الإيمان الثابت والزائل، التحدي: «سلوني قبل أن تفقدوني»

[1] This is the interpretation of the word “muhājir” and “mustaḍ‘af” as mentioned in the Holy Qur’ān : Verily those whom the angels take away (at death) while they are unjust to their (own) selves (in sin), they (the angels) shall ask (the sinning souls): “In what state were ye?” They shall reply, “Weakened (mustaḍ‘af — and oppressed) were we in the land;” They (angels) will say “Was not the kind of Allāh vast (enough) for you to immigrate therein?” So these (are those) whose refuge shall be Hell; and what a bad resort it is. Except the (really) weakened ones from among the men and the women and the children, who have not in their power the means (to escape from the unbelievers) and nor do they find the (right) way. So these, may be, Allāh will pardon them; and Allāh is the Clement, the Oft forgiving. (4:97—99) The meaning of Amīr al-mu’minīn here is that hijrah (immigration) was not only obligatory during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet, but it is a permanent obligation. This immigration is even now obligatory for attaining the proof of Allāh and the true religion. Therefore, if one has attained the proof of Allāh and believed in it, even if he is in midst of the unbelievers of his locality, he is not duty bound to immigrate. The “mustaḍ‘af” (weakened) is one who is living among the unbelivers and is far from being informed of the proofs of Allāh, and at the same time he is unable to immigrate in order to attain the proofs of Allāh.