An “emigrant,” in the fundamental sense, is someone who abandons what Allah has forbidden, as is authentically reported from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Thus, whoever abandons evil and is wronged by people for forsaking disbelief, wickedness and disobedience, to the point that they drive him out—not someone who merely abandons certain worldly things—and patiently endures their wrongdoing, Allah will surely grant him a good dwelling in this world, while the reward of the Hereafter is greater. Such was Joseph, the man of truth: he shunned indecency, even though this compelled him to leave his home and remain in prison after being wronged. Then Allah established him in the land, allowing him to settle wherever he wished.

Those who confronted the disbelievers said:

“Our Lord, pour upon us patience.”

And He says:

“If there are twenty steadfast among you, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are one hundred among you, they will overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they are a people who do not understand.”

“Now Allah has lightened your burden, knowing that there is weakness in you. So if there are one hundred steadfast among you, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are a thousand among you, they will overcome two thousand by Allah’s permission. And Allah is with the steadfast.”

And He says:

“How many a small company has overcome a large company by Allah’s permission! And Allah is with the steadfast.”

All of this is patience with the actions of created beings that have been decreed. Allah, glorified be He, praises in His Book those who are ever patient and grateful. In several places, the Most High says:

“Indeed, in that are signs for everyone who is ever patient and grateful.”

Patience and gratitude concern what the Lord decrees for His servant of prosperity and adversity, blessings and calamities, and the good and ill with which He tests him. He must therefore meet calamities with patience and blessings with gratitude. These blessings include the good deeds Allah enables him to perform, as well as blessings beyond his own actions. Thus, he recognizes the divine decree when he performs acts of obedience and when Allah bestows blessings upon him, and so gives thanks to Him