Article on Hijrah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على أشرف الأنبياء والمرسلين

My respected brother and sisters, Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu.

The word Hijrah comes from Hajara, which means to forsake, renounce, emigrate, separate, and flee.  Al-Hijrah with the definite article (al) refers to the famous event in the life of our Prophet (s.a.w)

The Hijrah is the crucial event that marked a turning point in history.  As well as becoming the basis of the Islamic calendar, it also marked the following:

• The sacrifices of the Muhajirun and Ansar that have no comparison in the history of mankind. The Muhajirun were prepared to leave their wealth, homes and families for Allah.  The Ansar in turn were prepared to sacrifice their own wealth and comforts to such an extent that many of them offered to divorce their wives in order to have them married to the Muhajirun.
• The Hijrah produced the first Islamic State, which became an example  for all Muslims throughout the ages.
• This Islamic State was founded upon justice and equity between different races and religions. Human rights applied to all, regardless of race, religion or economic background.  Its legal system allowed people of different religions to live protected lives, and to follow the laws of their own religion.  This was the first time in history that such a truly equitable society ever existed.
• The Hijrah opened up the way of Islam’s expansion from the Arabian Peninsula to the utmost extent of the East and the West.

The Hijrah teaches us some important lessons.

• It teaches us that Hijrah was a command from Allah, and thereby the means of the Muslims’ success. Therefore, we must always seek every success through the means prescribed by Allah.
• It teaches us that Islam will succeed by conveying the Deen of Allah to others. We must establish institutions where we can learn to spread Islam by showing good character and and being respectful to all people. Through our joint efforts and in the spirit of unity, peace and justice, we can spread Islam further as demonstrated by the Ansar and Muhajirun.

Dear Brothers, if we forget our past, then we are passing our present life without a foundation, and we are planning our future in darkness. Allah mentions in the Qur’an many examples of past nations and events, and warns us:-

‘Learn a lesson, then, O people of foresight.’

Let us, then, look at and learn from some examples of the sacrifices shown by Rasulullah (s.a.w) and his Ashab (r.a.a) during the Hijrah.

Asma’ bint Abu Bakr was content with Allah’s provision after her father Abu Bakr had left Mecca and spent all of his wealth in the way of Allah.  Instead of complaining to Abu Bakr’s father Abu Quhafah, she concealed the fact that Abu Bakr had left no worldly provisions for her and the rest of the family.

Ibn al-Laith risked his own life in order to take riding camels to Char Thawr, to carry the Prophet (s.a.w) and Abu Bakr (r.a.a) to Madinah.

Abdullah bin Abu Bakr used to bring food by night to the Prophet (s.a.w) and Abu Bakr (r.a.a)

Rasulullah chose the long coastal route to Madinah, rather than the more commonly travelled direct route.

Before the Hijrah to Al-Habashah or to Al Madinah Rasulullah (s.a.w) called the people of Ta’if to Islam, and endured painful torture from them.

The first priority upon reaching Al Madinah, before anything else, was to establish a Masjid, a place of prayer, for all of the Muslims.

He (s.a.w) established the bonds of Ukhuwwah (brotherhood) between all of the Muhajirun and Ansar.

He (s.a.w) established the foundation of the Islamic State.

We all know of Bilal’s sufferings at the hands of Umayyah bin Khalaf.  We all know the agony experienced by “Ammar bin Yasir at seeing his mother and father tortured and martyred for Allah.  We all know how Abu Bakr and “Umar competed with each other in their contributions to the Cause of Allah.  The valour, brotherhood, generosity and self-sacrifice of the Sahabah was never equaled before or after them in the entire history of mankind.

This should be more than enough to demonstrate to us that effort in Allah’s cause is needed in order to bring the Deen of Allah back to its glory.

My Brothers, Hijrah can be classified into two categories:

• Leaving the Muharramat – forbidden things. This involves the rejection of un-Islamic and anti-Islamic ideas and actions. One must not be led by an attitude of submitting to and adopting the norms of un-Islamic society.  The Prophet (s.a.w) said

“Whoever imitates a people, he is one of them.”  Blind following of one’s environment is one of three paths towards Dalalah (misguidance), the others being    the blind flowing of one’s ancestral traditions and the blind flowing of one’s Nafs (desires)

• Not only individual practice, but preaching, calling to and establishing the Deen. The Muslims must not fall into the trap of thinking that they can live submissively in an un-Islamic environment and keep their Deen to themselves.  Allah warns us against this:

Allah has described in the above ayah how Islam was established through the sacrifices and efforts of the Prophet (s.a.w) and his Sahabah when they performed the Hijrah. Allah helped them by sending down His unseen forces to aid them, fortifying their hearts with determination and tranquility. The result of the Hijrah was that the forces of Kufr and Shirk would eventually be defeated, and that the Word of Allah, would be ascendant and victorious.

Allah also says, ‘O My servants who believe! Indeed, My earth is vast, therefore worship only Me. That is, if it is not easy for you to worship Me in a certain land, and it is not possible for you to establish the Deen there, then make Hijrah to a land where these things are possible.’

Sa’id bin Jubayr says, in a commentary of this Ayah: “If you are in a land of disobedience to Allah, then leave it, as Allah’s earth is vast enough for you to make Hijrah.” ‘Ata’ says, “If you are commanded to commit disobedience to Allah, then leave it, for Allah’s’ earth is vast enough for you to make Hijrah.”

Therefore, it is obligatory upon everyone in a country in which there is disobedience and corruption against Allah, if it is not possible to change the situation, to make Hijrah to such a place where proper ‘Ibadah can be established and practiced.

According to the “Ulama’, Hijrah is allowed for the following reasons:

• Persecution in one’s land or origin
• Purposes of Da’wah
• To increase Muslims’ numbers and to better Islamic circumstances.