Q 5: There is a Prophetic Hadith which states: When Allah granted the Prophet (peace be upon him) victory over Makkah, he (peace be upon him) said, "There is no migration after the Peaceful Victory (of Makkah)..." Is this an authentic Hadith? Do we understand from it that it is not permissible for oppressed Muslims in Afghanistan, Syria and other countries to migrate from their countries or does it mean that Makkah has become a land of Islam and hence it is not permissible for Muslims to migrate from it?

A: This Hadith: There is no migration after the Peaceful Victory (of Makkah), but Jihad and sincere intention. Is an authentic Hadith, related in Sahih Al-Bukhari, and Muslim on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) who reported: On the day of the Peaceful Victory (of Makkah) the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "There is no migration after the Peaceful Victory (of Makkah) but Jihad and intentions. When you are called (by the Muslim ruler) for fighting, go forth immediately." (Part No. 12; Page No. 50) In his book Fat-h Al-Bary, Al-Hafizh Ibn Hajar comments on the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): But only Jihad (fighting in the cause of Allah) and Niyyah (sincere intention) as thus: Al-Tayyiby and others said: This addition requires that what is mentioned after "but" is different from what is mentioned before it. Meaning that the reason for which Muslims had to migrate from Makkah to Al-Madinah no longer exists. However, there are still reasons for which Muslims may migrate which are; Jihad or a sincere intention, such as departure from a non-Muslim land, pursuit of religious knowledge, escaping with religion from torture and having a good intention in all these cases.It is better for a person to leave any country if this should serve his religion whether this is called migration or not.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.