لخّصلي

Emigration to Madinah

335

In the light of the above, we might add that if any non-Muslim state allows for easy practice of Islamic way of life and invitation to it, then living there is better than leaving it. Emigration is not obligatory on the Muslims. That is because, the said state is counted as a land of peace. Living in it would be better than moving out because living there might help in the propagation of Islam. 144

2. The Prophet used every means that reason would demand while undertaking his journey. It was not out of fear for himself or that he might fall into págan hands, rather it was to set an example for the Muslims who should learn to make use of every possible material means while attempting to do anything in life. That is because it is Allah's Sunnah that when means are available for someone who can take suitable measures, then He does

Abu Ayyub took it upon himself to prepare food for the Prophet. When the tray was taken away from the Prophet and brought to Abu Ayyub, he would ask for the spot from where the Prophet had eaten and he himself ate from there. One day he prepared something in which garlic had been used. When his turn came he asked for the spot from where the Prophet had eaten. But he was told that the Prophet hadn't eaten at all. He went up and asked him, "Is it unlawful?" The Prophet replied, "No. But I don't like it." He said, "And I dislike what you dislike." Actually, it was because angels visited the Prophet, and they don't like garlic smell. 130

Once when a water pitcher broke, at a time when Abu Ayyub was in the upper floor, he and his wife used the only cotton-blanket they
had to prevent the water leaking down on the Prophet 131 It is reported that this became the reason why Abu Ayyub requested the Prophet to exchange the floors. 132 But Muslim 133 and Ahmad134 report that the reason was that Abu Ayyub and his wife didn't wish to walk over the Prophet's head. We accept this as more trustworthy because of the more reliable source. It is also reported that the Prophet's total period of stay in Abu Ayyub's house was a month. 135
Emigration to Madinah333

And no night would pass but three or four Ansari Companions would be at the Prophet's door seeking to bring in food for him until he moved to his own house. 136

Abu Bakr had alighted at Hubayb's house. Some have said that it was Khubayb bin Yasāf who lived in Sunh. Another report says that the host was Khārijah bin Zayd. 137

Lessons and Instructions

1. The Prophet announced in the sermon after the fall of Makkah that there was to be no more emigration after the Makkan victory, except that Jihad and intention remained. 138 The reference was to the emigration from Makkah to Madinah. However, emigration from non-Muslim lands to the Muslim lands has remained obligatory until the Day of Judgement. 139 Emigration to Madinah was necessary in order to establish the Islamic state, defend it, and then expand it by means of invitation to Allah (*). Emigration from Makkah to Madinah after its fall was not necessary because Muslims had gained strength in the Islamic state which became their springboard to carry on the mission to all parts of the world. As for Jihad, it will go on until the Judgement Day. Accordingly, when the Prophet took pledge from the new Muslims after the fall of Makkah, it was on Islam, faith and Jihad. Emigration was excluded. 140 Ibn 'Umar clarified this when he said, uspended after the fall of


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The Prophet of Islam

so long as there is a struggle with the non-Muslims." What he meant is, so long as there is disbelief in the world, emigration is obligatory on any Muslim who feels that he might have to make compromises over his religion. 141

This can be supported with Allah's Words,

For those who missed them, the unknown, the oppressors of them, they said, “You said:“ We were weakened in the land, so they said: They have been in it, so they are their voices, and they worsened, except for the weakening of men, the women, and the country, and the country is not.

"Those whom the angels meet in a state in which they had wronged their own souls saying, 'In what condition were you?' They say, 'We were weak in the lands. They ask, Wasn't Allah's earth wide enough for you to emigrate into it?' They, their abode is Hell-fire, except for the weak men, women and children who do not find a means nor know the way. "142

The above were the conditions that led to the establishment of the Islamic state in Madinah. Its need for soldiers who could defend it made it necessary that emigration to it should be made obligatory on every able Muslim. Khattabi has said, "Emigration to Madinah was in its defense and to acquire the necessary knowledge of Islam. Allah (5) stated this clearly in several Verses of the Qur'an. He severed the ties between a man who migrated and another who did not. He said,

And those who believe and do not emigrate, you have nothing to do with them until they emigrate.)

"Those who believed but did not emigrate, you have no responsibility whatsoever towards them until they emigrate."143

When Makkah fell, and people from every tribe entered into Islam, emigration became non-obligatory."