This inquiry arises within the context of ongoing debates about the status and rights of both migrants and refugees around the world, but especially in the Muslim world, where a significant majority of the inflows and outflows of migrants and refugees originate. It is also within the context of analyses and ideas being developed for the two upcoming (2018) United Nations Global Compacts on refugees and migrants.
This research project centers upon the notion of the Umma as the community of Muslims and the extent to which the modern nation-state may have undermined the principles of Muslim unity. Islamic ethics and law (fiqh) identify the imperatives of providing comfort and protection for foreign Muslim (as well as non- Muslim) individuals, groups and communities when required or requested. This is in accordance with the fundamental teachings and experiences of the original hijra. It will identify levels of openness of Muslim-Majority countries to Muslims of other countries. This will include, for example, documentation of receptivity and limitations, such as accepting refugees, but with limitations. The paper uses Iraqi and Syrian refugees as case studies to understand the level of openness of Muslim majority countries that received them.
It’s anticipated that the paper will make a significant contribution to the literature through in-depth religious, theoretical, historical and empirical analysis.