Migration (HIJRAH

occurs in a believer’s life is not an accidental incident; rather, it is the culmination of a long history. It is a process that begins in the believer’s life from the very first day and ultimately reaches the stage of leaving one’s surroundings. By the grace of God, the truth becomes clear to a person, and he begins to make others aware of it. Becoming the bearer of a new voice against the times, he virtually announces that he has abandoned submission to the prevailing environment and has decided to carve out a path for himself against the age. This is the beginning of migration. When a person resolves to abandon an illegitimate way of life and adopt a legitimate one, a continuous struggle begins thereafter in which he must leave many old things behind and adopt many new ones, severe ties with many of his own people and form bonds with many who were previously strangers. From within to without, he must abandon countless cherished things and instead accept other things that are unpleasant. Thus, as soon as faith is embraced, the believer’s life begins a process of migration in which many old