Times and events in our noble path – a pathway to the one true Creator of the universe and all that’s therein – are noted and marked by the lunar dynamics of the moon, which follows a cycle that marks the commencement and termination of a 12-month period (a lunar year). The kick-off of a new year by Muharram after the bringing to halt of the previous year by Dhul-Hijjah – a major transition in the world of Islam – is in tandem with transition of believers from what is known to be lack or immoderacy of good into what is known to be presence or moderacy of good, for Hijrah captures the fact that tables be turned to the privilege of good, no matter how the evil in the land has been widespread.
Although, an ideal mindset of a firm believer in the rudiments of what the Islamic faith entails should cover the migration from a place of inconvenience to convenience, Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) migration, alongside his companions, from Makkah to Medina in 622 AD set clearer the worthiness of moving from a place or situation of irrelevance or vain to that of legitimately acquired prosperities and gains in every walk of life.
Allah, in reference to the greatness attached to the migration for a good cause, says in the Qur’an “Those who believe, and have emigrated, and have struggled in the way of God with their possessions and their lives are greater in degree with God; and those, they are the triumphant. Their Lord gives them good tidings of mercy from Him and beatitude; for them shall be gardens wherein is enduring bliss, therein they shall abide forever. Surely with God is a tremendous reward.” (At-Tawbah 9: 20-2).
It gladdens to know that the Almighty has attached so enormity to this noble cause and that, amongst other signs of Allah’s benevolence, shows how noble acts are such deeds that are indeed beloved to Allah. It not just spiritually fattens us, but so many other benefits come in it emotionally, financially, economically, politically, maritally, etc. The emotional gain it stands to birth is seen in balance of negative thoughts and dispositions to achieve a stable mind to live in positive thoughts. Financially, it levels us up due to the intentional creation of wealth in the new phase. Economic and political situation of a state are positively refined by creating new or adjusted policies that favors her economic and socio-political structure. In a family, all that could be needed is a migration that now sets a marital life on a foothold of peace and lesser or canceled disputes.
Hijrah, for the believers, not only involve a physical migration from one place to another, even though it forms a cogent part of it, as demonstrated by the noblest among mankind, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Hijrah, in extension to the physical aspect of it, involves moral migration of humanly disposition from negative to positive, as well as spiritual migration of commitment to our Lord on the best of manners (ihsaan).
So many advantages to tap from are flourished in our noble Deen of Islam, which form the ideal with which one should live every aspect of his/her life. This defines the notion of Islam being a total way of life. Hijrah is definitely a means to turn tables to the good side. May Allah grant us the means to turn a new leaf and be firm on the good path, Aameen.
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