Allah’s Face, it would only increase you in rank and raise you in honor before Allah.

That is to say, were you, hypothetically, to remain behind and be unable to leave Mecca, yet still carried out a deed solely for Allah’s Face, Allah the Exalted would elevate you through it—an elevation in standing and in degree, a higher status and a loftier place. He would raise you, in the Gardens of Bliss, level upon level, even if you were to die in Mecca after having once emigrated from it.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then said, “Perhaps you will be left behind.” This “being left behind” differs from the first usage. Here it means: you may live a long life in this world—and that is exactly what occurred. Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ lived for many years; as the scholars report, he left behind 17 sons and 12 daughters. At first he had only one daughter, yet he remained, lived on, and was granted offspring: 17 boys and 12 girls.

He further said, “Perhaps you will be left behind so that some people benefit through you and others are harmed by you.” And so it happened: Saʿd (may Allah be pleased with him) outlived many and had a tremendous impact on the Islamic conquests, achieving great and momentous victories. Through him some people—namely the Muslims—derived benefit, while others—the disbelievers—were struck down.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then supplicated, “O Allah, allow my Companions’ emigration to reach its goal.” He asked Allah to perfect their emigration in two respects:

First, by keeping them steadfast in faith, for when a person remains firm upon faith, he remains firm upon the emigration as well.