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» The Hijrah (Migration to Al-Madeenah) - By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
The Hijrah (Migration to Al-Madeenah) - By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
The Hijrah (Migration to Al-Madeenah)
By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
Dear
Muslims:
Allah (SWT) sent Muhammad (PBUH) to mankind
at the time when they were most in need of his message. The whole world was in
the total darkness of polytheism and ignorance. It was at this time that Allah
(SWT) chose to send His slave Muhammad (PBUH) to mankind.
The Prophet of mercy (PBUH) came to enjoin
on people chastity, noble manners and characteristics, firmness in faith,
kindness to kith and kin, good neighbourliness and abstention from injustice
and oppression. He (PBUH) enjoined them to consult the Book of Allah in all
their affairs. He (PBUH) enjoined earning from lawful means and spending in
virtuous ways and made everybody equal with respect to the law of Allah. Allah
(SWT) says: "Say, ‘My Lord has only forbidden immoralities – what is
apparent of them and what is concealed – and sin, and oppression without right,
and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down
authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know.’"
(Al-A'raf: 33).
Dear
Muslims:
When the early Muslims responded to the
call of the Prophet (PBUH) they were severely persecuted by the disbelievers.
The Prophet (PBUH) was opposed by three sets of people: the envious, the
arrogant who knew the truth yet denied it; and the misled ignorant ones. These
people exerted all their efforts to stop the spread of Islam. "They want
to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His
light, although the disbelievers dislike it." (As-Saff: 8).
When the torment became severe in Makkah
and the idolaters wanted to assassinate the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), the
angel Jibreel (PBUH) came to him and said: "Allah has given you permission
to migrate to Al-Madeenah; therefore, do not spend tonight in your house; giving
them (the idolaters) the chance to get to you". While the idolaters were
lying in wait outside the house of the messenger of Allah (PBUH) for him to
come out - so that they could all strike him at the same time, he
(PBUH) emerged, reciting the opening verses
of Surat Yaseen and throwing sand in their faces. Allah (SWT) prevented the
idolaters from seeing him and made slumber overtake them. The Messenger of
Allah (PBUH) and his companion, Abu Bakr (RAA) hid in the cave of Thawr
While the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was on
his way to Madeenah during his migration, Suraqah bin Maalik (RAA) who had not
yet embraced Islam at that time, pursued the Prophet (PBUH) in order to capture
or kill him and win the prize money that Quraysh had offered for doing so.
However, Allah (SWT) intended that Suraqah (RAA) would change his mind and ask
the Prophet (PBUH) to forgive him instead. This is the story of how Hijrah took
place and it represented a manifest victory for Islam and the Muslims in that
Allah (SWT) rendered the disbelievers' plots fruitless. Allah (SWT) says:
"If you do not aid him (i.e. the Prophet (PBUH)) – Allah has already aided
him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of the
two, when they [i.e. Muhammad and Abu Bakr] were in the cave and he [i.e.
Muhammad] said to his companion. ‘Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.’ And
Allah sent down His tranquillity, upon him and supported him with soldiers
[i.e. angels] you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the
lowest, while the word of Allah – that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in
Might and Wise." (At-Tawbah: 40).
Dear Muslims:
The Prophet (PBUH) and his companion Abu Bakr (RAA)
entered Madeenah gloriously and honourably. He (PBUH) then moved into a house,
built his mosque with quarters for his wives and started a new era full of
blessings and victories based on divine support. After this, Hijrah from Makkah
to Madeenah became compulsory on every Muslim, until the conquest of Makkah by
the Prophet (PBUH).
Dear
Brothers And Sisters In Islam:
The issue of Hijrah to Madeenah was a
miracle in itself, for the city at that time was very meagre in terms of
commerce, infrastructure and agricultural resources. In fact, living in the
city was financially-restrictive even for its inhabitants. By any human
estimation, emigration to such a city, with all its deficiencies, would cause
immense economic and social difficulties, but as Allah (SWT) would have it, the
reverse was the case for the Hijrah to Madeenah. This Hijrah was the cause the
town accomplishing an immense amount of benefit. People now had the opportunity
of meeting the Prophet (PBUH), learning their religion from him, emulating his
noble character, preserving his Sunnah, knowing much of his public and private
life and everything else about the religion of Islam. Hijrah had a great impact
on Islam and the Muslims, for Allah (SWT) bestowed a lot of His blessings on
Muslims through this.
Although the Muslims faced some
difficulties during the first days of their emigration to Madeenah, they were
able to overcome these difficulties through their strong belief, patience and
perseverance. The Prophet (PBUH) was full of love and compassion for the people
in general and their children in particular. After the initial period of
hardships, Allah (SWT) bestowed good things in abundance upon Madeenah in all
areas of life.
Dear Muslims:
We have all missed out on the reward of making Hijrah
to Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (PBUH) during the prophetic era, but there is
another type of Hijrah which we can make and which will earn us immense
rewards: We must emigrate from disobedience to obedience of Allah (SWT); shun
negligence in religious matters and migrate to adherence; emigrate from sins to
submission to Allah (SWT); emigrate from laziness and false hopes to diligence,
seriousness and striving in what pleases Allah (SWT); and emigration of our
hearts from affinity to this mundane life to the love of the hereafter. The
Prophet (PBUH) said: "The Muslim is one who does not harm other Muslims
with his hands or tongue and the Muhajir (or emigrant) is the one who shuns all
that Allah has forbidden". Allah (SWT) says:
"Indeed, those who have believed and those who
have emigrated and fought in the cause of Allah – those expect the mercy of
Allah. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (Al-Baqarah: 218).
Dear Muslims:
There are in the Prophet's Hijrah admonitions and
lessons for every Muslim, especially of patience and perseverance. Another
lesson is that it was the will of Allah (SWT) to make His Prophet (PBUH)
perform the Hijrah with means that human beings are well accustomed to, such as
riding on a camel and hiring a guide. If He (SWT) had wished, He (SWT) could
have willed that his Prophet (PBUH) did the Hijrah on Al-Buraq (an
extraordinary animal that moved at great speed), but the will of Allah (SWT)
was that He wanted the Muslims to emulate their Messenger (PBUH) and to aid and
assist their religion with whatever means that Allah (SWT) has facilitated for
them. The greatest obligation upon us all then, dear Muslims, is to aid and
assist the religion of Allah (SWT) by practicing it and advising each other and
being patient upon that.
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was exposed to several
assassination attempts, both before and after his migration. In Makkah, Abu
Jahl had attempted to kill him before Allah (SWT) sent the angel Jibreel (PBUH)
to prevent him from carrying out this devilish act. At the battle of Tabook, an
attempt was made on his life by some of the hypocrites. Even in Madeenah, an
attempt was made to kill him (PBUH) by poisoning, but Allah (SWT) saved him
from all these attempts. This was due to him (PBUH) actualising all forms of
worship totally for the sake of Allah and for his sincere dependence on Him.
Allah (SWT) says: "...And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is
sufficient for him." (Talaq: 3).
Indeed, the current predicament of the Muslims
throughout the world necessitates that we benefit from the lessons derived from
the Hijrah. We must realise that the situation of this generation of Muslims
cannot improve except by that which improved the condition of our righteous
predecessors, namely; Sincere and correct belief, noble manners and characters,
absolute trust in Allah (SWT), patience and perfection of acts of worship in
accordance with the sunnah.
May Allah (SWT) make us from those who listen to the
truth and follow it, bless, guide and forgive us all (Ameen).
