So said a client of mine from the UK who recently visited us in Morocco, referring to some ‘Muzlamik’ folks who are taking a kind of moral superiority in their decision to leave the UK.
Now, look…
I get the attraction.
Sun.
Beaches.
All kinds of entertainment.
All forms of attractions.
It’s a land perfectly designed to entertain Brits.
Oh… and it’s all halal.
I guess for some people Dubai is kind of like the halal Vegas.
Now, add to this attractive holiday destination, the growing sentiment of racism and anti-immigrant feeling that seems to be getting stronger in the UK. (All while the Labour Party seems to be getting weaker, and instead of opposing the whole idea of being anti-immigrant, they’re taking on a softer, weaker version of it, implicitly strengthening the argument of Reform.)
Anyway, here’s the point…
As comforting as it is to know that you could essentially evade tax and live in a penthouse suite, I agree with my dear friend… moving to Dubai is not hijra – at least not in the true Islamic sense of the word.
Yes, linguistically ‘hijra’ means migration… and technically that is what you’re doing.
But when the Prophet, peace and blessings upon him, and his companions, had to flee Mecca for their own safety, it was because anyone who followed him was being tortured and persecuted. Eventually, a major move was made to Medina, and before that, by some companions to Abyssinia.
That’s a little bit different from living in a luxurious apartment suite while conveniently avoiding tax and enjoying the weather.
Now, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with leaving the country for economic and lifestyle reasons. Ultimately that’s what my parents’ generation did when they came to the UK, and it’s what a lot of my generation are doing when they figure out how to work online and move to more comforting climates.
But let’s keep it in perspective.
If you’re doing it, as I did, basically for comfort, it may be a wise move. But I wouldn’t quite compare it to the prophetic hijra.
And you want to know why?
Because it overlooks the fact that the real heroes of the situation – the ones who are actually continuing the Prophetic Legacy aren’t us wusses who quit and went away to sunnier pastures. In my humble, but accurate opinion, the legends are the spiritually grounded Muslims who stay right where they are, either out of financial necessity or out of a noble choice.
You ever wonder why Allah put us Muslims in the West in the first place?
The ultimate reason is that the vast majority of people there do not know our Prophet, peace and blessings upon him. And as poor as we may be as examples, it is ultimately our job to embody his teachings and show it to them.
And yes, it would be perfectly fair to take a jab at me for saying this while I’m comfortably situated in a luxurious residence in Morocco. In this case, you can do as I say, not as I do… while you enjoy the freezing cold weather in the Global North.
Until then, if you want more random perspectives and ideas on how to navigate all kinds of emotions while watching global and family dynamics unfold – including watching the UK slowly deteriorate before your eyes – and / or if you’re trying to navigate the surprisingly emotional journey of moving countries and noticing that you actually don’t fit in anywhere (until you experience the inner spiritual shift that makes you realise you ALWAYS fit in everywhere…), then save yourself the hassle of moving countries and check out The Switch Masterclass:
