yourself go astray?
➢ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗲𝘀 & 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝗷𝗿𝗮𝗵:
– Allāh favoured some of His Prophets and Messengers with Hijrah, such as Ibrāḥim, Yūnus, Mūsā, and our Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ. Thus the Muhājir will be following in the footsteps of these great Prophets.
– Generally speaking, the Muhājirūn (the Companions who made Hijrah) were superior in degree to those who did not did not perform Hijrah (the Anṣār).
– The Prophet ﷺ loved the Anṣār so much so that he desired to be from them, but nothing prevented him from that other than the virtue of Hijrah:
He ﷺ said:
((لَوْلاَ الْهِجْرَةُ لَكُنْتُ امْرَأً مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ))
“If it wasn’t for Hijrah, I would have been one of the Anṣār.”
Al-Qurṭubi explained:
«معناه لتسمَّيتُ باسمكم، وانتسبتُ إليكم كما كانوا ينتسبون بالحلف، لكن خصوصية الهجرة وتربيتها، سبقتْ فمنعتْ من ذلك، وهي أعلى وأشرف، فلا تتبدَّلُ بغيرها»
“Meaning: I would have been named myself after you and ascribed myself to you, as they would do by way of affiliations of alliance, however, the specificity of Hijrah and its refinement preceded and prevented that, and it (Hijrah) is superior and more honorable, so it cannot be replaced by anything.”
– The Muhājir secures his reward with Allāh even if he does not reach his intended destination:
On the authority of Sa’ēd ibn Jubair raḍhiyallāhu ’anhu, that a man from the tribe of Khuzā’ah was in Makkah and he fell ill therein; this man was Ḍhamrah ibn Al-’Ayṣ ibn Ḍhamrah ibn Zinbā’. He gave instructions to his family and so they laid him down on a bed and carried him towards Madīnah, but when they reached Tan’ēm he died, so the following Āyah was revealed:
﴿…وَمَنْ يَخْرُجْ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ يُدْرِكْهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُه على الله﴾
“Those who leave their homes and die while emigrating to Allāh and His Messenger—their reward has already been secured with Allāh…” [Sūrah An-Nisā’: 100]
Ibn Baṭṭāl said:
«وفيه دليل أن مَن شرَع في عمل من عمل الطاعات، وصحَّت فيه نيَّته لله، وحال بينه وبين تمامه الموت؛ فإن الرجاء قوي أن الله قد كتَبه في الآخرة من أهل ذلك العمل، وتقبَّله منه»
“In this is evidence that whoever embarks on an act of obedience, and his intention for undertaking that act is correct – purely for Allāh, but death prevents him from completing it; there is strong hope that Allāh has recorded/included him in the Hereafter from the people of that deed and He has accepted it from him.”
– Hijrah is a means for one’s previous sins to be forgiven:
’Amr ibn Al-’Āṣ raḍhiyallāhu ’anhu said: I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, “Stretch out your right hand so I can pledge allegiance to you.” He stretched out his right hand, but I clenched my hand and he said, “What is the matter with you, ‘Amr?” I replied, “I want to make a condition.” He asked, “What condition do you want to make?” I replied, “That I should receive forgiveness.” He said, “Do you not know O ‘Amr that Islām demolishes what preceded it, that Hijrah demolishes what preceded it, and that Ḥajj demolishes what preceded it?” [Muslim]
This includes minor, as well as major sins, as is indicated by the following ḥadīth:
It is narrated on the authority of Jābir that Ṭufail ibn ’Amr Ad-Dawsi came to the Messenger (ﷺ) and said: “Do you need strong, fortified protection?” The tribe of Daws had a fort in the pre-Islamic days. The Messenger (ﷺ) declined this offer, since it (the privilege of protecting the Prophet ﷺ) had already been reserved for the Anṣār. When the Messenger (ﷺ) made Hijrah to Madīnah, Ṭufail ibn ’Amr also made Hijrah to that place, and a man of his tribe also made Hijrah along with him. But the climate of Madīnah did not suit him and he fell sick. He felt very uneasy so he took hold of an iron head of an arrow and cut his finger-joints. The blood streamed forth from his hands, till he died. Ṭufail ibn ’Amr saw him in a dream. His state was good and he saw him with his hands wrapped. He (Ṭufail) said to him: “What did your Lord do with you?” He replied. “Allāh granted me pardoned me due to my Hijrah to the Messenger (ﷺ).” He (Ṭufail) asked: “What is this that I see you wrapping up your hands?” He replied: “I was told (by Allāh): We would not set right anything of yours which you damaged yourself.” Ṭufail narrated this (dream) to the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ). Upon this he prayed: “O Allāh I grant pardon even to his hands.” [Muslim]
– The Muhājir is given precedence in leading the prayer if they are equal in terms of the Qur’ān & Sunnah:
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The one who is well grounded in Allāh’s Book and is distinguished among them in recitation should act as Imām for the people. If they are equally versed in reciting it, then the one who has the most knowledge regarding the Sunnah. If they are equal regarding the Sunnah, then the earliest one to make Hijrah. If they made Hijrah at the same time, then the oldest one in age. No man must lead another in prayer in the latter’s house or where (the latter) has authority, or sit in his place of honour in his house, except that he gives you permission or with his permission.” [Muslim]
– There is no deed like Hijrah:
Abū Fāṭimah said: “O Messenger of Allāh, inform me of a deed that I may commit to/persist upon.” The Messenger of Allāh said to him:
((عليك بالهجرة؛ فإنه لا مثلَ لها))
“You should make Hijrah, for there is nothing like it.” [Graded Ṣaḥīḥ by Sheikh Albāni]
: The Muhājir has a right upon Allāh (due to His favour and generosity) to admit him to Jannah:
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “Shaiṭān sits in the paths of the son of Ādam. He sits waiting for him on the path to Islām, and he says: Will you accept Islām, and leave your religion, and the religion of your forefathers? But he disobeys him and accepts Islām. Then he sits waiting for him on the path to Hijrah, and he says: Will you make Hijrah and leave behind your land and sky? The one who makes Hijrah is like a horse restrained to a peg. But he disobeys him and makes Hijrah. Then he sits, waiting for him on the path to Jihād, and he says: Will you fight in Jihād when it will cost you your life and your wealth? You will fight and be killed, and your wife will remarry, and your wealth will be divided. But he disobeys him and fights in Jihād.” Then the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) said: “Whoever does that, then he has a right from Allāh, the Mighty and Sublime, that He will admit him to Jannah…”
: The Muhājir is guaranteed a house on the outskirts of Jannah and a house in the middle of Jannah:
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “I am a Za’ēm – and the Za’ēm is the guarantor – for the one who believes in me, accepts Islām and performs Hijrah: A house on the outskirts of Jannah and a house in the middle of Jannah. And I am a guarantor, for the one who believes in me, accepts Islām and performs Jihād in the cause of Allāh: A house on the outskirts of Jannah, a house in the middle of Jannah and a house in the highest chambers of Jannah. Whoever does that and seeks goodness wherever it is, and avoids evil wherever it is, may die wherever he wants to die.” [this ḥadīth is Ṣaḥīḥ]
– The Muhājir will be among the first group to enter Jannah:
’Abdullāh ibn ’Amr raḍhiyallāhu ’anhu said: The Prophet ﷺ said to me, “Do you know who will be the first group to enter Jannah from my Ummah?” He responded, “Allāh and His Messenger know best.” The Prophet ﷺ said:
((المهاجرون يأتون يوم القيامة إلى باب الجنة ويستفتحون، فيقول لهم الخزنة: أَوَقَد حُوسِبتُم؟ فيقولون بأي شيء نُحاسب؟ وإنما كانت أسيافنا على عواتقنا في سبيل الله، حتى مِتنا على ذلك))
On the Day of judgement, the Muhājirūn will come to the gate of Jannah and request entrance. The gatekeepers will say to them: “Have you been reckoned for?” They will reply: “What is being reckoned for, while our swords were on our necks in the cause of Allah till we died upon that.” So the gates will be opened for them and they will enter and nap therein for forty years.”
[This ḥadīth is Ṣaḥīḥ; it meets the conditions of Bukhāri, and Al-Ḥākim graded it as Ṣaḥīḥ]