Book 11, Hadith 7

Overview & Central Theme

This profound hadith, recorded in Bulugh al-Maram from the Book of Jihad, establishes a foundational principle in Islamic jurisprudence and spirituality: after the conquest of Makkah, the specific virtue of emigration (hijrah) from Makkah to Madinah ceased, as the primary reason for that migration—persecution and the need to establish a safe Muslim community—no longer existed. The Prophet ﷺ redirects the believer's striving toward two enduring avenues: jihad (struggle in Allah's cause, both martial and spiritual) and sincere intention (niyyah). This teaching encapsulates the closure of one chapter of sacred history and the opening of a perpetual one, where deeds are weighed by their intentions and where striving for Allah's pleasure continues until the end of time.

Context & Linguistic Insights

The hadith was narrated on the day of the conquest of Makkah (8 AH), when the Prophet ﷺ declared that there was no hijrah after the conquest, yet he affirmed jihad and good intention. Linguistically, "hijrah" derives from the root h-j-r, meaning to abandon or sever ties, and in Islamic terminology refers to migrating from a land of disbelief to a land of faith. The phrase "la hijrata" (no emigration) is absolute, yet scholars clarify it refers specifically to migration from Makkah to Madinah, as the Prophet ﷺ himself clarified in other narrations that hijrah continues until the Day of Judgment for those fleeing religious persecution. The word "jihad" comes from j-h-d, meaning to exert utmost effort, and here it encompasses both qital (armed struggle) and the greater jihad of self-purification. "Niyyah" (intention) is the inner resolve that distinguishes worship from habit, and its mention here underscores that jihad without sincere intention is devoid of spiritual reward.

Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits

• Jurisprudential ruling: The obligation of hijrah from Makkah to Madinah was abrogated by the conquest, but hijrah from lands of disbelief to lands of safety remains valid and praiseworthy when one cannot practice one's religion freely—this is the consensus of the scholars (ijma').
• Ethical principle: The hadith elevates intention as the criterion of deeds' value; even after hijrah ceases, the believer's "good intention" to seek Allah's pleasure in every action—whether jihad, seeking knowledge, or daily work—keeps the spirit of hijrah alive.
• Classical consensus: Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that this hadith does not negate the virtue of residing near the Prophet's mosque or in Makkah, but it clarifies that the specific reward of emigration is no longer attainable; instead, one should engage in jihad and continuous righteous deeds.

"The meaning is that the virtue of hijrah from Makkah to Madinah has ended, but the virtue of jihad and sincere intention remains. Whoever intends good, even if unable to perform a specific act, is rewarded for his intention." — Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Fath al-Bari

Daily Life & Spiritual Application

In our contemporary lives, this hadith calls us to internalize the essence of hijrah—the migration of the heart from disobedience to obedience, from heedlessness to remembrance, and from worldly attachment to divine reliance. Whenever we feel that specific historical acts are beyond our reach, we are reminded that jihad continues in multiple forms: the struggle against our own lower desires (jihad al-nafs), the effort to speak truth before a tyrant, the perseverance in seeking beneficial knowledge, and the patient striving to support justice. Our "good intention" transforms mundane actions into acts of worship: studying for a degree with the intention to serve the Ummah, working to provide for a family with halal earnings, or even restraining anger for Allah's sake. Thus, the believer is never without a field of striving; every moment offers an opportunity to renew one's hijrah toward Allah and to wage jihad against all that distances the soul from Him.