Dr. Al-Awari: The Prophet’s Migration Was Not an Escape

Dr. Al-Awari.

Dr. Abdel Fattah Al-Awari, former Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Theology and Da’wah at Al-Azhar University, emphasized that the prophets were exemplary figures for humanity. He stated that migration is one of God’s practices among His prophets and messengers, aimed at protecting the faith and preserving the message from disruptors and corruptors.

This statement was made during a speech at a celebration organized by Al-Azhar Mosque to mark the beginning of the new Hijri year, attended by Minister of Awqaf Dr. Osama El-Azhari, Sheikh Ayman Abdel Ghani, Deputy of Al-Azhar, and Dr. Nazih Iyad, Grand Mufti of Egypt. The speech addressed lessons learned from the noble migration.

Dr. Al-Awari clarified that the Prophet Muhammad’s migration was not an act of fleeing or escaping; rather, it was a divine command and preparation for a new phase in building the nation and establishing the state.

He pointed out that in Islam, the concept of migration extends beyond merely moving from one place to another; it also includes abandoning sins and avoiding everything that God has prohibited. He quoted the Prophet Muhammad saying: “The migrant is one who abandons what God has forbidden,” urging adherence to noble values and high morals so that the nation remains distant from all that is vile and harmful to attain God’s pleasure.

He concluded his remarks with a prayer for Egypt’s security and stability, asking God to protect it from all evil and harm.

The celebration was attended by several notable figures including Dr. Abdel Hadi Al-Qasabi, Sheikh of the Sufi Orders, President of the Supreme Council of Sufi Orders; Dr. Salama Dawood, President of Al-Azhar University; Dr. Mohamed Abdel Rahman El-Dawini, member of the Council of Senior Scholars at Al-Azhar; Dr. Shawki Allam, Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee in the Senate; Dr. Ramadan El-Sawy, Vice President of Al-Azhar University for Lower Egypt; Dr. Mohamed Abdel Dayem El-Gendi, Secretary-General of the Islamic Research Academy; Dr. Ismail El-Haddad, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Al-Azhar; Dr. Ahmed Khalifa Sharkawy, Head of Azhar Institutes Sector; Dr. Mahmoud El-Hawari, Assistant Secretary-General of the Islamic Research Academy; Dr. Amr El-Wardani, Chairman of the Religious Committee in Parliament; along with other senior scholars and religious leaders from Al-Azhar.