The immigration of the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Madinah did not apply only to those who were in Makkah. For 13 years the Prophet continued to preach his message in Makkah, during which time a number of people from other parts of Arabia, and even farther, learned from him what his message involved and adopted Islam. Other people continued to accept Islam after he had settled in Madinah. Anyone who came over to him and joined the Muslim community in Madinah belonged to the Muhajireen, or the immigrants. The Qur’an mentions the Muhajireen in several places, praising them and promising them rich reward from God for their dedication and sacrifices for the cause of Islam. Therefore, many new Muslims loved to be considered among them.
Wathilah ibn Al-Asqa’ reports: “I left my people and went to Madinah, eager to be a Muslim. I arrived in the mosque when the Prophet was leading the prayer. I joined the last row and prayed with the congregation as they prayed. When the Prophet completed the prayer and wanted to leave, he saw me in the last row. He asked me what business brought me. I told him that I wanted to be a Muslim. He said: ‘It will be good for you.’ He then asked me: ‘Would you immigrate?’ I confirmed that I would. He asked: ‘Would it be the immigration of one who rejoins his people or one who stays on with the Prophet.’ I said: ‘Which is better?’ He said: ‘The one who stays on.’ The Prophet added: ‘And do you commit yourself to obedience in what is easy or hard, when you are comfortable or in difficulty, and when pressed to relinquish what is yours by right?’ I confirmed that I am willing to make this commitment. The Prophet put out his hand and I put out mine. When he realized that I gave everything he asked me, without making any provisions for myself, he added the qualification: ‘This applies in as far as you can.’ I repeated that and we shook hands.”
This was the case of one man who was so keen to join the ranks of the Muhajireen. Indeed whole clans expressed the same desire. When the clan of Aslam were in Madinah, they suffered some illness. The Prophet advised them to return to their quarters in the desert. Apparently, the life of the city did not suit them. They said to him: “Messenger of God! We do not like to go back and be away from you.” He said: “You will be our people in the desert, and we will be your urban people. If you call on us to help you we will respond, and if we call on you for help, you will come to our help. You will be the Muhajireen, (meaning the immigrants), wherever you are.”
Such keenness to be with the Prophet was a mark of many people who belonged to different tribes living far apart in Arabia. Junadah ibn Abi Umayyah, of the Azd tribe, reports that he traveled with a group of his people to meet the Prophet. “We were in disagreement concerning the immigration, or Hijrah, with some of us maintaining that it was over, while others said that it remained valid. When I met the Prophet I asked him about that. He said to me: ‘The immigration remains valid as long as fighting against the unbelievers continues.’”
A largely similar report is given by Abdullah ibn Waqdan who says: “I went with a delegation of seven or eight people from the Saad ibn Bakr clan to meet the Prophet. I was perhaps their youngest. On arrival in Madinah, they went to see the Prophet leaving me behind to look after their camels and property. I went later to see the Prophet, and I said to him: ‘Tell me about what is preoccupying me?’ He asked me what was that, and I told him that it was the immigration, or the Hijrah. He said: ‘Your business is the best of all your people’s business. The immigration remains valid as long as fighting against the unbelievers continues.’”
This may raise the question whether the immigration, or Hijrah, continues after the Prophet’s lifetime, or is it limited to his own period. Perhaps the best answer is that there are two types, or grades, of immigration: The one during the Prophet’s lifetime, to join him and the Muslim community disowning any other loyalty or allegiance. This belonged to that group of noble Muslims who responded to the Prophet’s call in its years of difficulty and fought with him or intended to fight with him, even against one’s own tribe and clan. These were the Muhajireen, as named in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. This immigration was over when Makkah fell to Islam. The other grade continues for the rest of time. Whenever Muslims are persecuted for their faith and have to abandon their countries, or cities, or villages for no reason other than to hold on to their faith and practice it in freedom, they earn the rich reward of migrating for God’s sake.
This is explained in the following story involving Safwan ibn Umayyah, one of the notable figures of the Quraysh, who remained hostile to Islam until Makkah was taken over by the Muslims. He tried to escape, but then the Prophet guaranteed his safety and allowed him a period of four months to consider his position. He became a Muslim during that period. However, once he was in Makkah someone told him that anyone who did not immigrate does not rank among the believers. He said: “I shall not go home until I have gone to Madinah. He traveled immediately and when he arrived in Madinah he was hosted by Al-Abbas ibn Abd Al-Muttalib, the Prophet’s uncle. He then went to see the Prophet who asked him about the purpose of his journey. He said: “I was told that a person who did not immigrate has no faith.” The Prophet said to him: “You may go back to Makkah and stay in your own homes. The immigration is now over. What is left is to strive for God’s cause, i.e. jihad, and an intention to sacrifice. Should you be called upon to join a campaign for God’s cause, join it.” Another report of this case adds at the beginning of the Prophet’s answer his testimony: “Safwan has learned about Islam and has accepted it as a faith.” Thus, the Prophet refuted what Safwan was told about the need to immigrate in order to be considered a Muslim. The Prophet also made clear that jihad continues for the rest of time, requiring Muslims to strive in every way to serve God’s cause, including joining an army should the need arise.
This is endorsed by the following authentic Hadith reported by Ata’ ibn Abi Rabah who says that he and Ubayd ibn Umayr visited Aishah, the Prophet’s wife, and asked her about the immigration. “She said: No immigration is valid today. A Muslim used to flee his home and leave his people, to please God and to join the Prophet, fearing that he would suffer persecution. Today after God has granted victory to Islam and any person is free to worship his Lord wherever he wished, no immigration is needed.
“What is left is to strive for God’s cause, i.e. jihad, and an intention to sacrifice. Should you be called out to join a campaign for God’s cause, join it.” (Related by Al-Bukhari.)