Islamic Articles, - * The Prophetic Hijrah: A Turning Point in History

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The Arabic noun Hijrah literally refers to the act of abandoning or relinquishing. Hence, the derived word Muhaajir, as mentioned in a Hadeeth, is a person who renounces what Allah The Almighty prohibited. This is not confined to a certain time or place; anyone who abides by the commands of Allah the Almighty and abandons sins, is considered a Muhaajir.
However, the Hijrah of the Prophethas a different dimension to it; it refers to his emigration, seeking the satisfaction of Allah The Almighty, despite his attachment to his homeland and affinity to its natural and social environment. That longing for Makkah was also fervently expressed by the Muhaajiroon – those who emigrated with him– particularly during the first melancholy days.
That was so, because Hijrah required adapting to the new atmosphere of Madeenah, in terms of a differing climate, which caused some of the Muhaajiroon to suffer from fever; as well as economy, since it was agriculture-based here, whereas it was commerce-based back home in Makkah, where they had left behind property and wealth.
However, Hijrah was a Divine obligation to be obeyed and all difficulties endured in its undertaking. When it began, processions of the Muhaajiroon successively set out to the new land – the abode of emigration. Women also took part in this blessed event, such as Umm Salamah Hind bint Abu Umayyah, may Allah be pleased with her, who was exposed to great harm at the hands of the disbelievers in Makkah. In an effort to prevent her from Hijrah, they had pulled her newborn from her until his hand was dislocated; but she persisted and succeeded in emigrating, despite the danger and hardship.
Another woman was Asmaa' bint Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with her, who immortalized her name in history, earning the title, Thaat An-Nitaaqayn (the one with two waistbands), because she tore her waistband in half, in order to carry provisions for the two pursued emigrants, i.e., the Prophetand Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him. Later, the sporadic Hijrah of women continued until it became an obligation; Allah The Almighty Says (what means):{O you who have believed, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them.}[Quran 60:10]
The commandment was general for all believers, as Quranic verses were intermittently revealed, pointing out the merits for performing the Hijrah; this occurred since the beginning of emigration,well until the year 8 AH, when it was revoked after the conquest of Makkah. This was in accordance with the declaration of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:"There is no Hijrah after the conquest of Makkah; but, [there is] Jihaad and good intention [to perform good deeds]. So, when you are commanded to set forth [for Jihad], you must immediately."
As for Madeenah being the destination of Hijrah, Allah The Almighty Himself had specified it, revealing it to the Prophetwho said:"I have seen in my vision that I am migrating from Makkah to a land with palm-trees. At first, I thought it was Al-Yamaamah or Hajar, but it was Madeenah (Yathrib)."
It would later become clear that this city, already burgeoning with faith, had required the mass arrival of Muslims, to safeguard it from the lurking enemies among Quraysh, the Jews and the Bedouins, against whom Jihaad was ordained. Thus, Allah The Almighty revealed motivational verses for emigrants, Saying (what means):
•{Indeed, those who have believed and those who have emigrated and fought in the cause of Allah - those expect the mercy of Allah.}[Quran 2:218]
•{And those who emigrated for [the cause of] Allah after they had been wronged - We will surely settle them in this world in a good place.}[Quran 16:41]
•{And whoever emigrates for the cause of Allah will find on the earth many [alternative] locations and abundance.}[Quran 4:100]
True to His noble Promise, the Muhaajiroon attained great honor in this life, apart from reward from Him. By being the first people to establish a Muslim state, they gained the Pleasure of Allah The Almighty and closeness to Him, as He Says (what means):{And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them.}[Quran 9:100]
Thus, Allah The Almighty memorialized them in the Quran, which is, and will be, recited by Muslims as worship to Him until the end of time.
Hijrah: a norm of the Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention
The Prophetwas not the first to emigrate for the cause of Allah The Almighty. Many prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, underwent such a trial. Allah The Almighty informed us that Ibraaheem (Abraham) emigrated from his homeland to Egypt and other countries, preaching Tawheed (monotheism); Ya‘qoob (Jacob) and Yoosuf (Joseph), may Allah exalt their mention, went from Palestine to Egypt; Loote, may Allah exalt his mention, abandoned his valley because of its corruption and disregard of his message; and Moosa (Moses), may Allah exalt his mention, emigrated with his people from Egypt to Sinai in order to escape with their religion from the tyranny of Fir‘awn (Pharaoh).
Thus, Hijrah is a custom of the prophets, with the emigration of the Prophet Muhammadbeing the last and most significant in its impact.
Hijrah: A Turning Point in History
The Hijrah brought about the establishment of a Muslim state in Madeenah, that consolidated the society on the basis of solidarity, love, brotherhood, freedom, equality and guaranteeing of rights.
The Prophetwas the head of government, the commander in chief, the supreme judge and the foremost mentor. Hegradually implemented the Islamic Sharee’ah, as it was revealed to him, verse by verse. The Companions would study it and apply it to themselves, after learning its interpretation from the Prophet.
Hence, they formed a God-conscious generation that was able to merge the worship of Allah The Almighty with inhabiting this worldly life. They worked under the motto: work for your life as if you will live forever and for your Hereafter as if you will die tomorrow.
Within a decade, most of the Arabian Peninsula united under this banner of Islam that swathed large areas of land, extending from As-Sind in the east, to the Atlantic in the west, with most of the people embracing Islam and its Sharee‘ah. They formed a flourishing civilization that produced its fruit for many centuries in the fields of legislation, education, cosmography and physics.






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Islamic Articles, - * What After Ramadan?

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Ramadanis - a level playing field wherein people compete with each other in good deeds and benevolence. During this blessed month, souls are trained in virtue and accustomed to dignity, they learn to disdain vices, sins and acquire all good attributes.
Whoever witnesses this month without gaining any of its rewards is indeed poor, and nothing cripples him other than negligence, laziness, procrastination, and false hopes.
However, what is appalling is to see some of those who were guided to do good deeds and take provisions from virtues during this month hastily destroying what they had built, and replacing good with evil. This is a gross mistake and shameful act in the true sense of the word and no remorse or apology will revoke it when you stand in front of your One Lord.
Bishrwas asked about people who only become diligent during the month ofRamadanand he said, “They are abominable people, because they only knowAllahThe Almighty during the month ofRamadan. The truly righteous people are those who worshipAllahThe Almighty diligently throughout the whole year.”
Ash-Shibli, mayAllaahhave mercy upon him, was asked, “Which is better:Sha‘baanor Rajab?” His answer was, “Be a worshipper of Allah The Almighty rather than a worshipper ofSha‘baan.”
‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, was asked, ‘Did the Messenger of Allahchoose some special days (for fasting)?’ She replied, ‘No, but he used to be regular (constant) (in his service of worshipping).’ The Prophetalso never performed more than eleven Rak‘ahs (units of prayer) whether inRamadanor at any other time of the year.
We sincerely invite such people out of fear for them to reconsider their lifestyle and to review themselves and think about their condition before it is too late. We advise them not to allow appearances, their strength, health and youth to deceive them. That is because all of this is nothing but a mirage that one may see as water, but once he reaches it, he finds nothing. Health will be followed by sickness, youth will be followed by old age, and strength will eventually turn into weakness.
So, wake up and pay attention! Life is short even if it seems long, and happiness will end no matter how long it lasts.
Such people should know that perseverance and adherence to the right path as well as obedience to Allah The Almighty is one of the greatest signs of acceptance of one’s good deeds. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):{And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death).}[Quran 15:99]
Consequently, the souls should remain adherent to the right and guided path just as they were during the month ofRamadan. Guidance is not confined to certain times and acts of worship, and obedience toAllahThe Almighty is not limited to the month ofRamadan.
Al-Hasan Al-Basrisaid, “Allah has not set an end for the believer’s work other than death.” Then he recited:{And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty ‎‎ (death).}[Quran 15:99] ‎
Indeed,Ramadanhas ended but you still have several renewed seasons for worship. The five daily prayers are among the highest and best good deeds and prayer is the first thing about which one would be asked on the Day of Judgment when he stands in front ofAllahThe Almighty.
If the fast ofRamadanhas ended, then you have the voluntary fasts and occasions such as the six days ofShawwaal, Mondays and Thursdays, the white days, the tenth day of Muharram, the Day of ‘Arafah, and so on.
If the night prayer of Ramadan has ended, you should know that the night prayer can be offered every night:{They used to sleep but little of the night‎}[Quran 51:17]
If the time ofZakaat Al-Fitrhas ended, then there is the obligatoryZakaahin addition to the countless ways of giving voluntary charity.
Dear Muslim brother, you should know that one of the attributes of the slaves ofAllahThe Almighty is that they perform their good deeds constantly, asAllahThe Almighty Says (what means):
{Those who are constant in their prayer}[Quran 70:23]
{And they who carefully maintain their prayers -}[Quran 23:9]
If you aspire to know how to save yourself from this trap and how to perform good deeds regularly, you have to do the following:
1- You must be sincerely and strongly determined to do good deeds constantly under all circumstances and conditions. This requires keeping away from weakness and laziness. That is why the Prophet,, used to seek refuge withAllahThe Almighty from inability and laziness, given their dire consequences. Hence, you should seek the help ofAllahThe Almighty and move ahead.
2- Moderation is very important, and you should never overburden yourself, as the Prophet,, said:“Do such deeds as you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) until you get bored and tired (of performing religious deeds).”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
You should remember that there are blessings in perseverance. For example, whoever reads aJuz’(portion) of the Quran every day will read the whole Quran in one month, and whoever observes fast for three days every month will be rewarded as if he had observed fast throughout the whole year. Likewise, whoever observes twelve voluntaryRak‘ahsevery day,AllahThe Almighty will build a house for him in Paradise, and so on.
3- You should know that it is unacceptable for whoever observes a good deed to abandon it. It was narrated that ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Messenger of Allah,, said to me:‘O ‘Abdullaah! Do not be like so-and-so; he used to get up at night (for voluntary prayer) but abandoned it later.''[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
4- Dear brother, remember what our righteous predecessors used to do. ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that whenever our beloved Prophet Muhammad,, missed the night prayer because of illness or sleep, he would pray twelve Rak’ahs the next day.[Muslim]
The Prophet,, also once missed ‘Itikaaf (staying in seclusion) and he made up for it in Shawwaal. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah,, said to Bilaal,may Allah be pleased with him:"‘O Bilaal, tell me about the most hopeful act (i.e., one which you deem the most rewarding with Allah) you have done since you accepted Islam because I heard the sound of the steps of your shoes in front of me in Paradise.' Bilaal, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘I do not consider any act more hopeful than that whenever I make ablution (or take a bath) in any hour of the night or day, I would immediately perform prayer for as long as was destined for me to pray.’''[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
However, the most amazing thing is what ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib,, used to do in response to the advice of the Prophet,, when he once visited him and found him sleeping with his wife Faatimah,, (daughter of the Prophet,). ‘Alisaid,“The Prophetplaced his leg between me and Faatimahand taught us what to say when we go to bed, saying:‘When you go to your bed recite thirty-three times Subhanallaah (Glory be to Allah), thirty-three times Alhamdulillaah (All praise is for Allah), and thirty-four times Allah-u-Akbar (Allah is The Greatest).’ ‘Ali added‘By Allah, I never left this practice for the rest of my life.’ A man asked him, ‘Even on the night of the Battle of Siffeen?’ He said, ‘Yes, I observed this even on the night of Siffeen.’”[Al-Haakim: Saheeh]
If you contemplate over this narration, you will be amazed at the keenness and persistence on doing good deeds even at times of war and bloodshed. None of these distracted him from implementing the advice of the Prophet,, regarding what he should say upon going to bed. Such stories and narrations should make you persist in doing good deeds and attempting to imitate the righteous predecessors and following their path.






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