In The Name Of Allah, the Beneficent,
the Merciful
“Verily, as for those whom the angels take (in
death) while they are wronging themselves (by not performing Hijrah), they
(angels) will say (to them): ‘In what (condition) were you?’ They will reply:
‘We were weak and oppressed in the earth.’ They (angels) will say: ‘Was not the
earth of Allah spacious enough for you to migrate therein?’ Such men will find
their abode in Hell – what an evil destination! Except the weak ones among men,
women and children – who cannot devise a plan, nor are they able to direct
their way. These are the ones whom Allah is (most) likely to forgive, and
Allaah is Ever Oft-Pardoning, Most Forgiving.” [Surah An-Nisaa: 97-99]
The New Year of Muslims around the
world starts from the First of Muharram, 1436 Hijrah. It corresponds with the 25th
of October 2014. The Judeo-Christian world celebrates their New Year with great
ceremony and shows and with great festivities. But most of the Muslims even do
not know when that day comes and goes. They do not realize what significance it
carries in its wake. What made that day so important that it became a landmark
of the history of Islam? Our Calendar Year of Hijrah starts from that day. Let
us dig into it and find out that what made khalifa Omar Bin Khattab to start our Calendar from that day in the
16th year of Hijrah after due consultation with the companions of Prophet (s).
Hijrah [migration for the sake of
Allah] is a corner stone or the turning point of the process of the Islamic
Movement for the establishment of Allah's Deen. It has six important phases
towards development or formation of an Islamic society or state. Four stages
come before Hijrah, [i.e. Dawah, Tarbiyah, Jamaah and peaceful resistance] and one
after Hijrah, i.e. Qital. Hijrah is the turning point of the process of Islamic
revolution and as such it has natural impact on the struggle towards
Iqamatuddeen. These stages can be categorized into following major headings: *
Expansion; * Consolidation; * Hijrah; *Qital
To introduce and spread the Deen of
Allah to the people of the land with whatever means are available to the human
ingenuity. It is to be carried out to such an extent that the people accept it
as a way of life and express their willful determination to apply its
directives on the socio-cultural-economic-political system of the day. They
express their willingness to change the prevailing system with that of Islamic
order of life.
From the last Hijrah year to date, can
you think of what way have you employed to call people to Islam? Not until you
are an Islamic Scholar before you can propagate Islam, the ways and manners to
do this are uncountable. On Islam Foundation is an initiative of some group of
young Muslims to propagate Islam by giving Muslim brothers and Sisters the On
Islam deen digest free of charge on monthly bases to remind them of some things
they might have forgotten about the deen and other ways of life. Supporting a course of this kind is another
way of calling people to Islam either by helping the crew to distribute the
Bulletin or by giving financial aid.
"Hijrah" is the Arabic word
for emigration. It means, ultimately, to separate or abandon. In religious
terminology it means to move from a non-Muslim place of abode to a place where
there is a presence of Islam. It is a fact that those whose religion is Islam;
which is based on directing all kinds of worship to Allah, rejecting and
showing hatred to polytheism and disbelievers; will never be left at peace by
the antithesis of Islam.
Bearing this in mind, we are in a
better position to understand the report of Muawiyah who related that the
Prophet (SAW) said: "Migration will not end until repentance ends, and
repentance will not end until the sun rises in the west". And that of Ibn
Abbas who said: "The Prophet (SAW) said, on the day of the conquest of
Makkah, 'There is no migration (after the conquest), except for Jihad and good
intentions, and when you are called for Jihad, you should immediately respond
to the call”. This is another opportunity for you the reader of this piece to
migrate in all your Islamic ways of life to a better one. If you have not been
observing your daily prayers well before now, if you have been committing
fornication or adultery, if you are the type that love taking alcohol etc this Hijrah
time is best for you to migrate to a better and more Islamic ways of life.
Hijrah has a comprehensive meaning as
understood in Islam. It is not simply just the act of moving from one place to
another; from a non-Muslim country to a Muslim country. Ibn al-Qayyim explains
that it is, in fact, an emigration of the body and the spirit. A physical
movement from one place to another and a spiritual migration to Allah and His
Messenger (peace be upon him). It is this second migration which constitutes
the real migration, as the body simply follows the soul. Thus, the meaning of
moving from one thing to something else is that the heart moves from the love
of something other than Allah to love of Allah; from servitude of something or
other to the service and worship of Allah; from fear of something or other to
hope in and reliance upon Allah. It is Allah who is the object of one's hope
and fear; prayers are addressed to Him; and He is the One before Whom one feels
humility and awe. Before conclusion, I would like to quote from
"Farooq-e-Azam" by Mohammad Hussain Haikal, Page 580 [Urdu Version]:
“Caliph Umar took Hijrah as the greatest event of the
Islamic history when Rasulullah (SAW) migrated from Makkah to Madinah. Because
of the fact that after Hijrah [even during Hijrah] Allah's help and Nusrah
started showering on Rasulullah (SAW) and his companions. Thus Hijrah became
the source of the success of Allah's Deen and its dominance. Its culminating
point came in the 16th year of Hijrah when Islamic forces were successfully
penetrating deep into the Persian and Roman Empires and the doors of Baitul
Muqdas were wide open for Islam and Muslim's conquest. It inspired Amirul
Mumineen Umar to take Hijrah of Rasulullah (SAW) on the first of Muharram as
the beginning of the Hijrah Calendar of the Muslim era" What an ominous
date it was, full of vigor and success after success for Islam and Muslim
Ummah.
Before Hijrah, it was all trial and
tribulation and after Hijrah, Allah (SWT) showers His blessings on Muslims all
around. Muslims should observe the first of Muharram as a unique day of the
Islamic History, which opened the gates of success for the Ummah 1400 years
ago. If we, the Muslims, follow the same path of Dawah Ilallah, expansion and
consolidation, we will encounter our Hijrah as a culminating point where all
the forces fighting for the cause of Allah's Deen may concentrate at one place
to transform themselves into an Islamic state. It may happen in our country or
somewhere on the surface of the earth. May Allah give us Tawfeeq to bring the
Islamic Movements to the point of Hijrah, as it is the turning point in our
march towards Iqamatuddeen.
However, as said earlier, you as an
individual can do your own Hijrah by leaving all that Allah forbids which you
are engaging yourself in and move to that, that Allah permits. This will be the
best form of Hijrah for you. You have to create your new Madinah in this same
enclave. You have to embark on Hijrah by distancing yourself from all evils
pervading the society and its traces. The road to Madinah is long and tortuous.
There are hills, valleys and mountains. There are the enemies on your pursuits.
Not joining peers in their Bad deeds (fasad)
is again considered a threat. You should expect a lot to happen during your
Hijrah. Taking cue from the Prophet’s Hijrah to Madinah, it opens a new chapter
in the life of humanity.
ON ISLAM FOUNDATION IS WISHING YOU
HAPPY NEW YEAR ; HIJIRAH 1436AH
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