Video summary

When hijrah is mandatory and when it is not - Sheikh Sulaiman Al Ruhayli حفظه الله

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main Ideas / Concepts

  • The speaker discusses when emigration (hijrah) from non-Muslim lands is mandatory vs. when it is not, focusing on a person’s ability to: 1) Practice their religion freely, and 2) Protect their children from harm to their faith.

  • The ruling is presented as conditional:

    • Mandatory (obligatory) in certain situations
    • Recommended (but not obligatory) in others
    • Excused if emigration is impossible

Rulings and Conditions (Detailed)

1) Citizenship in Non-Muslim Countries

  • No fatwa is issued regarding the ruling on acquiring citizenship in this context.
  • The speaker states: “I never do.”
  • (No further detailed legal reasoning about citizenship is provided in the subtitles.)

2) Residing in Non-Muslim Lands (Emigration/Hijrah)

A) Emigration is Obligatory when:

  • A person cannot practice their religion freely in the non-Muslim country, but
  • They are able to emigrate and can find a place to emigrate to.

In this case, it is forbidden to remain.

Key reason given:

  • Not being able to practice one’s religion freely includes inability to protect children, because:
    • Children may apostate, or
    • They may rebel against practices of Islamic law.
  • Thus, staying prevents fulfillment of religious duties tied to protecting children.

B) Emigration is Recommended when:

  • The person can practice their religion freely, and
  • They are able to emigrate and can find a country to emigrate to.

The speaker says the more correct opinion is:

  • Recommended (mustahabb) to emigrate, not obligatory.

He notes:

  • Some scholars hold it is obligatory, but he maintains the stronger view is recommended.

C) Remaining despite ability may be invalid if linked to a “religious benefit”

  • If someone can practice their religion freely and can emigrate to a suitable country,
  • but claims there is a religious benefit for Muslims in remaining (e.g., being a teacher or imam),

then the speaker states:

  • The ruling permitting remaining “is not valid.”
  • (Meaning: the claimed benefit does not override the established ruling in the scenario described.)

D) Emigration is Excused when emigration is impossible

Emigration is not required if the person cannot emigrate due to hardship, including:

  • Serious illness requiring medication only available in the current country
  • Medication that is prohibitively expensive (example: extremely high cost for an injection; may not be available even in some Muslim countries)
  • A serious illness where the medication is unavailable in the destination country
  • The cost is beyond their means
  • Also excused if:
    • They cannot find any country they can reside in (even temporarily), or
    • They cannot emigrate due to circumstances beyond their ability

Overall Lesson

  • Hijrah/emigration depends on capacity and religious safety—especially whether one can:

    • Practice religion freely, and
    • Protect children.

  • If religious practice and child protection are hindered and emigration is possible, staying becomes forbidden.

  • If religious practice is already safe and emigration is possible, emigration is typically recommended, not obligatory.

Speakers / Sources

  • Sheikh Sulaiman Al Ruhayli (حفظه الله)

Original video