Istijarah

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Istijarah (Arabic: "إستجارة") is an Islamic term for Asylum, accepting a person at risk as a member of own tribe ^[1].

[edit] Definition

In the Pre-Islamic era there was a system of clan protection, and a people without a clan would stand without protection. Such a person could request for Istijarah (asylum) from a person already having a clan association in order to receive protection from that person. This was a common practice in Arabia ^[1], this was used by some Muslims who returned from the first Migration to Abyssinia ^[2], and Muhammad himself requested Istijarah from Mut`im ibn `Uday after his return to Mecca from his visit to Ta'if ^[1].

The term is also used in the Qur'an ^[1]:

The Qur'an, chapter 9 (At-Tawba), verse 6:

“

If one amongst the Pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of Allah; and then escort him to where he can be secure. That is because they are men without knowledge— translated by Marmaduke Pickthall

Arabic: وإن أحد من المشركين استجارك فأجره حتى يسمع كلام الله ثم أبلغه مأمنه ذلك بأنهم قوم لا يعلمون

”