Allah commands His believing servants to migrate from a land in which they
are not able to establish Islam, to the spacious earth of Allah where they can
do so, by declaring Allah to be One and worshipping Him as He has commanded.
Allah says:
[يَعِبَادِىَ
الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِنَّ أَرْضِى وَاسِعَةٌ فَإِيَّاىَ فَاعْبُدُونِ ]
(O My servants who believe! Certainly, spacious is My earth. Therefore
worship Me.) When things became too difficult for the believers in Makkah who
were in a weak position and were oppressed, they left and migrated to Ethiopia,
where they were able to practice their religion. The Muslims found Ethiopia the
best place for guest; where Ashamah, the Negus or king, may Allah have mercy on
him, gave them refuge, helped them, supported them, and honored them in his
land. Later, the Messenger of Allah and his remaining Companions migrated to
Al-Madinah, formerly known as Yathrib, may Allah protect it. Then Allah says:
[كُلُّ نَفْسٍ
ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ ]
(Everyone shall taste death. Then unto Us you shall be returned.) meaning,
`wherever you are, death with catch up with you, so always obey Allah and be
where Allah commands you to be, for this is better for you. Death is inevitable
and there is no escape from it, and then you will return to Allah, and whoever
was obedient to Him will have the best reward.' Allah says:
[وَالَّذِينَ
ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُمْ مِّنَ الْجَنَّةِ
غُرَفَاً تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ]
(And those who believe and do righteous good deeds, to them We shall surely
give lofty dwellings in Paradise, underneath which rivers flow,) meaning, `We
shall cause them to dwell in lofty homes in Paradise under which various kinds
of rivers flow -- water, wine, honey and milk -- which they can direct and cause
to flow wherever they wish.'
[خَـلِدِينَ
فِيهَآ]
(to live therein forever.) means, they will remain there forever, never
wanting to leave.
[نِعْمَ أَجْرُ
الْعَـمِلِينَ]
(Excellent is the reward for the workers.) these rooms will be a blessed
reward for the good deeds of the believers,
[الَّذِينَ
صَبَرُواْ]
(Those who are patient,) in adhering to their religion, who migrated for the
sake of Allah and fought the enemy, leaving behind their families and relatives
to seek Allah's Face, and hoping for that which is with Him, believing His
promise. Ibn Abi Hatim, may Allah have mercy on him, recorded from Abu Mu`aniq
Al-Ash`ari that Abu Malik Al-Ash`ari told him that the Messenger of Allah told
him:
«إِنَّ فِي
الْجَنَّةِ غُرَفًا يُرَى ظَاهِرُهَا مِنْ بَاطِنِهَا، وَبَاطِنُهَا مِنْ
ظَاهِرِهَا، أَعَدَّهَا اللهُ تَعَالَى لِمَنْ أَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ، وَأَطَابَ
الْكَلَامَ، وَتَابَعَ الصَّلَاةَ وَالصِّيَامَ، وَقَامَ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ
نِيَام»
(In Paradise there are rooms whose outside can be seen from the inside, and
their inside can be seen from the outside; Allah has prepared them for those who
feed others, who speak well, who pray and fast continually, and who stand in
prayer at night while people are asleep.)
[وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ
يَتَوَكَّلُونَ]
(and put their trust in their Lord.) in all their affairs, spiritual and
worldly alike. Then Allah tells us that provision is not limited only to one
place, but it is given to all His creatures no matter where they are. Indeed,
when the Muhajirin migrated, their provision was greater and better than before,
because after a short time they became rulers in the land, in all regions. Allah
says:
[وَكَأَيِّن مِّن
دَآبَّةٍ لاَّ تَحْمِلُ رِزْقَهَا]
(And so many a moving creature carries not its own provision!) meaning, it
does not have the ability to gather its provision and save it for tomorrow.
[اللَّهُ يَرْزُقُهَا
وَإِيَّاكُمْ]
(Allah provides for it and for you.) means, Allah allots its provision to it
even though it is weak, and makes it easy for it. He sends provision to every
creature in the appropriate manner, even the ants in the depths of the earth,
the birds in the air and the fish in the sea. Allah says:
[وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ
فِي الاٌّرْضِ إِلاَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا
وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا كُلٌّ فِى كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ ]
(And no moving creature is there on earth but its provision is due from
Allah. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit. All is in a Clear Book.)
(11:6)
[وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ
الْعَلِيمُ]
(And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.) means, He hears all that His
servants say and He knows their every movements.
[وَلَئِن
سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ
وَالْقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ فَأَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ - اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ
الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ
شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٍ - وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَّن نَّزَّلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً
فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الاٌّرْضَ مِن بَعْدِ مَوْتِهَا لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ قُلِ
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ ]
(61. And if you were to ask them: "Who has created the heavens and the earth
and subjected the sun and the moon'' They will surely reply: "Allah.'' How then
are they deviating) (62. Allah expands the provision for whom He wills of His
servants, and straitens it for whom (He wills). Verily, Allah is the All-Knower
of everything.) (63. And if you were to ask them: "Who sends down water from the
sky, and gives life therewith to the earth after its death'' They will surely
reply: "Allah.'' Say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah!'' Nay, most of
them have no sense.)