O’ Lord grant the Muslims Your blessings, and grant to the people of the world peace in this Hijrah Year
Historians report that in the Arabian Peninsula, people used to worship God, idols and other things. When Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) received Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala)'s Words, he publicly preached about Islam and he attracted few adherents. But the opposition to him reached a high pitch. A group of the believers who stayed at Makkah passed their life in a miserable state of persecution. Because of this persecution at Makkah, they considered migrating to a place where they would be safe and free. One cannot rest on the false excuse of one's inability to follow the religion of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) owing to an unfavorable environment. If necessary one should change the place of residence. Duty to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) should have every importance and priority and one must be prepared even for being exile. The Glorious Qur'an says,"O' My servants who believe! verily My earth is vast, therefore Me alone should ye worship!" 29:56
Fearful for his followers, safety, Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) sent one group of his followers to Habsha (Ethiopia), lead by his cousin, Ja'far Ibn Abu Talib. The Christian ruler there extended protection to them after hearing verses from Surah Mariam from its beginning until the following verse of the Glorious Qur'an,"And peace be on me the day I (Jesus, the son of Mary) was born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised alive!" 19:33. It is reported that Muslims migrated to Ethiopia two times and this memory has been cherished by all Muslims ever since.
The persecution, and hardship, hatred, and animosity grew so fierce that in the year 622, Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) gave His command to the Muslims in Makkah. to immigrate. The leaders of the influential tribes had begun to see Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) and his preaching of Islam as a threat to their power and influence. Their treatment of Muslims had become harsher. Muslims harassed, abused and tortured in Makkah. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) sent his followers to Madinah. The Glorious Qur'an says,"And those who migrate in the way of Allah and are then slain or die, certainly Allah will provide them with an excellent sustenance, and Verily, Allah is the Best of providers." 22:58
The influential tribes of Makkah began to see Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) as having a base of support outside their territory. They began to fear that Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) will eventually join the exiled Muslims and form a viable force to fight them. A proposal came up that each clan should provide a young, powerful, aristocratic warrior who should be provided with a sharp sword and each of them should strike a blow and kill the Nabiy (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam). The idea was that his blood would be shared by all of the clans. Later, Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) learned that the people of Makkah were plotting to murder him. To trick the people of Makkah who wanted to kill him, Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) left his cousin and son-in-law Ali Ibn Abu Talib sleeping in his bed and left Makkah at night with his companion and father-in-law Abu Baker Ibn Abu Qahafa. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) and Abu Baker had to hide in a cave in the mountain Thawr near Makkah to escape their enemies. The Glorious Qur'an says,"And We have set before them a barrier and behind them a barrier, and We covered them over, so they see not." 36:9
The Nabiy (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) joined his followers and supporters in Madinah. The Muslims there were eagerly waiting for their arrival of the beloved Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam).
This was in the Fall of 622 AD when Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) immigrated toward Medinah during the month of Rabi Al-Awwal. Actually, after the demise of Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam), the Muslims chose Muharram to be the first month of the Hijrah Year, although this month does not coincide with his migration from Makkah to Madinah. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar year and it advances ten days every year. One method of calculation is to use the following equation on the basis that every 32 solar years approximately equal 33 lunar years. This enable the approximate conversion between AD and AH according to: AD = 622 + (32/33 x AH), or AH = 33/32 x (AD - 622). The abbreviation AH, stands for Anno Hegirae and AD for the Gregorian year. The Glorious Qur'an says,"He is (the One) Who made the sun a radiation and the moon a light and planned it into stations that ye might know the number of years and the reckoning (of time); Allah created not (all) this but for truth; (Thus) doth Allah make His signs manifest (clearly) for a people who know (understand)." 10:5
There are twelve months in the Islamic Year. The Glorious Qur'an says,"Verily the number of months with Allah is twelve months in Allah's Book, (since) the Day He created the heavens and the earth." 9:36 A lunar year of twelve months contains 354 days and 11/30. This fraction adds up to 11 days in every cycle of 30 years, and these are inserted into the calendar by establishing leap years. Thus, every period of 30 years, has 11 leap years of 355 days. The cycle between two new moons contains 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 2.8 seconds. This defines one lunar month. The actual length of each lunar month in the Islamic calendar depends on when the new moon is sighted. The sighting of the new moon marks the beginning of the month and the sighting of the next new moon marks the end of the previous one, and the beginning of a new month. Each Hijrah month contains 29 or 30 days and occasionally 28 days. Incidentally, in Islam according, each day begins at sunset, and ends at the next with the week starting at sunset on Saturday.
These twelve months are: Muharram, Safar, Rabi Al-Awwal, Rabi Al Thani, Jamada Al Awwal, Jumada Al Thani, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadhan, Shawwal, Thul Al Qadah, and Thul Al Hijjah. The four months Rajab, Thul Al Qadah, Thul Al Hijjah, and Muharram were recognized before Islam as sacred and even the heathens regarded these months as such and stopped all warfare all these months. The Glorious Qur'an says,"Of these (months) four are sacred; that is the established religion, so be ye not unjust therein unto your sleves, and fight ye the polytheists all together, even as they fight you all together; and know ye that Allah is with the pious ones." 9:36
It is important to determine the first day of each month, especially the months of Ramadhan, Shawwal, and Thul Al Hijjah. Religious leaders and scientists must use all available valid methods to make this determination.
Later, Ali, the family of Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam), and other Muslim families joined Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) in Madinah. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) established the first Mosque Qubba which he halled on the outskirts of Madinah. The Glorious Qur'an says,"Then verily thy Lord unto those who migrate after they are persecuted, then they struggle hard (fight) (for Allah's cause) and exercise patience; verily, thy Lord, after that is Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful." 16:110
Those who accompanied Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) or joined him later in Madinah were called the Muhajireen. For the sake of faith in Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) they forsook their homes and personal interests in their native town, and migrated to Madinah to have the freedom of practicing their faith without any hindrance from the disbelievers. This act brought them into poverty and misery, from a state of prosperity and societal status. The sincerity of their devotion to the truth was proved by their self-sacrifice and self-denial. The Glorious Qur'an says,"(And also) for the poor 'Muhajirs' (who fled), those who were expelled away from their homes and their possessions, seeking the grace of Allah and (His) pleasure, and aiding Allah and His Apostle; These are the truthful ones." 59:8
The people of Madinah who became Muslims and supported the immigrant Muslims were called the "Ansar" or Helpers. They embraced the truth (Islam) when it was being opposed tooth and nail at its place birth of Makkah, and when its adherents were being mercilessly persecuted. Taking a voluntary oath of fealty, they invited Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) to their town of Yathab (Madinah), to settle there as their leader. They offered asylum to the believers, accommodating them, and sharing with their homes and even fortunes. Brotherhood, with the fullness in its practice, was established between them and the refugees from Makkah. In their zeal to help their refugee brethren, groups of the Ansars even vied with each other in their self-sacrifice and self-denial to help their emigrant brethren. The Glorious Qur'an says,"And those (who believed) before them, and had made (their) homes (in the city of Madinah), and are (firm) in faith (and) love those who have fled unto them, and find not in their breasts (hearts) any need of what has been given to them (the Muhajirs), and prefer (the Muhajirs) over their own selves though their own lot be poverty; and whosoever is saved from the niggardliness of his self, these it is that are the successful ones." 59:9
The Muslims have been generally classified into three groups based on
those who came after the Muhajireen, i.e. those who joined the ranks of
Islam after the migration had ended: (1) Those who embraced Islam immediately
when it was revealed declared migrated with Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) to Madinah, leaving their homes and their interests
at Makkah. (2) Those who later, i.e., after the initial Hijrah migration
joined the faith. (3) Those who joined even later on and would continue
to join till the end of the world. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi
Wasalam) said,"Hijrah shall never stop till repentance stops, and repentance
shall never cease till the sun rises from the west." The Glorious Qur'an
says,"And the ones who come after them say: "O' Our Lord! Forgive us and
our brethren who preceded us in faith, and create not in our hearts any
ill-will unto those who believe; O' Our Lord! Verily Thou are the Ever-Kind,
the All-Merciful." 59:10
This description may apply to the true believers in all subsequent
ages. Those who do not posses this excellent quality are weak in faith
because having any spite or ill-feeling against any true believer is infidelity.
The Glorious Qur'an says,"Imposeth not Allah any soul but to its (individual)
ability; for it shall be (the good) what he hath acquired and against it
(shall be) (the evil) he hath wrought; O' Our Lord! Let us not forget or
make a mistake; O' Our Lord! lay not on us a burden as thou didst lay on
those before us and lay not on us that which we have not the strength (to
bear): pardon us; forgive us, and have mercy on us; Thou art our Lord,
so help us then against the unbeliever people!" 2:286
Since Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) was the final Nabiy and Islam the last Divine message, the Nabiy (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) inviting the people with good admonition in order to help them get out of darkness into the light, and to help them migrate from misguidance and oppression to the guidance of freedom and equity. Justice in Islam is always tempered with mercy. The retaliation or the return for evil shall be only the like of it in measure. Man continuously reminded of the Divine attributes of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) as His being Forgiving and Merciful. The Glorious Qur'an says,"Certainly, will He admit them into an entrance which they shall be well pleased with; Verily, Allah is the All-Knowing, the Most Forbearing." 22:59
Islam was weak in its early stages in Makkah, and its very survival was in jeopardy, but after the Hijrah, it acquired a government and a power, was able to put an end to the oppression of oppressors. The Glorious Qur'an says,"This is the creation of Allah, show me what those besides Him have created. Nay! the unjust are in a manifest straying." 22:11. In Madinah, the Muslims could live and practice their religion in peace. To preserve their freedom of religion, the Muslim had to struggle with their property and lives. What would have happened if Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) had not permitted the fighting to protect oneself from oppression. The Glorious Qur'an says,"Those who have been expelled from their homes unjustly only because they say: 'Our Lord is!' And if Allah had repelled not Allah some people by others, verily cloisters and churches and the synagogues and the mosques in which is Allah's name is much mentioned would have been pulled down; and verily Allah will help him who helpeth Him (His cause); for verily Allah is Strong, Mighty." 22:40
The migration of Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) and his Companions was not for the sake of acquiring of property, or seeking to make a living. The Muslims in Madinah offered immigrant Muslims everything they had, including their land, their gardens, there oases and their property. It was a great sacrifice seeking solely to please Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala), in obedience to His commandment. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) supported them because of sincerity and reliance on Him by granting them His Help and victory and enabling them to establish an Islamic government. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) was their Leader in every aspect of life, be it worldly or spiritual. The Muslims were coached and instructed by Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) to strengthen their Ummah (Nations), and were given specific instructions regarding Islamic practices. The structure of the Islamic state had thus been laid on the foundation of A perfected Ummah. He established a perfect example of brotherhood solid between the emigrants from Makkah and the helpers in Madinah.
It was a willful acceptance of fellow Muslims by other Muslims; a sharing of their food, their wealth and their homes with their brothers. It was a rare and unique scene of ideal love, kindness and sympathy. There are lessons in the Hijrah of Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) and subsequent migrations by his followers: hard work, tolerance, spirit of sacrifice, superior morality, honesty, bravery, faith in Allah, and an unending desire to establish the religion of Islam. These were the basic ingredients of success wherever the early Muslims went. They laid the foundation of a society of peace, honest prosperity, and brotherhood. They hung on to every word of the Divine Revelation as if their very existence depended on it. The Glorious Qur'an says,"And those who believed later and migrated and strove with you, they are of you; and the blood relatives are nearer to each other in the Book of Allah; Verily Allah, knoweth every thing. Verily those who believed and migrated and strove with their properties and their selves, and who gave shelter and helped, these are the guardians of one another; and those who believed and did not migrate, not yours is their guardianship until they migrated, and if they seek help from you in (any matter of) religion, then upon you is incumbent (their) help, save against a people between you and whom be a covenant; and verily Allah seeth all that ye do." 8:75 & 8:72
This migration is the only one of its kind in the history of mankind. This was not an exodus of Muslims from one place to another, or an invasion by one tribe of another’s territory. Its great significance was the building of the Islamic community. As the decades and centuries ticked away, the love for wealth, and the comforts of life grew in the hearts of Muslims. Their everyday morality declined and was followed by decadence and weakness. They became divided amongst themselves and fell into disputations after they had received clear signs and clear guidance. It is time for Muslims to reunite with their brothers. When the life and property of Muslims become jeopardized, and Muslims cannot practice their religion in peace, and if there are no other options available, then Muslims should not hesitate in migrating for the sake of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) and with Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) 's help, they will Insha’Allah be successful.
The world today is still misguided and oppressive. Basic human rights are constantly violated and wrong doings are justified as being right. Muslims are deprived of their divine rights, harassed, persecuted and killed. Many are forced to leave their-home lands, others are deported or are live in danger and uncertainty. They love to be among their people in their lands. As the Nabiy (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) said, while leaving Makkah,,"O Makkah, I love you dearly. Had I not been persecuted by your idol-worshippers, I would never have left you; and it is also the command of my Lord." This state requires the believers to be more patient, aware, and exert sincere, to emulate the Nabiys and Rasuls in upholding the truth and following the right path, and to invite people to worship Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) as their way of life. The Muslims need to give serious thought as to what adjustments they need to make in their attitude toward other Muslims, especially from other lands, or who speak a different language, or bear a different color of skin. Muslims may want to take a few moments to reflect on those who struggle at surviving as Muslims, and should strive to make the bond of Islam the most dominant basis for their friendships and interactions.
The Glorious Qur'an records that to help the Muslims who truly submit, despite their physical weakness, Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) has instilled terror into the hearts of the infidels in order to destroy their morale, and has sent angels to fight the foe alongside the believers, so that the power base of the polytheism could be destroyed.
May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) have His mercy and protection on Muslims and relieve them from hardship in this New Hijrah and for all years to come. O my Lord! I seek Thy help to keep me steadfast in this hour of service to Thee to the utmost degree which shall pleaseThee the most, Ameen.
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