ahya.org
> English Resources
Hijrah
- Beginning of the Muslim Society
The
disbelieving chiefs of Makkah conspired to assassinate the last Messenger of
Allah, Muhammad (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam). Allah, the Most High sent
Jibreel (alaihis salaam) to inform His Messenger (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam)
about the plots of the Qur'aish and to grant him the permission to leave
Makkah and migrate to Madinah.
The
Qur'aish posted eleven assassins outside the Messenger's house. They were to
keep a vigil throughout the night and attack the Messenger of Allah
(sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) as soon as he would leave home.
BUT,
the One in Whose Hands lie all affairs of the heavens and the earths did not
allow this devilish plan to succeed.
“And
(remember) when disbelievers plotted against you (O Muhammad (sallallahu
alaihe wa-sallam) to imprison you, or to get you out (from your home, i.e.
Makkah); they were plotting and Allah too was planning, and Allah is the Best
of planners.” [Soorah Al-Anfal (8): 30]
Despite
of their (Quraish's) siege they laid to the Prophet's house, their plan
failed; Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) came out of his room and cast a
handful of dust at the assassins and managed to escape in the protection of
Allah through them reciting the verses:
“And
We put a barrier before them, and a barrier behind them, and We have covered
them up, so they cannot see.” [Soorah Ya-sin (36): 9]
Prophet
(sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) proceeded to the house of Abu Bakr (radiyallahu
anhu) and both set out southwards, clambered up the lofty peak of Mountain
Thawr, and decided to take refuge in a cave. They confined themselves to the
cave for three nights.
The
Quraish continued their frantic efforts to get hold of them, they declared
that whosoever would seize Muhammad (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) will receive
a hundred camels as reward, this spurred many people to try their luck, but
none could succeed.
Prophet
(sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) reached Madinah safely in the protection of
Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. The joyful news soon spread through the city,
the shouts of “Alahu Akbar' resounded and the Muslims rushed out of their
houses to greet their noble guest. Though not wealthy, every Ansar was
wholeheartedly eager and anxious to receive the Prophet of Allah (sallallahu
alaihe wa-sallam) in his house. It was genuinely an unprecedented day in
Madinah, a triumphal (victorious) procession.
This
emigration of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) to Madinah marks
the beginning of the Islamic calendar and the beginning of a New Society
“the Muslim Society” A
Society that could stand for the Islamic Call for whose sake the Muslims had
been put to unspeakable tortures for 10 years.
No
doubt, the construction of a society cannot be accomplished overnight or a
year, indeed it requires a long time to build during which legislations and
legalizations will run gradually in a complementary process with mind
cultivation, training and education. Allah, the All-Knowing undertook
legislations and His prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) implementation and
orientation.
The
Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) established a code of brotherhood among
the believers. It was by the Grace of Allah that he (sallallahu alaihe
wa-sallam) erected the pillars of the new society, by wisdom and dexterity
(skillfulness). He led the believers into the light of Islam, sanctified their
selves, enjoined them to observe righteousness and praiseworthy manners and
was keen on infusing into them the ethics of friendship, glory, honor, worship
and first and foremost obedience to Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihe
wa-sallam). He inculcated in the minds of the followers clusters of virtues:
Abdullah
ibn Salam (radiyallahu anhu) said: “When the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe
wa-sallam) arrived in Madinah, I went to see him and I immediately recognized
through his features that he would never be a liar. The first thing he said
was: “Extend peace greetings among yourselves, provide food to the needy,
maintain upright relations, observe prayer at night while people are asleep,
then you will peacefully enter the Gardens (Paradise).” [Tirmidhee, Mishkat
Al-Masabih (1/168)]
Once
a man asked the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) which of the
merits is superior in Islam? He (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) remarked:
“That
you provide food and extend greetings to one whom you know or do not know.”
[Saheeh al-Bukharee]
“The
Muslim is that; one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.”
[Saheeh al-Bukharee]
“He
will not enter Paradise, he whose neighbor is not secure from his wrongful
conduct.” [Muslim, Mishkat Al-Masabih (2/422)]
“None
amongst you believes till one loves for his brother that which he loves for
himself.” [Bukharee 1 /6]
“A
Muslim is the brother of a Muslim; he neither oppresses him nor does he fail
him. Whosoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from
him one of the griefs of the Day of Judgement. Whomsoever shields a Muslim,
Allah will shield him on the Day of Resurrection.”
[Mishkat
Al-Masabih, (2/422), Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim]
“He
is not a perfect believer, who goes to bed full and knows that his neighbour
is hungry.” [Mishkat Al-Masabih, (2/424)]
“The
bonds of brotherhood between Muslims are like parts of a house, one part
strengthens and holds the other.” [Saheeh
al-Bukharee (2/890)]
“Believers
in mutual love, are like the human body where, when the eye is in agony, the
entire body feels pain, when the head aches, all the body will suffer.”
[Saheeh Muslim]
“Do
not have malice against a Muslim, do not be envious of other Muslims, do not
go against a Muslim and forsake him. O the slaves of Allah! Be like brothers
with each other. It is not violable for a Muslim to desert his brother for
over three days.”
[Bukharee (2/896)]
“Show
mercy to people on earth so that Allah will have mercy on you in heavens.”
[Mishkat Al-Masabih (2/424) ]
Abdullah
ibn Mas'ud (radiyallahu anhu) once said: “If you are willing to follow a
good example, then you can have a recourse in the tradition of the deceased,
because the living are likely to fall in easy victims to oppression. Follow
the steps of the Muhammad's (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) Companion. They were
the best in the nation, the most pious, the most learned and the least
pretentious. Allah chose them to accompany the Prophet (sallallahu alaihe
wa-sallam) and establish His religion. Therefore, it is imperative to get to
know their grace, follow their righteous way and adhere as much as you can to
their manners and assimilate (study, understand) their biography. They were
always on the orthodox path. There is then the great Prophet (sallallahu
alaihe wa-sallam) whose morals visible attributes, aspects of perfection,
talents, virtues, noble manners and praiseworthy deeds, entitle him to occupy
the innermost cells of our heart, and become the dearest target that the self
yearn for. Hardly did he utter a word when his companions would race to
assimilate it and work in its light.” [Mishkat
Al-Masabih (1/32)]
These
are some of the practices with which Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam)
build a new society, the most wonderful, and the most honorable society
ever-known in history, so that they could become models of virtue to be copied
by subsequent generations. On theses grounds, he strove to resolve the
longstanding problems, and later gave mankind the chance to breathe a sign of
relief after a long wearying journey in dark and gloomy avenues. Such lofty
morale lay at the very basis of creating a new society with integrated
components immune to all fluctuations of the time, and powerful enough to the
whole course of humanity.
Today,
as his (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) followers and the Muslim Ummah, it rests
upon us to be in the lead and step forward in guiding the Muslims of today in
establishing a well-built, powerful, and effective Muslim society on the basis
of the Book of Allah and the traditions of our beloved Prophet (sallallahu
alaihe wa-sallam). We are also responsible for extending this Muslim society
throughout the human race. May Allah guide us in building and extending this
Muslim Society and may He make our actions sincerely for His Face
[This
article has been adapted from the Book: Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtoom by Safi
ur-Rahmaan al-Mubarakpuri]
