Lessons from the Hijrah
The Hijrah (622 C.E.) refers to the “Migration” or “Emigration” of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his followers from Makka to Madina. It is considered the turning point of the Muslim era. Therefore, Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, third Calif, set the year of the Prophet’s migration as the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
The term Hijrah has also been applied to two other minor migrations of some Muslims to Abyssinia (Later is known as Ethiopia). They took place a few years before the Prophet’s Hijrah to Madinah.
The term “Hijrah” not only entails the physical migration to Madinah, but it may also entail a moral Hijrah. For instance, the migration of the Muslim from sins, disobedience and evil deeds to obedience and good deeds.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The emigrant is the one who abstains from that which God has prohibited.” (narrated by Al-Bukhari).
Another example of non-physical Hijrah is the reversion of a non-Muslim to Islam. The new Muslim leaves behind what he used to do before Islam and begins a new life whereby he/she submits and obeys God.
Why did the Prophet migrate?
People usually think that the migration the Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims to Madinah was only to escape from their persecution in Makkah. However, the migration also aimed at the establishment of an Islamic society and the spreading of the message of Islam.
The Hijrah to Medina
The Quraysh people of Makkah discovered that their persecution of Muslims was useless. Therefore, they decided to kill the Prophet Muhammad and get rid of him once and for all. They selected one young man from each tribe and gave each one a sharp sword, to kill the Prophet ﷺ in unison. In this way, his blood would be spread over all the tribes and the clan of the Prophet ﷺ will not be able to battle against all the tribes and will accept blood money.
Gabriel came to the Messenger of God and commanded him not to sleep in his bed that night. The Prophet ﷺ asked Ali Ibn Abu Talib, his cousin, to sleep in his bed instead of him, promising that no harm would come to him. When the Prophet left his house while reciting some verses of the Qur’an, God blinded the unbelievers. The Prophet ﷺ slipped away unseen and made his way to Abu Bakr who had made the preparations for the journey.
Quraish announced a heavy reward for bringing Muhammad back to them and pursuers scattered in all directions.
After eight days’ journey, Muhammad ﷺ entered the outskirts of Medina. Before, entering Madinah, the Prophet (PBUH) stopped at a place called Quba, which is some miles from the main city, and established the first mosque.
Lessons from Hijra
We celebrate the new Islamic year because it commemorates the Hijrah of the Prophet to Madinah. However, Muslims should review the Hijrah to learn some lessons that would be reflected in our lives.
1. The importance of the establishment of an Islamic State
It is true that Hijrah to Madinah secured a place where Muslims could safely worship God. However, this was not the only aim of Hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ and this is not what Islam is all about.
The Muslim is the vicegerents of God. He should be proactive, trying to find avenues where he could not only worship God, but also, convey the message of Islam. This wouldn’t take place without the establishment of an Islamic state.
The Islamic state also, enables Muslims to apply and legislate the laws of God in their society and to bring about peace and justice.
2. The importance of pre-planning
God could have miraculously moved the Prophet Muhammad PBUH) from Makkah to Medina, like He did in the journey of Israa and Mi’raaj. However, God wants to teach us to well plan for what we want to do and take all the means.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companion Abu Bakr Al-Siddeeq went through a lot of preparation for their journey. They prepared their transportation, planned how to hide their tracks, hired a guide, and even appointed the people who’d bring them the news from Makkah and who would bring them the food.
3. The importance of trusting Allah and relying on Him
One of the deep lessons from Hijrah is that in addition to taking all possible means we should fully put our trust in God’s decree. The Prophet Muhammad started his journey at night going out of his house which was surrounded by unbelievers willing to kill him. God blinded them and they did not see him passing between them.
During their journey, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Abu Bakr were hiding in a cave between Makkah and Medina. When the Makkans approached the cave, Abu Bakr panicked because the unbelievers could have seen them, if they just look to their feet. But the Prophet’s confident response was:
“Don’t be distressed, indeed God is with us.” (Qur’an 9:40)
Therefore, when we face any difficulty, we should exhaust all possible means, but before all, we should put our trust in God to help us.
4. The importance of the honesty and trustworthiness
The unbelievers oppressed the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and tortured and killed his followers. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his followers had to migrate, leaving everything they possessed behind them. However, in spite of that, the Prophet ﷺ, asked his cousin, Ali to return the ‘Trusts’ of the unbelievers of Makkah back to them.
This teaches us that our attitude should be fair and not based on revenge or hatred to those who harm us. If we apply these principles, we deserve to be the best nation.
“You are the best nation that ever emerged for humanity. You advocate what is right, and forbid what is wrong, and believe in God.” (Qur’an 3:110)
5. Sacrifice is a fundamental concept in Islam
God for Muslims is dearer than anything else. Therefore, the companions of the Prophet ﷺ left their relatives, homes, lands, wealth, businesses and anything they possessed in Makkah for the sake of God. For instance, a companion called Suhaib Ibn Sinaan gave up all his wealth in exchange for enabling him to emigrate to Madinah.
Therefore, the Muslim should be prepared to sacrifice anything and to move for the sake of God to any land to secure his faith.
6. The importance of the mosque in the Muslim Society
The first thing the prophet did before entering Madinah was the establishment of the mosque of Quba. This reflects the importance of the mosque is for the Muslim community.
To encourage people to pray in congregation, God generously has multiplied their reward. Congregational prayers have social, spiritual, political, moral and educational benefits to Muslims. These benefits are reflected in the unity, solidarity and consistency of the Muslim community.
7. The Muslim should be well acquainted with the world affairs
Although Prophet was living in a small city like Makkah, he was well aware of the affairs of the world around him in the Arabian Peninsula and outside it.
For instance, he knew that King Negus of Abyssinia in Africa was a fair king and he would give his companions protection if they migrate to his land. Therefore, when the circumstances of his followers were very bad, he suggested for Muslims to migrate temporarily to Abyssinia until a suitable place could be secured.
We may, therefore, learn that the Muslim should be aware of what is going on, not only in his society or country but also in the whole world.
8. The importance of establishing the Islamic society
Once the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he started to establish a stable united and coherent Islamic society.
a) The Prophet Muhammad mediated to end a dispute between the two powerful tribes of Madinah, the Aws and the Khazraj, who then constituted the helpers (Ansar) for the Muslim immigrants.
b) The Prophet had a treaty with the Jews. The treaty included the reservation of the religion and the wealth of both the Jews and Muslims and their cooperation to defend Madinah against any foreign attack. However, the Jews then betrayed the Muslims on several occasions, and therefore, the Prophet had to fight them.
9. The importance of brotherhood in Islam
The Hijrah teaches us brotherhood. Muslims emigrated from Makkah left everything behind them. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, paired up each new migrant with a host of the helpers (Ansar) of Madina.
Out of love, the Muslims of Madina (Ansar) displayed extreme generosity and shared everything with the migrants. This unique brotherhood is one of the best in the history of humanity. Therefore, the Prophet prayed for Madinah and the people of Madinah.
In a saying narrated by Aishah, the Prophet said:
“O God, make Al-Madinah dear to us like our love for Makkah and more. O God, make it healthy, and bless us in our weights and measures; and remove its disease away from it to Al-Juhfah’.”
10. With difficulty comes ease
The Prophet and his followers suffered pain and persecution for thirteen years. Therefore, the Muslim should be patient in their Dawa work and should keep trying to find alternatives.
After Hijrah, things became better and the Prophet, as a ruler was able to establish an Islamic State. He was then able to eventually return back to Makkah victoriously.
“Indeed, there is an ease with hardship.” (Qur’an 94:5)
11. The importance of choosing one’s company
Keeping good company is an important lesson we learn from the Hijrah. The Prophet ﷺ did not set out on his journey alone. He chose his best friend, Abu Bakr, to accompany him during the Hijrah.
The company of the Muslim could be a source of inspiration and protection. The company would also share his partner the moments of happiness and sadness and help to relieve stresses and anomalies.
12. Both males and females are trustworthy
The Prophet ﷺ entrusted both males and females to help him during Hijrah. The following are examples:
Ali bin Abi Talib, a young man and the cousin of the Prophet ﷺ, courageously slept in the Prophet’s bed to deceive the men of Quraysh who were waiting to kill him.
Abdullah, the son of Abu Bakr was a young man. He was entrusted with the secret of where his father and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ were hiding. Abdullah tried to know what the people of Makkah were plotting against the Prophet and he reported it to the Prophet ﷺ under the cover of the night.
Asma’, the daughter of Abu Bakr was a female hero. She risked her life by secretly taking food and water to both her father and the Prophet ﷺ, while they were hiding in the Cave of “Thawr”. Asma’ faced Abu Jahl bravely and refused to say a word to him, though he slapped her violently and she fell to the ground.
13. Islam puts an end to racism
Hijrah liberated the humanity from racism and spread equality and justice. The Arab tribes Quraish of the emigrants (Muhajrin) and the Qahtani tribes of Madinah (the helpers; the Ansar) forgot tribal racism and turned into brothers.
The Islamic Society in Madinah also created an intimate brotherhood between, the Arabs, the Persians, the Byzantines and the African.
Islam should be our identity as Muslims and not the race, ethnicity, colour, language, tribal background, nationality or ex-religion.
14. Islam is a universal religion
Islam is the religion God revealed to guide the whole of humanity. After migration to Madinah, and before their victorious return to Makkah, and while Muslims were weak and besieged, the prophet Muhammad ﷺ was inviting the kings and rulers of the surrounding kingdoms and Empires, to Islam.
He selected some of his very competent companions as ambassadors to carry his letters to the Emperors of Persian and Byzantine Empires, the King of Abyssinia, the Rulers of Egypt and Bahrain and the Governor of Syria.
Conclusion
The early Muslims faced severe hardships and had to migrate from Makkah to Madinah to worship God and spread His word. They were eventually victorious and they established the best nation in the world. Early Muslims sacrificed everything for the commodity of God.
“Truly the commodity of God is expensive: Truly the commodity of God is Paradise.” (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi)