Qualities which must be present in the land to which one makes hijrah

 

What are the necessary qualities which must be present in a country for it to be regarded as daar harb or daar kufr (hostile land or the abode of kufr).

Praise be to Allaah. 

Every
land or region in which the rulers and those in authority uphold the
limits set by Allaah and they rule their people in accordance with Islamic
sharee’ah, and the people are able to carry out what Islam has enjoined
upon them, is considered to be dar islaam (the abode of Islam). The
Muslims in such lands have to obey their rulers with regard to that which
is right (ma’roof) and be sincere towards them, helping them to
take care of the affairs of state and giving them moral and practical
support. They should live there, and not go to live anywhere else except
to another place which is under Islamic rule where they may be better off.
This is like the case of Madeenah after the Hijrah of the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), when the Islamic state was
established there, and like Makkah after the Conquest, when the Muslims
took power there and it became daar islaam after it had been daar
harb and it had been obligatory for the Muslims there who were able to
leave, to migrate from it.

 Every
country or region in which the rulers and those in authority do not uphold
the limits set by Allaah and do not govern those who are under their care
by the rules of Islam, and in which the Muslims are not able to establish
the rituals of Islam, is daar kufr (the abode of kufr). This is
like Makkah al-Mukarramah before the Conquest, when it was daar kufr.
The same applies to any land in which the people belong to the religion of
Islam, but those who are in authority govern by laws other than those
revealed by Allaah, and the Muslims are not able to establish the rituals
of their religion. They have to migrate from that place, fleeing so that
their religious commitment will not be compromised, to a land which is
ruled by Islam and where they will be able to do that which is required of
them by sharee’ah. Whoever is unable to migrate – men, women or
children – will be excused, but Muslims in other lands are obliged to
save them and bring them from the kaafir lands to the Muslim land. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily,
as for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging
themselves (as they stayed among the disbelievers even though emigration
was obligatory for them), they (angels) say (to them): “In what
(condition) were you?” They reply: “We were weak and oppressed on the
earth.” They (angels) say: “Was not the earth of Allaah spacious
enough for you to emigrate therein?” Such men will find their abode in
Hell — what an evil destination!  Except the weak ones among
men, women and children who cannot devise a plan, nor are they able to
direct their way.  These are
they whom Allaah is likely to forgive them, and Allaah is Ever
Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving” [al-Nisaa’ 4:97-99]

“And what is wrong with you that you fight not in
the Cause of Allaah, and for those weak, ill-treated and oppressed
among men, women, and children, whose cry is: “Our Lord! Rescue us from
this town whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You one who
will protect, and raise for us from You one who will help.” [al-Nisaa’
4:75]

 But
whoever is able to establish the rituals of Islam within his family and
establish evidence against the rulers and people in authority, and bring
about reform, making them change their ways, then it is prescribed for him
to stay among them, because there is the hope that by staying there he may
be able to convey the message and reform them – so long as he is safe
from temptation and fitnah.

 And
Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.