[2] Reflections on some statements of Al-Allamah Ubaid
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The Shaikh’s clarification in 2003 regarding Hijrah to Birmingham
The Shaikh, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
The resolution of this issue is consistent with (what is) found in the Book of our Lord and the Sunnah of our Prophet, as well as (what is stated by) the Imams of knowledge and religion, regarding migration from lands of disbelief to lands of Islam, or from one land of disbelief to another where a Muslim’s religion and honour are safeguarded. Those who sit and accompany me are aware of my stance on this matter. So, I say, and with Allah is the facilitation of success:
Firstly, this hijrah is one of Allah’s ordinances and He has not abrogated it. He [the Prophet – peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said: ”Hijrah will not cease to continue until repentance ceases to continue, and repentance will not cease to continue until the sun rises from the west.” Therefore, it remains.
Secondly, what is apparent to me concerning Hijrah at present is of two types: Obligation and Sunnah (i.e. a recommended Sunnah). The Obligatory Hijrah: If a person is in a kafir land, put to trial in his religion and honour, and he is unable to fulfil what Allah has obligated to him pertaining to his religion and worship of his Lord, Hijrah is obligated to him on the basis of what has already been clarified. If he is able to make Hijrah, he migrates to a Muslim land and this is the foundation of the matter; or to a Kafir land where his religion and honour is safeguarded, as the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, commanded the Muslims to migrate to Habasha [Ethiopia] when the Quraish harmed them. He stated that there was a king (in Habasha) who oppresses no one under his protection, or as he said: ”Oppresses no one with him.” This is what I affirm and adhere to as devotion to Allah in religion. As for the recommended Hijrah, it is the hijrah from the land of the disbelievers to the lands of Islam in order to strengthen his religion, or to gain knowledge, or to earn lawful earnings in the land of Islam.
After this is established- and if I did say on a day about making hijrah to Birmingham unrestrictedly, this is a slip and I seek Allah’s forgiveness from this if it was a sound transmission of the trustworthy people of Sunnah. This is the third matter.
The fourth matter: Many people in Europe and the Asian states, including India, express that they are facing trials in their religion due to certain Mubtadi’ah among the Brelviyyah – the extremist Sufis associated with Wahdatul Wujud and others. So, I say to them, “Migrate to Birmingham, where Maktabah As-Salafiyyah is located”. My response to them is not that Birmingham is a land of Hijrah unrestrictedly, as it is one of the cities of Britain, which is a Kafir Land. I encourage them to relocate to a place where they can connect with Maktabah As-Salafiyyah, participate in lessons and gatherings of knowledge where (there is present) excellent scholars, among them Ash-Shaikh Abdullah Bin Abdir Rahman Al-Ghudiyan, who was a member of the Committee of Major Scholars and the Fatwah Committee of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He imparted knowledge to them and has passed way, may Allah have mercy upon him. Such a Maktabah is indeed worthy of affiliation for those who are unable to find a refuge, particularly for those eager to acquire knowledge of the Shariah, especially in the areas of Aqeedah, Sunnah, and waging war against bidah and its proponents. This is what I mentioned and I affirm it. And I repeat: if I did say the opposite of this, it is one of two matters, either a slip from me or a distortion of (my speech). What is from me (i.e. mistake), I seek Allah’s forgiveness, and that which is a distortion of my speech and a forged saying on me, I ask Allah to set it aside between me and my adversaries on the Day of Judgement. [salafitalk.net]