And my Hegira (flight) to the aforesaid places was necessary, according to the Book (the Koran) and to the Sunnas. The Most High God has said, “Those who have had to flee (make a Hegira) for the sake of God after having been persecuted; He will give them good things in this world, and the reward in the next will be greater. And He, on whom is blessing and peace, said, ‘One who has fled from land to land, even though it be but a hand-breath of land, has deserved Paradise, and has become (in so doing) a partaker with[356] Abraham, the friend of God and of Mahomed, on whom be blessing and peace.’”
Thus also in other passages of the Hadiths.
And the duty of listening to God and His prophet is binding. The Most High God has said, “Follow the way of those who are sincere to Me.”
If you have understood this, we order all the chosen ones to flee (make their Hegira) unto us for the Jehād (holy war) in the cause of God, to the nearest town, because God Most High has said, “Slay the infidels who are nearest to you”; and he who holds back from this has come within the threat uttered by the Most High. Say if your fathers, your sons, your brethren, your wives, your tribes, the wealth you have gained, the merchandise you are in fear of losing, or the dwellings you delight in are dearer to you than God and His prophet and the Jehād (holy war) in His cause, then wait till God shall come with His sentence (against you). (So far) the Aya (verse).
The Most High has also said, “O you who have believed, why do you cleave to the earth when called upon to fly (to the war) for God? Do you love the life of this world better than that of the next? But the possessions of this world will be less than nothing in the other world.”
The Most High has also said, “O you who have believed, why do you cleave to the earth when called upon to fly (to the war) for God? Do you love the life of this world better than that of the next? But the possessions of this world will be less than nothing in the other world.”[357]
He has also said, “Seek not to fly.” He will torment you with eternal torments, and will accept others in your place.
Now, if you have understood the foregoing, hasten to us, and fear none save God, for fear of the creature shows lack of trust and confidence in God, from which may God preserve (us).
The Most High has said, “Fear ye not man, but fear ye Me;” and the Most High has said, “Dread them not, but dread Me, if ye be believers.”
The Most High has said, “God is worthy to be feared”; and especially because God has promised in His precious Book (the Koran) victory to him who contends for the faith.