Muhajir and Hijra

 والمهاجر من هجر ما نهي الله عنه

"...And a true Muhajir is the one who abstains from what Allah (Ta'ala) has forbidden." (Bukhari)

Explanation:

Muhajir is a person who made Hijrah. Literally, Hijrah means abandoning, giving up, shifting, immigrating, etc. In Shariah, it refers to the event when the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallaahu Anhum) and Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) had to leave their native place, Makkah, to settle in Madina, in order to be able to practice Deen freely. Thus, the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallaahu Anhum) had to leave their wives, children, property and everything that they possessed. They came out empty-handed to settle in Madinah with only the aim to live for the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala in complete freedom. It was really a huge sacrifice. 

In this Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) drew our attention to the fact that the essential thing in all this is the obedience to Allah Ta'ala and not the displacement or change of place. The migration from Makkah to Madinah was the form of Hijrah and obedience to Allah Ta'ala was the essence. It is true that the form is very important but it is also true that the essence is the most essential. A form without an essence becomes so insignificant as if it does not even exist. That is why Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) did not consider shifting or changing places without adhering to the obedience of Allah Ta'ala as Hijrah. That is why an inhabitant of Europe who is practicing Deen is better than an inhabitant of Madina who is not practicing Deen. 

In this sense, the true Muhajir is the one who abandoned all that which Allah Ta'ala has forbidden even if he stays far from Madina. This kind of Hijrah will always exist till Qiyaamah. And in this sense, anyone who abstains from that which Allah Ta'ala has forbidden will be a true Muhajir and on the day of Qiyaamah, he will be adorned and honoured as a Muhajir.

According to a Hadith which is found in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"الهجرة أن تهجر الفواحش ما ظهر منها وما بطن وتقيم الصلاة وتؤتي الزكاة ثم انت مهاجر وان مت بالخضرمة"

"True Hijrah means that you abstain from immorality which is visible and invisible and that you perform Salah and give Zakaat. You will then be a Muhajir even if you die in "Khadramah" (A place in Arabia)."

That is, even if one passes away in Khadramah which was a different place, one will be a Muhajir if one applies the commandments of Allah Ta'ala and one does not violate His commands because the essential thing is obedience to Allah Ta'ala.

At a certain time, settling in Madinah was, practically speaking the only way to be able to practice Deen freely without any constraint. That is why at that time Hijrah or settling down in Madinah was Farz. It was only Farz for a certain purpose. It was not really necessary in itself. This is why when Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) conquered Makkah and when Makkah became under the full control of the Islamic state, Hijrah from Makkah to Madinah was no longer Farz because just as a person was free to practice Deen in Madinah, he got the same freedom in Makkah also.

But Hijrah in the sense of abstaining from all sins will remain in force forever. Besides this, if a person encounters difficulties in practising Deen as he should in a certain place, then it is Farz on him as per his ability to settle in another place, wherever possible to practice Deen. Likewise, a person must move away from places and environments which are unfavourable and harmful to his Deen. This is the essence of Hijrah that will be applicable forever. And it is this same category of individual who is called Muhajir by Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam).

In the Hadith, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) qualified a person who abstains from that which Allah Ta'ala has forbidden as a true Muhajir. Is this a way of asserting that it is not important to execute the commands of Allah Ta'ala to be a true Muhajir?

Its answer can be obtained in the light of a Hadith in Musnad Ahmad and Tirmizi where Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"... اتق المحارم تكن اعبد الناس ..."

"...Abstain from forbidden actions and you will become the greatest Aabid (one who perpetually engages in Ibaadah) among the people..."

In this Hadith, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) considered abstention from illegal and forbidden acts as the most essential element that renders a person a good practising Muslim. To explain this, the scholars of Deen say that obedience to Allah Ta'ala consists of two elements:

1. Abstention from prohibited acts,

2. Execution of the commandments.

But refraining from forbidden acts is harder. Thus, it is more important. A person who has this in his person will be able to carry out the commandments of Allah Ta'ala even more. Perhaps this is why Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) mentioned only this element in the aim of attracting attention and emphasising on its importance. Otherwise, without executing the commands of Allah Ta'ala, a person cannot become a true Muhajir. If Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) sufficed on mentioning only this, it is solely because it implies and necessitates the other also because it is an indication that the person has the other even more in him.

[English version of "MOUHAJIR ET HIJRAH" – Al Jamiat – Vol.6 No.8]