29:56
O My servants who believe! truly, spacious is My Earth: therefore serve ye Me – (and Me alone)!
The Qurʾān highlights the expansiveness of the earth while encouraging believers to maintain exclusive devotion to God. In Qurʾān 29:56, believers are reminded that God’s earth is spacious and that they should worship Him alone. Classical exegetical discussions interpret this verse as an encouragement for believers to migrate (hijrah) from environments in which they are compelled to abandon monotheistic belief or engage in practices contrary to their faith. Within this framework, migration is viewed as a means of preserving religious commitment and enabling the continued practice and propagation of faith.
Exegetes also acknowledge that migration may involve considerable risks, including threats to personal safety and livelihood. One concern relates to the possibility that hostile groups may attempt to prevent believers from leaving such environments. The Qurʾān addresses this anxiety by reminding believers that death is inevitable and occurs only at the time determined by God (Qurʾān 29:57). Consequently, fear of death should not deter individuals from fulfilling their religious obligations. The text further reassures believers by promising lasting reward for those who remain steadfast in faith and perform righteous deeds (Qurʾān 29:58).
Another challenge associated with migration concerns the potential loss of economic security and familiar means of livelihood. The Qurʾān responds to this concern by emphasizing divine providence, noting that many creatures survive without storing provisions and are sustained by God (Qurʾān 29:60). Classical commentators often reference prophetic traditions describing birds that leave their nests hungry and return with sustenance, illustrating reliance upon divine provision rather than material certainty.
Historical precedent for migration is frequently discussed in relation to the migration from Makkah to Madinah during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. At that time, migration was considered obligatory for those who possessed the ability to undertake it, serving as a clear demonstration of commitment to the faith (Qurʾān 4:89). Exceptions were granted to individuals who lacked the capacity to migrate, including those who were oppressed or without sufficient resources (Qurʾān 4:98). In contrast, individuals who remained despite having the means to leave were strongly criticized in Qurʾānic discourse (Qurʾān 4:97). After the conquest of Makkah, however, the obligation of migration from that city ceased because it had become a place where Islam could be practiced openly.
Islamic jurists later derived broader legal principles from these historical circumstances. First, migration is considered obligatory when a believer cannot freely practice Islam and has the ability to relocate to a more secure environment. Second, if a Muslim is able to practice religious obligations within a non-Muslim society, migration may be regarded as commendable but not mandatory. Scholars such as Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī emphasized that the determining factor in this ruling is the ability to fulfill religious duties rather than the political designation of a particular territory. Early scholars, including Saʿīd ibn Jubayr and ʿAṭāʾ, similarly emphasized the importance of leaving environments characterized by widespread injustice or moral corruption when such conditions threaten the integrity of one’s faith.
Overall, these interpretations emphasize broader ethical principles within Islamic thought, including the protection of religious freedom, trust in divine provision, and personal responsibility in choosing an environment conducive to moral and spiritual well-being. In this sense, hijrah is understood not only as a historical event but also as a continuing principle guiding believers when their faith and religious practice are placed at risk.
References:
Shafi, Muhammad (2008). Maariful Quran. (Vol .6 surah 29 verse 56).