At the beginning of Islam, it was obligatory upon Muslims to emigrate to al-Madeenah to flee the lands of disbelief, protect their religion, and support the Prophet ﷺ and spread the message of Islam. The best of believers were those who emigrated to him ﷺ and fulfilled the rights of emigration. However, there were some Muslims who could not emigrate due to valid excuses; therefore, Allah facilitated for them another path for good deeds. In this hadeeth, Aboo Sa’eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that a nomad, which is the term used to refer to Arabs who lived in deserts, asked the Prophet ﷺ to give him the pledge to emigrate to al-Madeenah i.e., to leave his family and homeland and relocate to al-Madeenah to be in the company of the Prophet ﷺ. However, the Prophet ﷺ feared that he would not manage or be able to fulfill its rights; thus, gives it up. For this reason, he ﷺ said to him: “Wayhak” (lit. woe to you), an Arabic phrase used to show compassion and concern for the addressee and explained to him that fulfilling the rights of emigration is too difficult and only a few can fulfill them. It seems the Prophet ﷺ could notice the inability of the man to handle it; thus, he declined his request. Then, he ﷺ asked him if he had any camels that he pays its zakat. The man’s answer was positive and upon which the Prophet ﷺ guided him to do good deeds in his homeland for wherever he would be, his good deeds would benefit him and his reward would not be decreased. It is as if the Prophet ﷺ wanted to say to him: It does not matter where you reside so long as you are fulfilling the obligation that Allah imposed upon you and your family. Allah will not decrease the reward of your good deeds, regardless of your residence. It has been said that this incident occurred after the conquest of Makkah on which he ﷺ said: “there is no emigration after the conquest [of Makkah].” It was said that emigration was only obligatory upon the Muslims who lived in Makkah. As for the Muslims living in other areas, it was only recommended and liked. It was said: Emigration was obligatory upon the Muslims who lived in rural areas and not upon the people of the desert. It was said that emigration was only obligatory if some of the residents of the town entered Islam while the rest remained on their disbelief. This is so that the Muslims would not be subject to the rulings pertaining to disbelievers. If everyone in the town entered Islam, then emigration is no longer obligatory. This hadeeth highlights the merit of emigration and emigrants, and shows the virtue of paying zakat on camels and the hastening to do good deeds..