The Holy Qur'an, like a radiant lamp, guides humanity on the path of felicity and salvation. Verse 100 of Surah An-Nis, with profound and wise expression, speaks of migration; an act that is not merely a solution for liberation from hardships and pressures, but rather a spiritual journey towards God and His Messenger. This treatise, relying upon valuable lectures and lived experiences, elucidates this verse and, with a deep perspective on the rational, spiritual, and practical dimensions of migration, provides lessons for faithful living. Along this path, by employing allegories and authentic narratives, an endeavour has been made to convey Qur'anic concepts in a clear and engaging manner to the reader.
وَمَنْ يُهَاجِرْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يَجِدْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُرَاغَمًا كَثِيرًا وَسَعَةً ۚ وَمَنْ يَخْرُجْ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ يُدْرِكْهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا
And whoever emigrates in the way of God finds on the earth abundant refuge and spaciousness. And whoever departs from his home as a migrant towards God and His Messenger, then death overtakes him, his reward has surely fallen upon God; and God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Migration, like a key unlocking the shackles of lifes hardships, is introduced in the Holy Quran as a rational strategy. When a person is confronted with various pressures in an environment, ranging from oppression to destitution, migration guides them towards tranquillity and expansion. This principle is effective not only in the historical context of early Islam but also remains applicable in the contemporary world. Migration, like a bird released from a cage, directs a person towards an open space full of opportunities.
Migration, unlike seeking asylum, is a conscious and voluntary choice. An asylum seeker is akin to someone fleeing a storm and seeking refuge at any shore, whereas a migrant chooses a purposeful path with intention and planning. This distinction elevates migration to a noble act in which the individual, with free will and awareness, steps towards improving their living conditions.
The Holy Quran endows migration with the meaning of being in the path of God (fi sabil Allah). This divine intention transforms migration from mere relocation to an act of worship and spirituality. The migrant is like a traveller walking in the luminous path of truth, migrating from oppression and disbelief towards faith and justice. This concept is vividly exemplified in the early Islamic period, especially the migration from Mecca to Medina to preserve faith against the persecution of polytheists.
The Holy Quran promises that the one who migrates in the path of God will find murghaman kathran (soft ground in abundance) and siah (expansion) on earth. Murgham, meaning soft soil, symbolises tranquillity and comfort, as if the migrant, after a strenuous journey, arrives at a soft and soothing land. Siah refers to expansion in material and spiritual capacities, like a door opening towards sustenance and livelihood. The distinction between these concepts lies in that murgham depicts an open and peaceful space, whereas siah grants the migrant freedom for earning and progress.
One valuable narration recounts the experience of migration from Mecca to Jeddah. In Mecca, hardship and lifes pressures had rendered the situation difficult. However, with migration to Jeddah, new opportunities emerged. This experience acts as a mirror reflecting the Quranic promises of murgham and siah. Despite initial difficulties, the migrant achieved tranquillity and expansion in the new land.
In this narration, a religious scholar speaks of companionship with a friend named Mr. Shahabi. He, who had grievances about destitution in Mecca, after migration and witnessing the generosity of the migrant in distributing money among students, offered an apology. This behaviour, like a cool breeze, demonstrates the impact of generosity on human relations and teaches that dignity and benevolence strengthen bonds of friendship in exile.
In Jeddah, the migrant unexpectedly received a bundle filled with Saudi Riyals which he distributed among the students without bringing a single Riyal back to Iran. This act, like a shining star in the sky of trustworthiness, reflects adherence to spiritual values. Furthermore, the decision not to sell a ring entrusted by a teacher emphasises the precedence of spiritual values over material ones.
One recounted experience involves an unexpected encounter in an elevator that revealed cultural differences. This event, like a mirror reflecting the faces of diverse cultures, highlights the necessity for preparedness in confronting differences during migration. The migrant must act with awareness and observe ethical principles in new environments.
Another narration describes a preference for bone over meat due to its taste and nutritional value, symbolising contentment and simplicity. This choice, like a flower blossoming in plain soil, reflects the beauty of an unpretentious life. Also, forsaking caviar due to religious rulings underscores the primacy of divine piety over material pleasures.
Verse 100 of Surah An-Nis introduces migration towards God and His Messenger as an act of worship. A migrant who departs from his home with the intention of reaching the Prophet, even if death overtakes him en route, has his reward secured with God. This promise, like a radiant torch, compensates for the risks of migration and assures the migrant that his efforts will not be in vain.
Migration is accompanied by hazards such as enemies, illness, and theft. These hardships, like thorns in the path of a rose garden, reveal the worth of divine reward. The Holy Quran, emphasising that God is Oft-Forgiving and Most Merciful, promises that the migrants sins will be forgiven and that Gods mercy will encompass him.
In certain cases, migration does not signify leaving ones homeland but remaining to address societal problems. A religious scholar, despite numerous offers to migrate, preferred to stay and engage in societal reform. This decision, like a tree rooted firmly in the soil, exemplifies commitment to social responsibility.
Some proposals for migration were made with insincere intentions. This experience, like a warning in the nights path, emphasises the necessity for vigilance in decision-making. The migrant must discern the intentions of others with insight to avoid deception.
Due to cultural and social conditions, Iran has been less receptive to migration. Historically, people have found it difficult to leave their birthplace, sometimes preventing liberation from hardships. This situation, like a lock on the doors of expansion, indicates the need for reforming the culture of migration.
Millions of Iranians have achieved success and expansion by migrating to other lands. This experience, like a river flowing into the sea, confirms the Quranic promises of murgham and siah. Skill and effort have been the keys to migrants success, demonstrating that migration with righteous intention is indeed in the path of God.
Migration with good intention is fi sabil Allah, whereas migration for sinfulness aligns with the path of Satan. This distinction, like a clear line between light and darkness, underscores the importance of pure intention in deeds. The migrant must pursue liberation from oppression and attainment of tranquillity with divine intention.
Verse 100 of Surah An-Nis, like a brilliant jewel, imparts profound lessons on migration. Migration is a rational path to liberation from pressures and attainment of tranquillity and expansion. This verse, emphasising divine intention and the hereafter reward, renders migration an act of worship. Lived experiences, from money distribution in Jeddah to rejection of financial proposals, manifest concrete examples of Quranic promises. In the contemporary world, migration with planning and good intention constitutes a means to improve living conditions and realise spiritual ideals. This exegesis invites the reader to reflect on the values of migration, trustworthiness, generosity, and commitment to society.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
