Under what conditions is emigration obligatory upon an individual?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Jihad
Primary text
Emigration is obligatory upon a person who is capable of performing it, yet cannot manifest their religion openly or fulfill the obligations of their faith while residing among non-believers. This obligation stems from the severe warning in the Quran: {Indeed, those whom the angels take in death, while they were wronging themselves...} (Quran 4:97), indicating that failure to emigrate when able leads to the destination of Hellfire. Moreover, fulfilling religious duties is mandatory for the capable, and emigration is a necessary prerequisite for fulfilling those duties; that which completes a mandatory act is itself mandatory.
Supporting text
Emigration is not obligatory upon those who are incapable, such as the sick, those forcibly prevented from leaving, or the weak, including women, children, and their equivalents. This exemption is due to the statement in the Quran: {Except for the oppressed among men, women, and children who cannot [conceive of] a way out and do not know a path} (Quran 4:98), for whom Allah may grant pardon.