the excuse they offered, as He relates their words:
“‘We were oppressed in the land.’ They will say, ‘Was Allah’s earth not spacious enough for you to emigrate?’” [al-Nisā’: 97]
That is, to leave those who oppressed them. “Their refuge will be Hell—what an evil destination!” [al-Nisā’: 97] Then Allah Most High revealed the excuse of those who were truthful, saying:
“Except for the oppressed among men, women and children who have no means and cannot find a way.” [al-Nisā’: 98]
That is, they could find no route to take and would have perished had they set out. “For those, there is hope that Allah will pardon them.” [al-Nisā’: 99] This refers to their remaining among the polytheists.
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Before the conquest of Mecca, emigration to the Prophet—Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—was therefore a permanent obligation upon those of its inhabitants who embraced Islam. Allah required them to remain with His Messenger—peace be upon him—wherever he settled and to move with him wherever he moved, to support him, assist him and keep his company, and to preserve what he prescribed for his community and convey it to them on his behalf. None of them was permitted to return to his homeland and leave the Messenger of Allah—Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him. Do you not see that the Messenger of Allah—Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—said during the Farewell Pilgrimage: “No emigrant is to remain in Mecca for more than three days after completing his pilgrimage rites”?
Allah imposed this specifically upon those inhabitants of Mecca who believed in the Prophet—Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—and emigrated to him. Through their emigration to him, their remaining with him and their refraining from returning to their homeland, they would attain the utmost merit that He had destined for them in His foreknowledge. These are the people whom Allah called the Emigrants and praised as such; this designation applies to no one else.
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When Allah granted the conquest of Mecca, the Messenger of Allah—Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—said: “The merit of emigration has gone to those who undertook it.” That is, they attained it and secured it, and its merit belongs exclusively to them, not to those who came after them. He also said—Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him: “There is no emigration after the conquest, but there remain jihad and intention. When you are called to march forth, then march forth.” That is, no one from Mecca may begin