and the land of Egypt, which Allah caused the Children of Israel to inherit. The conditions of lands are like those of people: a man may be a Muslim at one time and an unbeliever at another; a believer at one time and a hypocrite at another; righteous and God-fearing at one time, defiantly disobedient at another, and wicked and wretched at yet another.

Likewise, places take their character from their inhabitants. A person’s migration from a place of unbelief and sin to a place of faith and obedience is like his repentance and his transition from unbelief and sin to faith and obedience. This continues until the Day of Resurrection. Allah Most High said:

“And those who believed afterwards, emigrated, and strove alongside you—they are of you.”

A group of the early generations said: This includes everyone who believes, emigrates, and strives until the Day of Resurrection. Likewise, His words, Most High:

“For those who emigrated after being put to trial, then strove and remained steadfast—your Lord thereafter is surely All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

The meaning of this verse includes everyone whom Satan has tempted away from his religion or caused to fall into sin, but who then abandons evil deeds, strives against his own self and other enemies, strives against the hypocrites by enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and other means, and patiently endures whatever befalls him in words or deeds. Allah—glorified and exalted is He—knows best.