Thinking About Hijrah? Here’s Why It Might Be the Right Time.
- Yaqoob
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Wherever you are on your Hijrah journey, it is important to ground yourself and remind yourself why you are moving. Making Hijrah is a life-changing and transformative journey, and you need to have plans and trust in Allah (ﷻ) in place in order for it to be successful.
You will be asked about your condition when you die
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ فِيمَ كُنتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةًۭ فَتُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِيهَا ۚ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
When the angels seize the souls of those who have wronged themselves—scolding them, “What was wrong with you?” they will reply, “We were oppressed in the land.” The angels will respond, “Was Allah’s earth not spacious enough for you to emigrate?” It is they who will have Hell as their home—what an evil destination!
إِلَّا ٱلْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ وَٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلْوِلْدَٰنِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ حِيلَةًۭ وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ سَبِيلًۭا
Except helpless men, women, and children who cannot afford a way out.
فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَعْفُوَ عَنْهُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا
It is right to hope that Allah will pardon them. For Allah is Ever-Pardoning, All-Forgiving.
(Surah An-Nisa, Verses 97–99)
When we stay in these lands of the non-Muslims for purposes of “Daw’ah” or any other list of reasons and complaints about the lands of Islam, we put our deen at risk and open ourselves up to the fitnah that is present and openly practiced in the lands of the non-Muslims.
There are genuine brothers out there for the sake of Daw’ah in the West, but I can tell you that I have met my fair share of those who are under the impression they give Daw’ah, but really their Daw’ah is one of assimilation.
What I mean is, if you stay in a non-Muslim country giving Daw’ah, you need to be a good example and a knowledgeable brother. If you are in the lands of the Kufaar and you try to soften up to them for the sake of Daw’ah, this becomes problematic. You adopt their lifestyle, their way of dress, their way of talking, and maybe even your kids or family join in as well.
There are exceptions, don’t get me wrong, but we need to be real with ourselves as to what our reason to be in the West is.
And don’t fall for the marketing—there are Muslim lands that are livable and even have kufaar lining up to enter them. Look to the Gulf countries, Malaysia, and Southeast Asia as a whole to some extent, and more are looking like good prospects for those looking for that “prestigious” Western lifestyle.
You need to be openly practicing
The deen of Islam is not something confined to your house or the masjid. It deals with every single moment of your life—business transactions, dealing with your neighbour, how to eat, drink, and even what to eat and drink. There has been a noticeable (and I can feel this in myself) rise in people turning to view religion in the secular way—that it is something that is a personal connection with less outer aspect that encompasses your life.
This is a general statement and there are exceptions, but that doesn’t remove the general observation that Islam is not open and observable in the West.
It is at least highly recommended
At the bare minimum, Hijrah is highly recommended. This can be found in the statements of the evidences from the Quran and Sunnah.
۞ وَمَن يُهَاجِرْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يَجِدْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُرَٰغَمًۭا كَثِيرًۭا وَسَعَةًۭ ۚ وَمَن يَخْرُجْ مِنۢ بَيْتِهِۦ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ثُمَّ يُدْرِكْهُ ٱلْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُۥ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا
Whoever emigrates in the cause of Allah will find many safe havens and bountiful resources throughout the earth. Those who leave their homes and die while emigrating to Allah and His Messenger—their reward has already been secured with Allah. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
(Surah An-Nisa, Verse 100)
Even if Hijrah is not something that is a desperate need for you to safeguard your deen, there is barakah and great reward for such a move. Not all Muslim countries are unlivable, and I would encourage you to even go on YouTube and just look at the brothers that have made Hijrah and see the realities. You can even get in contact with these brothers and talk to them about their journey—there are quite a few who will offer 1-on-1 calls.
To conclude.
Making Hijrah is not hard, but it is possible—and if you have the means, something you should seek out, for it is a great means of protecting yourself and your family in this life and the Akhirah. Make du’a, seek the means you have available to you, and find a community of brothers on the same path we are on, and Inshallah, Hijrah is possible. May Allah (ﷻ) make this journey of Hijrah easy for all those who are sincere.