16:41 An-Nahl (The Bee)

يخبر تعالى بفضل المؤمنين الممتحنين { الَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا فِي اللَّهِ ْ} أي: في سبيله وابتغاء مرضاته { مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا ْ} بالأذية والمحنة من قومهم، الذين يفتنونهم ليردوهم إلى الكفر والشرك، فتركوا الأوطان والخلان، وانتقلوا عنها لأجل طاعة الرحمن، فذكر لهم ثوابين: ثوابا عاجلا في الدنيا من الرزق الواسع والعيش الهنيء، الذي رأوه عيانا بعد ما هاجروا، وانتصروا على أعدائهم، وافتتحوا البلدان وغنموا منها الغنائم العظيمة، فتمولوا وآتاهم الله في الدنيا حسنة. { وَلَأَجْرُ الْآخِرَةِ ْ} الذي وعدهم الله على لسان رسوله { أَكْبَرُ ْ} من أجر الدنيا، كما قال تعالى: { الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ يُبَشِّرُهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِنْهُ وَرِضْوَانٍ وَجَنَّاتٍ لَهُمْ فِيهَا نَعِيمٌ مُقِيمٌ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ْ} وقوله: { لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ ْ} أي: لو كان لهم علم ويقين بما عند الله من الأجر والثواب لمن آمن به وهاجر في سبيله لم يتخلف عن ذلك أحد.

يخبر تعالى عن جزائه للمهاجرين في سبيله ابتغاء مرضاته الذين فارقوا الدار والإخوان والخلان رجاء ثواب الله وجزائه. ويحتمل أن يكون سبب نزولها في مهاجرة الحبشة الذي اشتد أذي قومهم لهم بمكة حتى خرجوا من بين أظهرهم إلى بلاد الحبشة ليتمكنوا من عبادة ربهم ومن أشرافهم عثمان بن عفان ومعه زوجته رقية بنت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وجعفر بن أبي طالب ابن عم الرسول وأبو سلمة بن عبدالأسود في جماعة قريب من ثمانين ما بين رجل وامرأة صديق وصديقة رضي الله عنهم وأرضاهم وقد فعل فوعدهم تعالى بالمجازاة الحسنة في الدنيا والآخرة فقال "لنبوئنهم في الدنيا حسنة" قال ابن عباس والشعبي وقتادة: المدينة; وقيل الرزق الطيب قاله مجاهد. ولا منافاة بين القولين فإنهم تركوا مساكنهم وأموالهم فعوضهم الله خيرا منها في الدنيا فإن من ترك شيئا لله عوضه الله بما هو خير له منه وكذلك وقع فإنهم مكن الله لهم في البلاد وحكمهم على رقاب العباد وصاروا أمراء حكاما وكل منهم للمتقين إماما وأخبر أن ثوابه للمهاجرين في الدار الآخرة أعظم مما أعطاهم في الدنيا فقال "ولأجر الآخرة أكبر" أي مما أعطيناهم في الدنيا "لو كانوا يعلمون" أى لو كان المتخلفون عن الهجرة معهم يعلمون ما ادخر الله لمن أطاعه واتبع رسوله ولهذا قال هشيم عن العوام عمن حدثه أن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه كان إذا أعطى الرجل من المهاجرين عطاءه يقول خذ بارك الله لك فيه هذا ما وعدك الله في الدنيا وما ادخر لك في الآخرة أفضل ثم قرأ هذه الآية "لنبوئنهم في الدنيا حسنة ولآجر الآخرة أكبر لو كانوا يعلمون".

The Reward of the Muhajirin

Allah tells us about the reward of those who migrated for His sake, seeking His pleasure, those who left their homeland behind, brothers and friends, hoping for the reward of Allah. This may have been revealed concerning those who migrated to Ethiopia, those whose persecution at the hands of their own people in Makkah was so extreme that they left them and went to Ethiopia so that they would be able to worship their Lord. Among the most prominent of these migrants were `Uthman bin `Affan and his wife Ruqayyah, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Ja`far bin Abi Talib, the cousin of the Messenger ﷺ, and Abu Salamah bin `Abdul-Asad, among a group of almost eighty sincere and faithful men and women, may Allah be pleased with them. Allah promised them a great reward in this world and the next. Allah said:

لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُمْ فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَة

(We will certainly give them good residence in this world,) Ibn `Abbas, Ash-Sha`bi and Qatadah said: (this means) "Al-Madinah." It was also said that it meant "good provision". This was the opinion of Mujahid. There is no contradiction between these two opinions, for they left their homes and wealth, but Allah compensated them with something better in this world. Whoever gives up something for the sake of Allah, Allah compensates him with something that is better for him than that, and this is what happened. He gave them power throughout the land and caused them to rule over the people, so they became governors and rulers, and each of them became a leader of the pious. Allah tells us that His reward for the Muhajirin in the Hereafter is greater than that which He gave them in this world, as He says:

وَلاّجْرُ الاٌّخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ

(but indeed the reward of the Hereafter will be greater) meaning, greater than that which We have given you in this world.

لَوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ

(if they but knew!) means, if those who stayed behind and did not migrate with them only knew what Allah prepared for those who obeyed Him and followed His Messenger . Then Allah describes them as:

الَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

(those who remained patient, and put their trust in their Lord.) (16:42), meaning, they bore their people's persecution with patience, putting their trust in Allah Who made their end good in this world and the Hereafter.

And those who emigrated for God’s cause to establish His religion after they had been wronged through harm those from among the people of Mecca — these were the Prophet s and his Companions — truly We shall lodge them in this world in a goodly lodging namely Medina and the reward of the Hereafter that is Paradise is surely greater grander did they but know that is the disbelievers — or those who stayed behind and did not emigrate — did they but know the honour that belongs to emigrants they would have followed them.

Commentary

The verb: هَاجَرُ‌وا (hajaru) is a derivation from hijrat (pausal : hijrah) which literally means to leave one's homeland. The leaving of one's home-land done for the sake of Allah is an act of great obedience and worship in Islam. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said: اَلھِجرۃ تَھدَمُ مَا کَانَ قَبلَھَا ('Hijrah demolishes all sins that were before it' ).

This Hijrah is Farcl (obligatory) and Wajib (necessary) under some situations while it is recommended as desirable and better (Mustahabb) under some others. Related injunctions have appeared in details under comments on verse 97 of Surah An-Nisa' أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْ‌ضُ اللَّـهِ وَاسِعَةً (Was not the earth of Allah wide enough that you might have sought refuge in it? - 3:97) [ Ma` ariful-Qur'an, Volume II ] Mentioned here at this place are particular promises which Allah Ta’ ala has made to Muhajirin, those who do Hijrah, that is, leave their homeland for His sake.

How does Hijrah bring Better Life in the Present World?

In the verses cited above, two great promises have been made to Muhajirin subject to some conditions: (1) To give them a good place right here in this world, and (2) To bless them with the greater reward of the Hereafter which is limitless. The expression: 'a good place in the world' is highly comprehensive. It includes a good residence for the Muhajir (one who does Hijrah) as well as neighbours who are good. It also includes extended means of living, supremacy over hostile enemies, recognition and fair name among people, and honour which continues through the family, and progeny. (Qurtubi)

The background of the revelation of the verse is basically the first Hijrah which the noble Companions made to Ethiopea. Then, the probability that it may include the Hijrah to Ethiopea as well as the Hijrah to al-Madinah al-Munawwarah which came after that. Mentioned here in this verse are the same Muhajirin to Ethiopea, or the Muhajirin to Madinah. Therefore, some scholars have said that this promise was for these blessed Sahabah ؓ only, that is, those who had made their Hijrah to Ethiopea, or those who had later done it to Madinah. As for the promise of Allah, it stood already fulfilled within the present world, something witnessed openly. Everyone saw how Madinah was made for them the real good place to live. Instead of hostile neighbours, they lived among those who were sympathetic, sharing and sacrificing. Enemies were conquered and subdued. Within a short period of time since their Hijrah, doors of ample sustenance were thrown open for them. The poor and needy of yester years became wealthy citizens of the day. Many countries of the world came under their sway. Such were their achiements in moral greatness and beauty of conduct that they remain receiving words of praise from friends and foes alike even to this day. Allah Ta` ala blessed them with great honour, and their generations as well. These were things that were to take place in this world, which they did. Now, the promise of the Hereafter shall also be fulfilled. But, says Abu Hayyan in his Tafslr Al-Bahr Al-Muhit:

وَالَّذِینَ ھَاجَرُوا عَام فِی المُھَاجِرِینَ کَایٔنا مَّا کَانُوا فَیَشمَلُ اَوَّلَھُم وآخِرَھُم

The expression: الَّذِينَ هَاجَرُ‌وا (And those who migrated) is general and inclusive of all those who leave their homeland whatever their country or time. Therefore, this includes all Muhajirin, from the very first ones down to the last among them who do their Hijrah for the sake of Allah right upto the Last Day, the day of Al-Qiyamah. (v. 5, p. 492)

This is also as required by the general exegetic rule under which a commentator relies on the general sense of the word, even though there be a particular event or group as the prime cause of the revelation of the verse. Therefore, included in this promise are Muhajirin of the whole world and of all times - and the fulfillment of both these promises for all Muhajirin is certain.

A similar promise has been made for Muhajirin in the following verse of Surah An-Nisa' وَمَن يُهَاجِرْ‌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ يَجِدْ فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ مُرَ‌اغَمًا كَثِيرً‌ا وَسَعَةً [ And whoever migrates in the way of Allah he shall find many a place to settle and wide dimension (of resources) - 4:100] particularly promised wherein are spatial abundance and extensive means. But, along with these promises, the Holy Qur'an has also put forth some qualifications of Muhajirin and some conditions of Hijrah as well. Therefore, those deserving of the fulfillment of these promises can only be the Muhajirin who possess these qualifications and who have satisfied the desired conditions.

Those who emigrate in God after they were wronged-We shall surely build for them something beautiful, and the wage of the next world will be greater. Anyone who emigrates from the homelands of heedlessness will be taken by the majesty of Unity to the witnessing places of union. When someone emigrates from the homelands of heedlessness, the majesty of Unity will con- vey him to the witnessing places of union. When someone emigrates from companionship with the created, the gentle favors of generosity will give him access to His companionship. When some- one emigrates from himself and is displeased with dwelling with himself, his heart will become the place where passion for the Haqiqah puts down its saddlebags. Today he will be delighted in the secluded solace of “I am the sitting companion of him who remembers Me,” and tomorrow he will take his ease on the carpet of the expansiveness of “The patient poor are the sitting companions of God on the Day of Resurrection.” This emigration has a beginning and an end. Its beginning is that his makeup becomes obe- dience itself, not from habit and not from wanting the reward, but rather from being drowned in contemplation itself. Thus it is recounted of the recognizer Sultan MaḤmūd that he never sat in a session of intimacy with any but Ayāz. The boon companions and special friends began to mutter. The sultan became aware of their jealousy, and he commanded that all the boon companions and special friends be present in a session. Then he had a goblet made of ruby-worth the taxes from one of his prov- inces-brought forth, along with an iron anvil, and put before him. He commanded the vizier to smash the goblet on the anvil. The vizier, “Protect me, O Sultan! Though the sultan's command is higher, I do not have the gall to be so bold.” In the same way, he commanded the other boon companions and special friends. All took off their hats, began to tremble, and did not have the gall to break it. Then he pointed at Ayāz. He said, “Slave, strike the goblet on the anvil and break it.” Ayāz struck the goblet on the anvil until it broke into tiny pieces. Then MaḤmūd said, “There are four thousand way stations between obeying the sultan's command and seclusion with him. When someone still avoids obeying MaḤmūd's command, how can he have the gall to talk of seclusion and seek companionship?” As for the end of emigration, it is three things: veneration in seclusion, being ashamed in service, and seeing nothing but shortcoming in oneself despite much obedience.