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2The Prophet's Hijrah or migration
Written by: Mr Al-Safi Jaafer Al-Safi
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
07
Safar 1439.27 October
2017.
Allah says: {And (it is) for the poor immigrants fugitives who have been driven out from their homes and their belongings and assets, they seek bounty and satisfaction from Allah and support Allah and His messenger. They are the truthful. (8) Those who entered the city and the faith before them love those who flee unto them for refuge, and find no ill feelings in their hearts towards what the other have been given them, and they offer preference (to others or immigrants) over themselves despite that they themselves are in need. And whoso is saved from his own stinginess and meagerness - such are the winners or successful. (9)} 59:8-9.
Last Friday we started talk about the prophet’s migration or Hijrah. This fantastic great event was a transition between two stages of Muslims and the Islamic journey. The stage of preaching and invitation to Islam in Mecca, which continued for thirteen years, and the other stage of the formation of the Islamic state in Madinah. It marked the launching point of Islam into the world stage. It was achieved that Islam is an international faith, which took Mecca as a take off stage. We, now in Europe and Ireland, pick the fruits of this globalization, and we perform a Friday prayer in the heart of the capital of Ireland in peace and tranquility.
Last week we left the messenger’s procession (PPBU) when it left cave. It was realized that peace, tranquility and good tidings descended upon him as Allah says: {…. when he says to his comrade: Do not grieve. Allah is with us. Then Allah caused His peace of tranquility to descend upon him and supported him with armies you did not see, and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowermost, while made the word of Allah the uppermost. Allah is Mighty, Wise. } 9:40.
We trace the footsteps of the blessed procession while it was at the outskirts of Madina; while people of Madina were getting ready to welcome it. That would fulfill the Godly promise as He says: {and supported him with armies you did not see} 9:40.
The entire city being represented by Muslims and non-Muslims came out expecting them. On the outskirts of the city assembled those who have previously immigrated (Muhajereen), and their hosts or supporters, the inhabitants of Madina (Ansar). Their young men and women enchanting the famous poem: “The moon has appeared to us… ØáÚ ÇáÈÏÑ ÚáíäÇ”.
Points to notice are:
The reception was huge and voluntary and by choice. They welcomed the messenger ppbu of their own free well and it was their choice. Therefore, we can assume that it was a public referendum almost totally in favor of the messenger ppbu. Not one drop of blood was spilled. It was an overwhelming public vote for three points:
1.
Granting the prophet ppbu and those who immigrated with him the right of citizenship. They gave them the right in the City’s society and in its market and business and its management and politics.2.
They granted him ppbu their total pledge as a head of the state with an overwhelming majority.3.
They pledged accepting him as a messenger. So, Allah Has made him the final message sent by Allah to humanity.
The dark and desperate image of the people of Mecca changed then. He left Mecca escaping or deported as he ppbu said: {I know you are the most loved of Allah’s lands to Allah, and if your people had not made me leave, I would not have left}.
It is at this point that we can touch the promise of Allah and his good tidings:
He arrived to Madina on the back of his camel named Quswa (ÇáÞÕæÇÁ). It kept on slowly moving through out the streets and areas of the city. In every neighborhood, Ansar people would hold the reins of the camel and request him to dismount and asked the messenger ppbu to disembark and live and settle in their neighborhood. He gently smiled and said: { leave the camel alone, she is under a divine command}. People walked behind the camel to see where Allah’s Has decided for her to stop. On that day the camel had the choice.
She kept walking until she reached where the present Prophet’s mosque is located. She sat down and moved again three times before she came to a final resting place. The prophet ppbu dismounted and approached people greeting them. A man from the Ansar named Abu-Ayoub led the camel to his house without asking anyone. When the messenger ppbu finished initial greetings for people, he asked where his camel was. He was told that it was with Abu-Ayoub. The prophet ppbu said: {A man stays with his camel}. He then settled in Madina.
After the messenger ppbu came to Madina, then the Muslim state was born. Historians report that the prophet ppbu started the proclamation of the state with a number of decisive decrees or decisions:
1.
Building a mosque.2.
Establishment of specific twinning relationships between pairs of individuals, one immigrant (Muhajir) with one supporting host (Ansar). Such brotherly relationship went as far as the right to inherit one another. This continued up to the point when the Quran came down defining inheritance in Islam. This brotherly link guaranteed the unity of this newly established state and it helped it facing up to the challenges.3.
Established the Madina’s Constitution in order to guarantee the rights of all; including minorities such as Jews and other non-Muslims in the Madina’s society. The constitution was formulated in a Quranic style. The messenger became an example in a brotherly unprecedented event in the history of humanity. As a reference let us just reflect on the verses presented on last Fridays talk: {And (it is) for the poor immigrant fugitives who have been driven out from their homes and their belongings, who seek bounty from Allah and help Allah and His messenger. They are the truthful loyal. (8) Those who entered the city and the faith before them love those who flee unto them for refuge, and find no ill feelings in their hearts towards what the other have been given, and they offer preference (to others or immigrants) over themselves despite that they themselves are in desperate need. And whoso is saved from his own greed and stinginess- such are the winners. (9)} 59:8. This verse deals with two groups of people which formed society in Madina:1)
Muhajireen or Immigrants: Quran described those that (they were driven out from their homes and belongings). That meant that they had resources and they had money. They had economical and professional resources. They left all that and they left their city seeking freedom and ability to worship Allah. Quran described them as being (The truthful loyal people). Truthfulness is the highest character of goodness with Allah.2)
Ansar – are the hosts and supporters: they were given some great descriptions in the verse:a.
They entered the city and the faith. They who had earlier lived at the land and had already entered into faith.b.
The position of Ansar (hosts or supporters) or as Allah said about them (they love those who flee on to them), and love in this situation is an exceptional state and an unusual human behavior in similar situations. This is the new formation and new touches, and the guidance of the Quran and the example of the messenger of Allah ppbu.c.
(they find no ill feelings in their hearts towards what others have been given). Quran had put muhajireen (immigrants) ahead of them in status; and hosts accepted that. They did not feel bad or awkward due to that.d.
(They offer preference (to others) over themselves despite that they are in desperate need). This reaches the peak of human character. That is allowing others to take preference over ones-self. Then finally, the verse finishes evaluating the Ansar (hosts) group by saying: (And whoso is saved from his own greed and stinginess- such are the winners).
The verses continue to teach all of us; how to interact with this elite group of slaves of Allah when we read their life stories and the situations they went through. Taking into consideration that they are fallible human beings, they were not given guarantees of perfection in any way. Quran adds by saying:
{And those who came after them say: Our Lord! Forgive us and forgive our brothers who were before us in the faith, and do not place resentment or hate in our hearts towards those who believe. Our Lord! You are Full of kindness and Merciful} 59:10.Notes:
Adhan - The call to prayer.
Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).
Allah - The Arabic word for "god." It is often used as a name for God in Islam.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
Aya (or Ayah):
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)
Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.
Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh - Religious law.
Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.
Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman: belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.
Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."
Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.
Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".
Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.
Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.
Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.
Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.
Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam- Fasting
Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.
Surah - A chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.
Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor - The Psalms
Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
