Hijrah Returnees

Muhajireen fi sabilillah hate to return ‘home’ and if they do return, it is only as a last resort or not their choice.

Before I left ‘home’ for hijrah fi sabilillah, I often would hear and meet people who had made hijrah and returned. Often these returnees would be subject of gossip and criticism. I would hear people say in a negative tone, “look at these people who make hijrah only to return here!” Or even more cutting, “they must have low tawakkul in Allah swt”, (low trust in Allah).

I too often wondered why they would choose to return to the indignity and drudgery of life back ‘home’, and as I hadn’t yet made hijrah but was raring to go, I felt that they had squandered an opportunity to please Allah.

There are some who choose to come back and they are happy with their decision, and there are some who had no other choice and are just waiting for the very next chance to get out again. Either way, it is not for us to judge and look down on people who have returned from hijrah. Especially those who have never even tried to make hijrah!
Such jibing and finger pointing experienced by returnees often leads them to seclude themselves from the community, which can be counter-productive for all.

Most of the time hijrah is not easy - Muhajireen face language barriers, social barriers, financial problems and most troubling – visa and residency problems. If a muhajir loses their job, they could also lose their residency visas and their residence. There are no safety nets like social security, there is just akal wa-tawakkul.

Some may say why make hijrah at all if it is going to be so hard. That is just the point, it is a test, and the rewards from Allah in the Hereafter are great. As a Muhajir fi sabilillah, you notice increases in iman and love for other muhajireen, you sacrifice a lot of your duniyya and you can’t help but to remember Allah often because your life is totally for his sake.

So the next time you meet a hijrah returnee, don’t shun them and don’t participate in gossip as to why they returned. Ask them if they need any help and encourage each other to good deeds.

May Allah give us an easy path to Hijrah for His sake. May Allah make the path of good easy and the path of evil difficult. May Allah swt protect the Muhajireen fi sabilihi. Amin