The Virtue of Dying Away from One’s Homeland – A Hasan (Sound) Narration ❖ Question:
Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (رضي الله عنه) reported that:
A man who was born in Madinah passed away in the same city.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ offered his funeral prayer and said:
“If only he had died somewhere other than the place of his birth.”
The companions asked:
“O Messenger of Allah, why is that?”
He ﷺ replied:
“Whoever dies in a place other than his homeland, the distance between his homeland and the place of his death will be measured for him in Paradise.”
Narrated by al-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah❖ Answer by: Fadhilat al-Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir (حفظه الله)
Some scholars have graded this narration as Hasan (sound).
This Hadith highlights the virtue of dying as a stranger (غریب)—far from one’s homeland—especially when it is for:
✔ Seeking the pleasure of Allah
✔ Pursuing the cause of Islam
✔ Or fulfilling any other lawful and noble objective
✦ Prophetic Insight:
The Prophet’s ﷺ expression of longing—that the man had died away from his birthplace—shows:
Dying in a foreign land is a means of extra reward, such that:🏞 The entire distance from his homeland to the place of his death is measured as a stretch of Paradise.
❖ Commentary by Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir (حفظه الله):
He emphasized:
✔ This narration has been accepted as Hasan by some scholars, which confirms its credibility and acceptability.
✔ It conveys a beautiful message of reward for those who die in foreign lands for righteous purposes, reminding believers that being a stranger in the path of Allah holds elevated reward.
Conclusion:
This Hadith serves as an encouragement for those who travel, migrate, or settle in foreign lands for religious or permissible worldly causes.
If such individuals pass away away from their homeland, their sacrifice is honored with additional reward in the Hereafter.
