in a land of war—that is, a territory where the rule of disbelief prevails—for fulfilling the requirements of the religion is obligatory, and emigration becomes necessary whenever it alone enables that obligation, for whatever is indispensable for a duty takes on the same ruling.
Al-Muntahā adds: or from a land dominated by rebels, or by misleading innovations such as Rāfiḍī Shiʿism or Muʿtazilism; in such a case one must leave for a land of Ahl al-Sunnah, provided he cannot openly profess the Sunnī creed where he is and has the ability to emigrate from the land of unbelief and its equivalents. Allah the Exalted says: “except for the oppressed among men, women, and children who have no means and can find no way out” (al-Nisāʾ 4:98).
Shaykh ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Saʿdī comments: Allah then exempted the powerless who lack every means of migration: “Those—perhaps Allah will pardon them” (al-Nisāʾ 4:99). The particle “perhaps” (ʿasā) when attributed to Allah indicates certainty, in keeping with His grace and generosity.
Sayyid Rashīd Riḍā states: “In my judgment there is no basis for disagreement over the obligation to migrate from any land where a believer is barred from practicing his religion or is harmed beyond what he can bear. As for someone living among non-Muslims who is neither prevented nor harmed when he practices his faith, and can observe all its rulings without objection, migration is not incumbent upon him.”
3 – Ibn Taymiyyah said: “Residing wherever the circumstances enable a person to obey Allah and His Messenger more readily, to perform greater good and righteous deeds—where he is more knowledgeable, more capable, and more energetic—is better than staying in a place where his condition is inferior. Hence the ruling on residence is relative and personal. For this reason, standing guard at the frontiers is superior to dwelling near the three sacred mosques. Allah, Most High, says: ‘Do you equate the provision of water for pilgrims and the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque with those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and strive in Allah’s cause? They are not equal…’”} } } } } }