Draft:Verse 97 of Sura al-Nisa

Verse 97 of Sura al-Nisa

Verse's Information
Sura	al-Nisa (Qur'an 4)
Verse	97
Juz'	5
Page	94
Content Information
Cause of Revelation	Failure of some Muslims to migrate from Mecca to Medina
Place of Revelation	Medina
Topic	Theological
About	Punishment of Muslims who did not migrate to Medina

Qur'an 4:97, known as the Verse of Hijra (Arabic: آية الهجرة), is the ninety-seventh verse of Sura al-Nisa'. It was revealed concerning those who believed while in Mecca; however, due to their attachment to their lives and properties, they did not participate in the Migration to Medina and remained in Mecca. According to the Verse of Hijra, when angels question these individuals about their religion after death, they express their inability [to practice their religion] in Mecca; but the angels reply that they had the opportunity to migrate, yet they did not.

“ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا فِيمَ كُنْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ قَالُوا أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا فِيهَا ۚ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا

Indeed, those whom the angels take away while they are wronging themselves, they ask, ‘What state were you in?’ They reply, ‘We were oppressed in the land.’ They say, ‘Was not Allah’s earth vast enough so that you might migrate in it?’ The refuge of such shall be hell, and it is an evil destination. ” — Qur'an 4: 97

There are different reports regarding exactly whom the verse refers to. According to Ibn 'Abbas, it refers to those who stayed in Mecca and did not migrate to Medina, and passed away before joining the Prophet (s). Quoting Abu Hamza al-Thumali, Majma' al-bayan considers them to be individuals who had become Muslim, but joined the ranks of polytheists in the Battle of Badr. When they saw the small number of Muslims, they doubted the truth of Islam.

According to some hadiths, the verse refers to a group of Muslims who stayed in Mecca, fought against Muslims in the Battle of Badr, and were killed. Based on a hadith from Imam al-Baqir (a), these individuals were five people: Qays b. Fakih b. Mughira, Harith b. Zam'a, Qays b. Walid, Abu l-'As b. Mayta, and 'Ali b. Umayya b. Khalaf.

According to another narration, when Muslims took 'Abbas—the uncle of the Prophet (s)—and 'Aqil as captives in the Battle of Badr, the Prophet (s) asked 'Abbas to pay the fidya (ransom) for his own release and that of 'Aqil. 'Abbas said: "Did we not pray towards your Qibla and testify to what you testify?" The Prophet (s) replied: "You showed enmity and were treated with enmity," and he recited the Verse of Hijra.