Restricting Hijrah (Emigration) to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Only! – Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan al-‘Adanee

Question 13: Restricting hijrah to certain lands from the lands of Islaam

“Some brothers, ash-Shaytaan has deceived them, they only see hijrah to be to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, or they only wish to make hijrah to it despite the well-known hardship it takes to do that, so what is your advice to these people?”

The Answer:

What we advise our brothers with is that they fear Allaah (‘Azza Wa Jall) and that they rush to flee with their deen from the tribulations. No doubt, Saudi Arabia is from the best lands of Islaam due to the much good there, and the existence of the Scholars and the scarceness of open abominations, however, it is a mistake for the Muslim to delay leaving the land of disbelief and delay escaping with his deen with the argument that he is still proceeding and following up so he can enter Saudi Arabia and reside there.

This excuse is not accepted because the lands of Islaam in which evil is scarce and less intense in comparison to the other lands of disbelief, no doubt, these Islaamic lands are wide, and vast and many, and Allaah (‘Azza Wa Jall) says in His Book:

يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ أَرْضِي وَاسِعَةٌ فَإِيَّايَ فَاعْبُدُونِ 

“O My slaves who believe! Certainly, spacious is My earth. Therefore worship Me (Alone).” – [Al-Ankaboot (29):56]

And Allaah (‘Azza Wa Jall) says:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا فِيمَ كُنتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ قَالُوا أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا فِيهَا ۚ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا 

“Verily! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves (as they stayed among the disbelievers even though emigration was obligatory for them), they (angels) say (to them): ‘In what (condition) were you?’ They reply: ‘We were weak and oppressed on earth.’ They (angels) say: ‘Was not the earth of Allaah spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?’ Such men will find their abode in Hell – What an evil destination!” – [An Nisaa (4):97]

So it is upon the Muslim to, first and foremost, rush to leave the lands of disbelief to go to the lands of Islaam that are easy to get to, then after that it is alright for him to strive to take permanent residence in the best of places and the one that has the less evil.

Saudi Arabia has much good in it, and likewise Yemen, especially in its rural areas and villages, there is much good. Also, the other Islaamic countries, despite the great affliction that exists in them, there is no doubt that there is no comparison between them and the other countries of disbelief.

So it is upon the Muslim to rush to escape with his deen, for today he has the correct intention and is eager but what will make him realize that perhaps afterwards he will slacken in this determination even if entering Saudi Arabia became possible for him, for the hearts are between two fingers from the fingers of Ar-Rahmaan (The Most Merciful).

So does the person over there feel safe for himself that he will stay upon what he is on until the next morning? Today he is healthy but what will make him realize that perhaps something will happen to him tomorrow. Today he possesses some money to help him make hijrah and travel but what will make him realize how his situation will be days after. Today he is able to travel to many of the lands of Islaam without any obstacles but he does not know what will happen to him days later. So Rush! Rush! Escape! Escape! Allaah (‘Azza Wa Jall) says in His Book:

فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ

“So hasten towards all that is good.” – Al-Baqarah (2):148

And the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam), he is the one who said,

“Hasten to do good deeds before the occurrence of tribulations that are like the parts of the dark night; a man will enter the morning as a believer then enter the evening as a disbeliever, or he will enter the evening as a believer then enter the morning as a disbeliever, he will sell his deen for a commodity of the dunyaa.”

(Imaam) Muslim has transmitted it from the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah.

So this is what we advise our brothers with, and Allaah is the one whose help is sought.

Source :  Questions and answers concerning al-Hijrah – By Shaykh ‘Abdur Rahmaan al-‘Adanee

Related Link: https://abdurrahman.org/hijrah/