Istijarah (Arabic: إستجارة, Istijārah) is an Islamic term for asylum, accepting a person at risk as a member of own tribe.[1]
Definition
A system of clan protection existed in Pre-Islamic Arabia, and 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 Adi after his return to Mecca from the visit to Ta'if.[1] The term is also used in the Qur'an.[1][3]
References
- ^ a b c d http://www.icmif.org/doc_store/takaful/Doctrines%20Justifying%20Takaful.doc
- ^ The Sealed Nectar The Second ‘Aqabah Pledge Archived 2006-11-28 at the Wayback Machine on sunnipath.com
- ^ Quran 9:6 (Translated by Pickthall). "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"