Q: Please explain to me the tafseer of Surah 4, Aayat 97?
A: In the era of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) making hijrat to Madinah Tayyibah (before the conquest of Makkah Mukarramah) was a precondition for one’s Imaan. This law pertained to those people who had the ability to make hijrat. After the conquest of Makkah Mukarramah, this condition no more remained.
In the verse of the Qur’an referred to in your question, Allah Ta’ala explains the severe punishment that will be meted out by the angels to those people who despite having the ability to make hijrat did not migrate to Madinah Tayyibah.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰئِكَةُ ظَالِمِى أَنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا فِيمَ كُنتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ قَالُوا أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ ٱللَّـهِ وَٰسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا فِيهَا ۚفَأُولَـٰئِكَ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا ﴿النساء: ٩٧﴾
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)