Fundamental Issues of Contemporary Migrants: An Introductory and Analytical Study

Abstract

Migration is a core feature of human history where the complexities of human mobility are deeply intertwined with the cycles of social, economic, political and environmental change. Migration is today no longer a personal matter or only local, but a complex international phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to examine and attempt to resolve the fundamental debates which surround contemporary migration, both in an introductory and analytical sense. The definition of migration is understood, the distinction made between migrants and refugees and the increasing importance of migration in the present day looked into. It further looks at existing literature on migration drawing from international institutions such as the UNHCR and IOM, as well as contemporary Islamic scholarship to understand how the discourse of migration has evolved through time. Migrants' difficulties are critically examined, legal, social, cultural, economic and psychological. Issues dealt with in the research include statelessness; identity crises; brain drain; Islamophobia; host nation integration barriers, et cetera. Particular attention is paid to the treatment of migration from an Islamic perspective and the use of Qur’anic teachings, Prophetic wisdom and classical jurisprudence to show how Islamic ethics can be employed in order to protect the rights of migrants. To bring modern policy into harmony with ethical obligation, comparative insights are offered as to the gap between international legal standards and Islamic principles. This study uses both qualitative and quantitative methods, based both on case studies, global reports and Islamic legal texts. The objective is that one would be able to understand modern migration dynamics in a comprehensive framework and propose actionable policy recommendations. In the end, this article concludes that the migration if carried out in an equitable and ethical way, becomes a source of enrichment of both sending and receiving societies.

Keywords: Migration, Refugees, Islamic Perspective on Migration, Contemporary Issues, Global Policies, Human Rights, Integration Challenges