HIJRAH: TIME FOR MUSLIMS TO REFLECT ON AL-QURAN

By Nurul Halawati Azhari

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- The Maal Hijrah, which is also called Awal
Muharram, is an important day for Muslims not only to commemorate the hijrah
(migration) of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina but also to reflect on
their inner self and deeds.

The Hijrah that occurred 1432 years ago is still relevant in its essence
today that goes beyond the physical migration, the migration from ignorance to
englightment through the Al Quran.

Every year the Maal Hijrah is celebrated by recalling the historic migration
that is also the cornerstone of Islam.

THE ESSENCE OF HIJRAH

According to the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia's (Ikim)
Director General Nik Mustapha Nik Hassan, Hijrah is more than the physical
migration from Mecca to Medina.

“Prophet Muhammad's Hijrah from Mecca to Medina is not just a change of
place but a change in the system and values of a society based on the teachings
of Al Quran that emphasises on truth, fairness and compassion.”

“So the meaning of Hijrah is all encompassing. Unfortunately, our society
today view Hijrah literally on the context of physical migration that does not
give the actual picture of this remarkable event,” he explained.

He hoped that the Muslims would see the Hijrah beyond the physical migration
and dwell deep into the lessons that they can learn from Prophet Muhammad's
Hijrah.

THE VIRTUES OF HIJRAH

According to Nik Mustapha, Prophet Muhammad's Hijrah helped to create a
highly civilised society anchored on iktikad (belief) and syahadah (attestation)
of the faith and Allah Almighty.

The Prophet Muhammad wanted to establish a new bastion for Islam and
restructure the society in Medina into a highly civilised society based on
Al-Quran.

Based on the divine revelation in surah Al-Anbiya:107 that literally means
"We have sent you out of mercy from us towards the whole world," the Prophet
Muhammad took on the role as Allah's messenger in establishing an Islamic
administration through the Medina Charter.

“The ingenuity and skills of the Prophet Muhammad during Hijrah should be
emulated. The way the Prophet won back Mecca through the Hudaibiah Treaty
without going to war. The way the Prophet united the people by asking them to
seek the truth, fairness and compassion through the Al-Quran.

HIJRAH IN THE PRESENT DAY CONTEXT

The lessons to be learnt by Muslims today is how Prophet Muhammad
brilliantly established the faith in the society then.

The other virtue will be how Prophet Muhammad planned his rule to strengthen
Islam and the Muslims in Madinah. One of the good examples is that he turned the
Nabawi mosque into a place of worship and congregation for Muslims.

According to Nik Mustapha, the mosque during Prophet Muhammad's time were
the centres for human activities in matters relating to this world and
hereafter, unlike in Malaysia today where the mosque activities is limited to
religious affairs only.

He also called upon Muslims to absorb the Al-Quran in them.

“Parents have to capitalise on this opportunity to emphasise on the
teachings of the Al-Quran that advocates truth, fairness and compassion. This is
the spirit that we have to comprehend in our lives.

The same goes to an organisation, each leader must work to instill these
three elements in implementing the universal values of Islam.

He pointed out the essence of Hijrah not only calls for the change within
oneself for the better, but also to emulate the ways how Prophet Muhammad
planned and administered a system based on divine revelation for the
mankind.

--BERNAMA