سورة النساء

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): وَ مَنْ یُهاجِرْ فِی سَبِیلِ اللهِ یَجِدْ فِی الْأَرْضِ مُراغَماً کَثِیراً [And whoever migrates in the way of Allah will find in the earth many a place of refuge] means that if he strives alongside his Imam, abundant and ample good will be granted to him.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): یَجِدْ فِی الْأَرْضِ مُراغَماً کَثیراً وَ سَعَةً [He will find in the earth many a place of refuge and abundance] means they find abundance of provision in other lands.

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): وَ مَنْ یَخْرُجْ مِنْ بَیْتِهِ مُهاجِراً إِلَی اللهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ یُدْرِکْهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَی اللهِ [And whoever goes forth from his house as a migrant towards Allah and His Messenger, then death overtakes him, his reward is indeed with Allah]; if [in order to find his Imam] he leaves his city and dies before reaching him, this is such a case.

Imam Kazim (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn Hakim said: I reported to Imam Kazim (peace be upon him) the matter of Zurara and his sending of his son to Madina. He said: "I hope that Zurara is among those about whom Allah said: وَ مَنْ یَخْرُجْ مِنْ بَیْتِهِ مُهاجِراً إِلَی اللهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ یُدْرِکْهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ [And whoever goes forth from his house as a migrant towards Allah and His Messenger, then death overtakes him, his reward is indeed established]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abd al-A'la said: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "When an Imam dies, the proof of his successor rests upon those who are in his land [so they must identify the Imam's successor by the proof of the Imamate], and upon those who are not in the Imam's city, once the news of his death reaches them, it is obligatory to set out. Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: 'Why does not a party from every group among them go forth so that they may gain understanding in religion, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware?' (Tawba/122)." I said: "If a group set out and some of them died before reaching [the Imam's city] and knowing, what then?" He said: "Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: وَ مَنْ یَخْرُجْ مِنْ بَیْتِهِ مُهاجِراً إِلَی اللهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ یُدْرِکْهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَی اللهِ [And whoever goes forth from his house as a migrant towards Allah and His Messenger, then death overtakes him, his reward is indeed with Allah]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abd al-A'la said: I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): "If news reaches us that the Imam has passed away, what should we do?" He said: "It is obligatory upon you to journey forth and travel to acquire knowledge from the next Imam." I said: "Must all of us journey forth?" He said: "Allah says: 'Why does not a party from every group among them go forth to gain understanding in the religion?' (al-Tawbah/122)." I said: "If we journey forth and some of us die on the way, what is the ruling?" He said: "Allah says: وَ مَنْ یَخْرُجْ مِنْ بَیْتِهِ مُهاجِراً إِلَی اللهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ یُدْرِکْهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَی اللهِ [And whoever goes forth from his house as a migrant to Allah and His Messenger, then death overtakes him, his reward is indeed with Allah]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn Muslim said: I said [to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him)]: "When the Imam passes away, are people excused if they do not know who the Imam is after him?" He said: "The people of this city, meaning Madinah, are not excused, because they have access to knowledge. As for the other cities, they are excused according to the time it takes to travel from their location to here for the acquisition of knowledge. Allah the Exalted says in the Qur'an: 'Why does not a party from every group among them go forth to gain understanding in the religion and, when they return, to warn their people, so that they may beware?' (al-Tawbah/122)." I said: What do you say "about one who dies while seeking knowledge and awareness of his Imam?" He said: "مَنْ یَخْرُجْ مِنْ بَیْتِهِ مُهاجِراً إِلَی اللهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ یُدْرِکْهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَی اللهِ [Whoever goes forth from his house as a migrant to Allah and His Messenger, then death overtakes him, his reward is indeed with Allah]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abu al-Sabbah said: I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): "A man was invited to the madhhab of the Ahl al-Bayt and he accepted; the place where he lives is far away and he has no access to the centre for information to reach him quickly. He hears news of the Imam's passing and waits for the next Imam to be identified to him, when suddenly he dies — what is his fate?" He said: "He is like one who migrated to Allah and His Messenger, and Allah gives him his reward, فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَی اللهِ [his reward is indeed with Allah]."

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): Whoever flees with his religion from one land to another, even if it be a hand's span of ground, Paradise becomes obligatory for him, and he will be the companion of his father Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).