Honoring Human Dignity and Shared Responsibility- December 18 — International Migrants Day

Every year on December 18, the global community observes International Migrants Day, a day to reflect on the struggles, hopes, and contributions of more than 300 million migrants, refugees, and displaced individuals worldwide. In an era marked by war, economic hardship, environmental crises, and the universal search for dignity, migration has become one of the defining realities of our time.

Migration in the Quran: A Path of Faith, Dignity, and Renewal

The Holy Qur’an presents a compassionate and profound vision of migration. God describes the Earth as vast and open for those seeking safety and dignity, “Was not the earth of God spacious enough for you to migrate therein?” (4:97). This verse not only condemns oppression but also reproaches those who resign themselves to tyranny while safe migration remains possible. In Islam, hijrah is an act of courage, faith, and self-preservation.

The Quran praises the Muhajirun (those who migrated) and the Anṣar (those who sheltered and supported them), “Those who believed and migrated… and those who sheltered and supported them—these are the true believers” (8:74).

The Just King: Al-Najashi and His Noble Hospitality

In the first migration in Islamic history, a group of persecuted Muslims fled Mecca seeking freedom of worship in Abyssinia. The Christian king, al-Najashi, welcomed them with justice and compassion, granting them safety at a time when they faced severe oppression.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp) praised and honored al-Najashi, and his moral stance remains a source of pride across religious traditions. His example demonstrates that true hospitality transcends borders, politics, and religious identities, and that societies rooted in compassion and justice grow stronger—not weaker.

Islamic Teachings on Supporting Migrants

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp) and the Ahl al-Bayt (p) consistently emphasized kindness, justice, and protection for the displaced.

The Prophet (pbuh&hp) said, Whoever hears a man calling out, ‘O Muslims, help me!’ and does not respond to him, is not a Muslim” (al-Ḥurr al-Amili, Wasaʾil al-Shia, vol. 15, p. 141).

In this noble teaching, refugees and displaced individuals are among the clearest examples of the oppressed (al-maẓlumin). Muslims, and especially Islamic governments, are therefore obligated to offer them protection and to use all available means to alleviate their suffering and remove injustice.

Supporting migrants is not a political preference; it is a moral and spiritual duty.

Duties of Host Communities

Host societies bear profound responsibilities toward migrants and refugees. From an Islamic ethical framework, these include:

• Providing safety, dignity, and non-discrimination
• Offering access to education, work, and pathways to rebuild life
• Supporting spiritual, social, and emotional well-being
• Recognizing the opportunities migrants bring: creativity, skills, and cultural enrichment

History demonstrates that immigrants have played pivotal roles in advancing science, culture, medicine, technology, and economic development worldwide.

Responsibilities of Migrants

Migrants also bear significant responsibilities rooted in Islamic ethics:

• Respecting the laws, values, and social norms of their new home
• Contributing positively through work, education, and community life
• Upholding honesty, trustworthiness, and respect
• Maintaining their faith and moral identity while engaging constructively with society

The Prophet (pbuh&hp) said, “A Muslim is one from whose hand and tongue other Muslims are safe” (Man La Yaḥḍuruhu al-Faqih, vol. 4, p. 362).

The Root Causes of the Migration Crisis in the Islamic World

According to numerous United Nations reports, a significant proportion of today’s migrants and displaced persons are Muslims from countries suffering from injustice, corruption, tyranny, and political instability.

As long as these deep crises remain unresolved, migration will continue, and likely intensify.

This crisis cannot be resolved by deporting migrants, imposing restrictions, or pressuring them to settle in third countries. Such policies contradict the teachings of Islam and Christianity, and history has repeatedly shown their failure.

Lasting solutions require:

• Eliminating injustice,
• Reforming unaccountable governments,
• Ending corruption,
• Restoring human dignity, and
• Addressing the underlying social and political causes of displacement.

A Closing Reminder

On this International Migrants Day, we reaffirm that the dignity of every human being, regardless of nationality, race, or immigration status, is sacred.

Islam teaches that helping the vulnerable, welcoming the stranger, and offering refuge to the oppressed are acts of worship and manifestations of justice.

The migration crisis will not be resolved through exclusion or closed borders, but through just governance, moral responsibility, and addressing the root causes of oppression. Anti-migrant policies are neither humane nor sustainable nor aligned with prophetic ethics. As the Muhammadan example and the noble conduct of al-Najashi remind us: A society grounded in compassion will flourish, and migrants who embody integrity and responsibility will become sources of blessing.

We pray that God grants dignity to all migrants, strength to their families, justice to the oppressed, and compassion and wisdom to the communities that receive them.