𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝗷𝗿𝗮𝗵

Sheikh ’Abdulḥamīd Az-Zu’kari ḥafidhahullāh said: “If a Muhājir from Non-Muslim lands wants to return (to the non-Muslim land he migrated from) for a worldly or religious interest (Maṣlaḥah) which he is in need of, he is allowed to return and remain therein for as long as is necessary in order to fulfil his need; be it one week, ten days, twenty days, more or less. Then once the need for which he returned is fulfilled, he is allowed to remain there for a further three days. It comes in the Ṣaḥīḥ from the ḥadīth of ’Alā Al-Ḥaḍhrami that the Prophet ﷺ performed Ḥajj along with his Companions, then when they completed their Ḥajj he said: “It is not permissible for a Muhājir to remain for more than three days.” So if it was not permissible for them to remain (for three days) after having fulfilled their needs, it would have been binding upon them to leave three days upon arrival, prior to them even reaching Minā; because Makkah was a land which they had migrated from. Rather, if a Muhājir returns to the country from which he migrated, he has to leave three days AFTER fulfilling his need therein. It may be that he is afflicted with cancer, or he falls sick and requires operation or medical attention, so he returns (to the non-Muslim country) to seek a cure, and he remains there for one, two, three, four months, etc., do we say he only has three days after which he has to leave?! Perhaps the three days goes to waste in prison if he gets stopped at the airport by security. The actual understanding (of the ḥadīth) is that he has to leave three days AFTER fulfilling his need! Sheikh Muqbil raḥimahullāh used to advise students of knowledge not intend Hijrah, and his advice is well placed for a number of reasons: The first reason being: Most Muslim countries do not welcome Muhājirs, and there's no policy/law amongst Muslims, may Allāh guide them, which recognises/caters for the Muhājir. If only they took into account Allāh's Book and the Prophetic Sunnah ﷺ with respect to the rulings related to the Muhājir. Bearing in mind that we do not endorse these man-made laws. However, the reality is they have not given any consideration to the Muhājir. So perhaps a man makes Hijrah to Makkah, then after three days, two weeks, a month, or so., his permit expires, and so the security takes him and deports him back to his country. Or perhaps he migrates to Yemen, then as soon as he arrives in Yemen, “you have no permit, go back to your country.” He migrates to Egypt, the same thing. So he is distressed from being forced to return and this bears heavily on him; because once a person makes Hijrah he is not allowed to return according to the correct view. Therefore, a person should leave (from non-Muslim lands) with the intention of seeking knowledge, or with the intention of escaping with his Deen. After that, if Allāh facilitates for him a place where he feels safe in terms of his Deen and his life, then all praise is for Allāh. If not, he is can still return to his country. I see, and Allāh knows best, the view obligating Hijrah from SOME non-Muslim lands; because we see that Hijrah from many Non-Muslim lands is something recommended (Mustaḥabb) - not obligatory (Wājib). This is what Sheikh ’Uthaymīn determined in some of his books, and the same with our Sheikh Yaḥyā. We attended the lesson in Makkah where he mentioned this affair. Countries where one is able to establish his Deen; he is able to pray, keep his beard, wear his Thawb, give Da'wah, he is able to fulfil many of Islamic acts. For this type of person, we say it is recommended for him to migrate to the lands of the Muslims and we don't make it binding upon him. As for those who argue that in non-Muslim lands one is unable to manifest ALL of the symbols of Islām (Sha’ā'ir), then likewise in many Muslim countries one is unable to manifest ALL of the symbols of Islām. So, it is MUSTAḤABB to make Hijrah from most countries and WĀJIB in the case of some countries.