Source: Sermons of Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq Zahid, compiled by: Tauheed.com
Brothers in Islam! On the occasion of the beginning of the new Hijri year, it seems appropriate that in today's sermon we describe the great event of the migration to Medina in some detail because the Islamic history begins with this event. But before going into its details, let us first understand what migration means and what its virtues are in the Quran and Hadith?
Meaning of Migration
It is derived from "الھجرۃ" and "ھجر" which means: to leave. The Arabs say:
’’ھاجر القوم من دار إلیٰ دار
meaning a certain people left one area and went to another area, just as the Muhajir companions, may Allah be pleased with them, left Makkah Mukarramah and went to Madinah Munawwarah.
And the command of the Almighty is: ﴿وَاھْجُرُوْھُنَّ فِیْ الْمَضَاجِعِ﴾
And leave them in their beds.
Reference: Surah An-Nisa:34
The legal definition of "الہجرۃ" has been given by most scholars as:
’’ ترك دار الکفر والخروج منہا إلیٰ دار الإسلام
meaning "to leave the land of disbelief and go to the land of Islam."
While Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, has defined it as follows:
’’ الہجرۃ فی الشرع ترك ما نہی اللٰہ عنہ ‘‘
That is, in Shariah, migration means abandoning every act that Allah Almighty has forbidden.
Reference: Fath al-Bari bi Sharh al-Bukhari:1/16
It is likely that Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, took this definition of migration from the Hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him:
(( المہاجر من ہجر ما نہی اللٰہ عنہ ))
’’A migrant is one who abandons what Allah Almighty has forbidden.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad:6814
From this Hadith, it is understood that "migration" includes both internal and external migrations. Internal migration means that a person abandons all those acts which Satan and the human self embellish and present before him. External migration means that a person moves to a place where he can protect his religion from disbelief and trials and can peacefully practice Islamic teachings.
Imam Al-Izz ibn Abd al-Salam, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
’’ الھجرۃ ھجرتان : ہجرۃ الأوطان وہجرۃ الإثم والعدوان ، وأفضلہما ہجرۃ الإثم والعدوان ، لما فیہا من إرضائ الرحمٰن وإرغام النفس والشیطان ‘‘
Meaning: "There are two types of migration: leaving one's homeland, and abandoning sin and oppression. The latter migration is superior because it pleases the Most Merciful and discourages the self and Satan."
Reference: Nadhrah al-Naeem fi Makaarim Akhlaaq al-Rasool al-Kareem:3565/8
Virtues of Migration
There are Quranic verses and Prophetic ahadith regarding the virtues and rewards of migration. First, listen to some Quranic verses.
➊ Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا وَأُخْرِجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِمْ وَأُوذُوا فِي سَبِيلِي وَقَاتَلُوا وَقُتِلُوا لَأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ثَوَابًا مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الثَّوَابِ﴾
"Those who have migrated and were expelled from their homes and were harmed in My cause and fought and were killed, I will surely remove their misdeeds from them and surely admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow. That is the great attainment with Allah. And Allah has the best reward."
Reference: Surah Al-Imran:195
➋ Allah Almighty says:
﴿الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً عِندَ اللَّهِ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ ﴿٢٠﴾يُبَشِّرُهُمْ رَبُّهُم بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنْهُ وَرِضْوَانٍ وَجَنَّاتٍ لَّهُمْ فِيهَا نَعِيمٌ مُّقِيمٌ ﴿٢١﴾ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٢٢﴾
"Those who believe and emigrate and strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah, they are of great rank with Allah, and it is they who are the successful. Their Lord gives them glad tidings of His mercy and His pleasure and gardens wherein they will abide eternally. Indeed, with Allah is a great reward."
Reference: Surah At-Tawbah: 20-22
➌ Similarly, Allah says:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا فِي اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً ۖ وَلَأَجْرُ الْآخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾
"Those who have endured patiently and emigrated in the cause of Allah, We will surely assign to them a better abode in this world; and the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if only they knew."
Reference: Surah An-Nahl: 41
➍ He said:
﴿ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لِلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا مِن بَعْدِ مَا فُتِنُوا ثُمَّ جَاهَدُوا وَصَبَرُوا إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِن بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾
"Those who emigrated after being harmed and then fought and were patient. Indeed, your Lord, after that, is Forgiving and Merciful."
Reference: Surah An-Nahl: 110
➍ He said:
Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the exegesis of this verse:
"These were the people who were weak in Makkah and were considered insignificant among their people. They endured many trials, then they were given the opportunity to escape the tribulations through migration. So they bade farewell to their homeland, their families, and their possessions solely for the pleasure of Allah and to attain His forgiveness, and upon coming to Madinah Munawwarah, they joined the ranks of the believers. Then they fought jihad against the disbelievers and showed patience and perseverance. About them, Allah Almighty says that after these noble deeds, Allah is surely the Forgiver of their sins and the Most Merciful to them on the Day of Resurrection."
➎ The command of Allah Almighty is:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قُتِلُوا أَوْ مَاتُوا لَيَرْزُقَنَّهُمُ اللَّهُ رِزْقًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ ﴿٥٨﴾
"And those who emigrated for the cause of Allah and were then killed or died - Allah will surely provide for them a good provision. And indeed, it is Allah who is the best of providers."
Reference: Surah Al-Hajj:58
➏ He also said:
﴿وَمَن يُهَاجِرْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يَجِدْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُرَاغَمًا كَثِيرًا وَسَعَةً ۚ وَمَن يَخْرُجْ مِن بَيْتِهِ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ يُدْرِكْهُ الْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا ﴿١٠٠﴾
"Whoever leaves his home for the sake of Allah will find many dwelling places on the earth and plenty of spaciousness. And whoever departs from his home for Allah and His Messenger, then death overtakes him, his reward is surely upon Allah. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Reference: Surah An-Nisa: 100
The commentators have written in the interpretation of this verse that it encourages migration, and Allah has promised the person who migrates for the pleasure of Allah that after leaving his home, he will surely find many places of residence on the earth where he can live peacefully and with spaciousness. And if death overtakes him during the migration, then surely Allah will not deprive him of reward and recompense.
Now, let us listen to some Prophetic hadiths regarding the virtue of migration.
➊ Hazrat Amr bin Al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that when Allah Almighty instilled the love of Islam in his heart, he went to the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! Extend your hand, I have come to give you my pledge of allegiance. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) extended his blessed hand, he withdrew his hand. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) asked the reason, and he said: Before pledging allegiance, I want to set the condition that Allah Almighty forgives my sins. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
(( أما علمت أن الإسلام یہدم ما کان قبلہ وأن الہجرۃ تہدم ما کان قبلہا،وأن الحج یہدم ما کان قبلہ ))
"Do you not know that Islam erases previous sins, migration wipes out past mistakes, and Hajj forgives previous shortcomings?"
Reference: Sahih Muslim:121
➋ The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to Hazrat Abu Fatimah Al-Damri (may Allah be pleased with him):
(علیک بالہجرۃ فإنہ لا مثیل لہا)
"Indeed, you must migrate, for there is no deed like it in reward and recompense."
Reference: Sahih Sunan An-Nasa'i:3885
➌ The Prophetic saying is:
(أنا زعیم لمن آمن بی وأسلم وہاجر ببیت فی ربض الجنة،وبیت فی وسط الجنة،وبیت فی أعلٰی غرف الجنة…الحدیث )
"I guarantee a house in the lowest level of Paradise, a house in the middle level of Paradise, and a house in the highest level of Paradise for the person who believes in me, accepts Islam, and migrates."
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i:3135
➍ Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr رضي الله عنه said that once the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم asked him:
( أتعلم أول زمرۃ تدخل الجنة من أمتی ؟)
"Do you know who among my Ummah will enter Paradise first?"
He replied: Allah and His Messenger know best.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "They will be the emigrants who will come to the gate of Paradise on the Day of Judgment and request to have the gate opened. The angels guarding Paradise will ask them: Has your account been settled? They will say: What account is there for us to settle! We carried swords on our shoulders all our lives in the way of Allah until death came to us." Then the gate of Paradise will be opened for them, and they will enter it and take a nap forty years before others enter. __ARABIC_N__ __IMG_N__
Reference: Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn: 2420
➎ Hazrat Jabir رضي الله عنه narrates that once Hazrat Tufail bin Amr al-Dawsi رضي الله عنه came to the presence of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and offered that he should come to the strong fortress of the Daws tribe where he would be protected. But the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم rejected this offer because this honor was meant for the Ansar of Madinah. Then, when the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم migrated to Madinah Munawwarah, Hazrat Tufail bin Amr al-Dawsi رضي الله عنه and another person from his tribe also migrated and reached Madinah Munawwarah, but the climate of Madinah did not suit them. Hazrat Tufail bin Amr al-Dawsi رضي الله عنه’s companion fell ill and became distressed. One day, suddenly, he took a sharp instrument and cut off all his fingers, causing his hands to bleed, and he died. After that, Hazrat Tufail bin Amr al-Dawsi رضي الله عنه saw him in a dream that he was in very good shape and appearance but his hands were covered. He asked him: What treatment did your Lord give you? He replied: Because of migrating towards the Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, Allah Almighty has forgiven me. He asked: Why are your hands covered? He replied: I was told that what you yourself have spoiled, we will not fix.
Hazrat Tufail bin Amr al-Dawsi رضي الله عنه narrated this dream to the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, and he said:
(( اللٰھم ولیدیہ فاغفر))
"O Allah! Forgive his hands as well."
Reference: Sahih Muslim:116
➏ Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
(( إن فقراء المہاجرین یدخلون الجنة قبل أغنیائہم بمقدار خمس مائة سنة))
"The poor emigrants will enter Paradise five hundred years before the rich emigrants."
Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah: 4123
➐ Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As (may Allah be pleased with both of them) states that one day we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) when the sun rose. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
(( سیأتی ناس من أمتی یوم القیامة نورہم کضوء الشمس))
"On the Day of Resurrection, some people from my Ummah will come whose light will be like the light of the sun."
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 6650
We asked: O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! Who will those people be? He (peace be upon him) replied: "The poor emigrants."
Dear respected ones! You have listened to the Quranic verses and Prophetic hadiths regarding the virtues of migration. Surely, from these, you must have understood the value and status of migration in the sight of Allah and its position in Islam!
Migration will remain until the Day of Judgment
The command of migration did not end after the conquest of Mecca; rather, it remains and continues until the Day of Judgment.
The honorable saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is:
(( لا تنقطع الہجرۃ حتٰی تنقطع التوبة ، ولا تنقطع التوبة حتٰی تطلع الشمس من مغربہا))
"Migration will not cease until the door of repentance is closed, and the door of repentance will not be closed until the sun rises from the west."
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood: 2479
And as far as the hadith ( لا ہجرۃ بعد الفتح ) "There is no migration after the conquest of Mecca" is concerned, it means that when Mecca became part of Dar al-Islam after its conquest, then migrating from Mecca to Madinah has no meaning. That is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) negated migration after that. However, this does not mean at all that the command of migration was completely abolished.
Whereas Imam Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, has given another explanation, which is that the virtue of Hijrah before the conquest of Makkah, and the way Muslims endured oppression and hardship and migrated in a very distressed state, that virtue ended after the conquest of Makkah because after the conquest of Makkah, Islam became dominant and Muslims became strong and powerful. Whereas before the conquest of Makkah, they were oppressed and extremely weak. Therefore, according to this Hadith, that special virtue of Hijrah ended after the conquest of Makkah; however, generally, the command of Hijrah remains and will continue until the Day of Judgment.
Hijrah in the Life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
In the early days of Islam, the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, who accepted Islam were subjected to severe oppression and various punishments and tortures by the people of Makkah. Such punishments that just imagining them sends chills down the spine and makes the heart tremble. The Muslims were weak and the disbelievers were powerful; the weak Muslims endured everything for the sake of Islam. Eventually, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, permitted migration. Thus, during the blessed life of the Prophet, three migrations took place:
➊ The first migration to Abyssinia: This occurred in the fifth year of prophethood. Twelve men and four women walked to the seashore, where they rented a boat and entered Abyssinia, where they were treated like honored guests.
➋ The second migration to Abyssinia: The Muslims who had migrated to Abyssinia for the first time received news that the people of Mecca had accepted Islam. Accordingly, many of them returned to Mecca, but upon arrival, they found that the news was false. Therefore, they and many other Muslims migrated again to Abyssinia. Their number exceeded 80.
➌ Migration to Medina
The events of the migration to Medina occurred in the following order.
The first pledge of allegiance of the people of Medina at Aqabah
The blessed habit of the Holy Prophet ﷺ was that during the Hajj season, he would meet various tribes who had come to Makkah and invite them to Islam. Accordingly, in the eleventh year of prophethood during the Hajj season, six people from the people of Yathrib accepted Islam. When these individuals returned to Yathrib (Medina Munawwarah), they introduced Islam to the people there and informed them of its virtues. Consequently, the following year, that is the 12th year of prophethood, twelve people from Medina Munawwarah came to Makkah and pledged allegiance to the blessed hand of the Prophet ﷺ at the place called Aqabah in Mina.
The condition of this pledge was narrated by one of these twelve individuals, Hazrat Ubadah bin Samit (RA). He said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Take the pledge from me that after you reach Medina, you will protect me in every matter just as you protect your wives and your children."
After this pledge, the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent Hazrat Mus'ab bin Umair رضي الله عنه along with these twelve individuals to Madinah Tayyibah, who became the first callers to Islam. Upon reaching Madinah Munawwarah, he joined Hazrat As'ad bin Zararah رضي الله عنه and together they spread the invitation to Islam with great enthusiasm, resulting in many people embracing Islam. Eventually, there was no household in Madinah Tayyibah where at least one person had not accepted Islam. The most interesting event of their invitation is the acceptance of Islam by Hazrat Saad bin Mu'adh رضي الله عنه, Hazrat Usayd bin Hudair رضي الله عنه, and their entire tribe (Bani Abdul Ashhal), which is recorded in the books of Seerah.
Hazrat Mus'ab bin Umair (RA) stayed in Madinah Munawwarah for about a year and continuously invited people towards Islam. Then, before the Hajj season of the 13th year of the Prophethood, he returned to Makkah Mukarramah and gave the glad tidings of the people of Madinah accepting Islam to the Messenger of Allah (SAW).
It should be noted that Hazrat Mus'ab bin Umair (RA) is the companion of the Prophet who was martyred in the Battle of Uhud. When the time came for his shrouding and burial, the companions (RA) narrated that they found only one small shroud for him, which was so small that if his head was covered, his feet would remain uncovered, and if his feet were covered, his head would remain uncovered. When the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was informed of this situation, he said: "Cover his head and place leaves of Azkhar (grass) on his feet."
The Second Pledge of the People of Madinah at the Place of Aqabah
During the 13th prophetic year, more than seventy Muslims from the people of Yathrib came to Makkah to perform the rites of Hajj. One thought was constantly on their minds: how long would the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, continue to be tormented in the mountains of Makkah? Accordingly, after secret communications between them and the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, it was agreed that they would meet him at the place of Aqabah in the middle of the days of Tashreeq. Thus, 73 men and two women from the people of Yathrib met the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, under the cover of night. With him was his uncle, Hazrat Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib, may Allah be pleased with him, who had not yet embraced Islam at that time. They began the conversation first and said:
O people of Khazraj! You know the position of Muhammad (peace be upon him) among us. And you also know how we have protected him. He is honored among his people and completely safe in his city. But he insists on coming to you. Therefore, if you can protect him, that is good, and you must fulfill your responsibility, but if you intend to disgrace him, then let him go today because he is still safe among his people."
Upon this, Hazrat Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) said with great confidence:
"We have heard your words, now O Messenger of Allah! You decide for yourself."
These words clearly indicated that the people of Yathrib were fully prepared to fulfill their responsibility towards the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), so they gave the pledge of allegiance on his hand.
Regarding the words of allegiance, in Musnad Ahmad, there is a narration from Hazrat Jabir رضي الله عنه in which the Companions رضي الله عنهم asked: O Messenger of Allah! On what should we pledge allegiance to you? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "You pledge allegiance to me on the following:
➊ You will listen to and obey me in both times of ease and hardship.
➋ You will spend in both prosperity and poverty.
➌ You will enjoin good and forbid evil.
➍ You will rise for the sake of Allah and will not care for the blame of any blamer regarding it.
➎ And when I come to you, you will help me and protect me as you protect your own lives, your wives, and your children. Remember! In return, there is Paradise for you."
After that, all the Muslims pledged allegiance one by one. After the pledge, the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ appointed twelve individuals among them as leaders who were responsible for practically implementing this agreement.
The Beginning of Migration
After the second pledge of the people of Yathrib at the place of Aqabah, the path for the Muslims to migrate towards Madinah Munawwarah was opened, because the people of Yathrib had already made a pact to sacrifice their lives and wealth for the religion of Islam and had taken upon themselves the responsibility to support the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his oppressed companions in every way. The oppressed Muslims of Makkah now saw a peaceful Islamic homeland, but reaching there was not so easy, because the polytheists of Makkah had also resolved not to allow them to leave Makkah. However, Allah, the Lord of Glory, had decided to deliver the oppressed Muslims from oppression and to make Islam victorious, and so what Allah had decreed came to pass.
The Muslims began their migration, leaving their ancestral homeland, their dear relatives, and their possessions, and set out for Medina Tayyiba. The polytheists of Mecca placed various obstacles in their path and subjected them to oppression and violence. But despite the oppression, violence, and obstacles, the Muslims continued to migrate one after another. And only two months and a few days had passed after the Pledge of Aqabah when Mecca became empty of Muslims, except for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and his family, and Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), who were still present in Mecca. Similarly, those Muslims whom the polytheists had forcibly detained in Mecca were also unable to migrate.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was also ready for migration but was waiting for the permission from Allah Almighty.
It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to the Muslims:
"I have been shown in a dream the city to which you have to migrate; it has many date palm trees and is located between two lands with black stones."
Accordingly, many Muslims migrated towards Madinah Munawwarah, even those who had migrated to Abyssinia returned and went towards Madinah Munawwarah. Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) also prepared for Madinah Munawwarah, but the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to him: "Wait for now, perhaps I will also be permitted to migrate." Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "May my father be sacrificed for you, do you hope for that?" He said: "Yes." So Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) stayed back to migrate with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). They prepared the mounts well for this journey.
Meeting of the Quraysh Parliament at Dar al-Nadwa
When the polytheists of Mecca saw that Muslims were leaving Mecca one after another and heading towards Medina, they became very worried, because they knew that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a highly influential personality and his companions were embodiments of patience and courage. They were ready to sacrifice everything at his command. They also knew the geographical importance of Medina! Medina was located on their trade route, and they realized that if Medina became the center of the Muslims, their trade interests could face serious threats. Therefore, to prevent these dangers, the polytheists held a historic meeting in the Dar al-Nadwa, where the chiefs of all the Quraysh tribes gathered and began to deliberate on how to face such a great challenge that threatened their very existence. Those attending this meeting included Abu Jahl, Jubayr bin Mut'im, Utbah, Shaybah, Abu al-Bakhtari, and Umayyah bin Khalaf, among others. Before the proceedings of this meeting had even begun, Iblis arrived at the door of Dar al-Nadwa in the form of an old sheikh. The Quraysh chiefs asked him: Who are you? He said: I am a sheikh from the people of Najd. I heard that you are gathering for an important decision, so I thought I would also attend this meeting; perhaps I can give you some important advice!
They gave him permission, and he went inside and sat down. The meeting proceedings began, and various proposals against Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions, may Allah be pleased with them, started to be discussed.
◄ One proposal was put forward that Muhammad (ﷺ) should be exiled, but the Najdi Sheikh (Iblis) rejected it.
◄ Then another proposal was presented that he (ﷺ) should be chained and the door closed on him, and then wait for his death, but Iblis also rejected this.
◄ Finally, the greatest criminal Abu Jahl proposed a suggestion on which everyone agreed, and Iblis also supported it. He said:
My opinion is that we select one strong and honorable young man from each tribe, then give each one a sharp sword, then they all go together to him and finish his work with a single strike,
this way our lives will be saved and his blood will be divided among all the tribes. Banu Abd Manaf will be unable to fight all of them and will agree to pay blood money. So we will all collectively pay them the blood money.
The Najdi Sheikh (Iblis) greatly praised this opinion and all the members of the parliament endorsed it and declared it immediately obligatory, and the meeting was adjourned.
The Migration of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
When the cruel plan to kill the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was finalized, Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) descended and informed him about it and told him that Allah Almighty had permitted him to migrate. Therefore, do not sleep on your bed tonight.
Accordingly, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went to the house of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) and finalized the last plan for migration.
Hazrat Aisha رضي الله عنها narrated that we were sitting in the house of Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه at noon, when suddenly someone informed Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, "Look! The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم is coming wrapped in a cloak." Although the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم had never come to us at this time before, Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said:
"My parents be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah! You are coming at this time only due to some important matter."
Then the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم arrived, sought permission to enter the house, and Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه granted it, so he came inside. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: "Send the other people who are with you to another room." Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said: "My parents be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah! These are your own household members!" The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: "I have been granted permission to migrate."
Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said: May my parents be sacrificed for you, O Prophet ﷺ, shall I also migrate with you? The Prophet ﷺ said: "Yes." Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said: Then take one of these two mounts. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Alright, but I will take this mount for a price."
Hazrat Aisha رضي الله عنها says: Then we quickly prepared the travel provisions for both and placed them in one bag. Hazrat Asma bint Abi Bakr رضي الله عنها cut a part of her belt and tied the mouth of the bag. That is why she was called "Dhat an-Naṭāqayn" (the one with the two belts).
After that, the Prophet ﷺ went to his house and waited for the night to come.
The Siege of the House of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
Meanwhile, the criminals of Quraish did not find peace throughout the day and kept making plans to implement the decision made in the "House of Sorrow." For this purpose, they selected eleven young men, including Abu Jahl, Abu Lahab, and Umayyah bin Khalaf, among others. These devils besieged the house of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as soon as night fell and waited for him to sleep so that they could attack him all at once and finish him off. When midnight had passed, the moment of decision arrived. The criminals were certain that after today, there would be no trace left of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his followers. But Allah, the Sovereign of the heavens and the earth, who does whatever He wills, is dominant, and no power can overcome Him. The Divine command is:
﴿وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ ۖ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ ﴿٣٠﴾
"And remember when the disbelievers plotted against you to imprison you or kill you or exile you. They were planning, but Allah was planning. And Allah is the best of planners."
Reference: Surah Al-Anfal: 30
So, at the very moment of decision, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه:
"Wrap yourself in my cloak and sleep on my bed, and do not worry; nothing will harm you."
After that, the Prophet ﷺ left the house, took some soil in his fist, and sprinkled a little soil on the head of each of the criminals standing outside. Allah Almighty had taken away their sight, so they were unable to see the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ recited this verse from the Holy Quran as he passed among them:
﴿وَجَعَلْنَا مِن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّا وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّا فَأَغْشَيْنَاهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٩﴾
"And We have put a barrier before them and a barrier behind them, and We have covered them, so they do not see."
Reference: Surah Yaseen:9
Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to the house of Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, and from there he took him along and reached the Cave of Thawr. The Cave of Thawr is towards Yemen from Makkah, not towards Madinah. Perhaps the wisdom behind this was that when the disbelievers of Quraysh learned about your ﷺ migration, they would certainly pursue you on the routes leading to Madinah. Therefore, from the beginning of the journey, you ﷺ changed your direction to avoid them so that the disbelievers could not easily follow you.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه in the Cave of Thawr
Both travelers reached the Cave of Thawr after traversing a difficult and extremely challenging path in the darkness of night. Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه asked the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم to stay outside and went inside himself. Upon entering, he cleaned it and saw a hole on one side, so he tore a piece of his cloak and covered its opening. There were still two more holes, in which he placed his feet and then called the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم to come inside. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم came in, laid his head in the lap of his companion Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, and fell asleep. During this time, a poisonous creature bit Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه’s foot, but he did not move at all for the comfort of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. However, he could not hold back his tears. A few tears also fell on the face of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Upon this, the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم woke up and asked the reason for his crying. He said: May my parents be sacrificed for you! Something has bitten me. Then the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم got up and applied his blessed saliva to the place where the poisonous creature had bitten. This relieved the pain of Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه.
And Hazrat Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates that "Then the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه reached a cave located in Jabal Thawr. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم stayed there for three nights. At night, Hazrat Abdullah bin Abi Bakr رضي الله عنه would also come to them; he was an intelligent and understanding young man. He would stay with the Quraysh during the day and carefully remember whatever news he heard about the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Then, as night fell, he would reach the cave of Thawr and report everything to the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. At the time of Sehri, he would leave the cave and return to Mecca, and the Quraysh thought that this young man had spent the night in Mecca. Besides this, Amir bin Fuhaira, who was a servant of Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, would graze the goats during the day and, at evening, would drive the goats towards the cave of Thawr. He would offer the milk of the goats to the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, and they would leave the place before the break of dawn."
Quraysh at the entrance of the Cave of Thawr
After the Holy Prophet ﷺ left his house, a man passed by those criminals who had besieged the Prophet’s ﷺ house. He asked them: Whom are you waiting for? They said: Muhammad (ﷺ). He said: You are disgraced and have suffered loss! By Allah! He has already left among you and he was the one who threw dust on your heads. So they stood up, dusting the dust off their heads, and what did they see? Hazrat Ali (رضی اللہ عنہ) was resting on the bed of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. They waited for morning, and when Hazrat Ali (رضی اللہ عنہ) woke up, the criminals asked him about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said: I have no knowledge. The criminals beat him, but they could not obtain any information about the Holy Prophet ﷺ. Then they came to the house of Hazrat Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہ), knocked on the door, and Hazrat Asma bint Abi Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہما) came to the door. The criminals asked about Hazrat Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہ), and she said: I have no news about him. The oppressor Abu Jahl raised his hand and slapped her, causing the earring in her ear to fall down.
After that, the Quraysh urgently tightened security on all the routes leading out of Makkah Mukarramah and announced a huge reward of one hundred camels for anyone who would bring either the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه alive or dead.
Thus, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه were searched for very rapidly in the mountains, valleys, caves, and streets. The trackers of the Quraysh became active on horses, camels, and on foot. While searching, they reached the mouth of the cave in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه were present. Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه narrates that I was sitting in the cave beside the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and when I raised my head, I saw the footsteps of the people searching for us. I said: O Prophet of Allah! If any one of them lowers his gaze, he will surely see us.
Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( یا أبا بكر،ما ظنك باثنین اللٰہ ثالثہما))
"O Abu Bakr! What do you think about the two with whom the third is Allah?"
Certainly, this was a miracle of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that the enemy, even after coming within a few steps, could not harm him ﷺ in any way and returned defeated and frustrated.
The Divine command is:
﴿إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٤٠﴾
"If you do not aid them, Allah has already aided them when those who disbelieved had driven them out, the second of the two, when they were in the cave. When they said to their companion, 'Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.' So Allah sent down His tranquility upon them and supported them with soldiers you did not see. And made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah - that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise."
Reference: Surah At-Tawbah:40
On the way to Madinah Munawwarah
When the search activities for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه in Makkah Mukarramah cooled down, the Prophet ﷺ prepared to depart for Madinah Munawwarah with his companion. It was previously agreed with Abdullah bin Uraiqit Al-Laithi, who was well aware of the routes, that he would take two well-prepared camels on behalf of Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه and reach the Cave of Thawr, from where the journey to Madinah was to begin. Accordingly, as promised, he reached the Cave of Thawr after three nights. This caravan of migration, consisting of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, their servant Amir bin Fuhayrah, and their guide Abdullah bin Uraiqit, set out towards Madinah Munawwarah. The account of this journey is narrated in Sahih Bukhari.
Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه narrates that "The Prophet of Allah ﷺ set out towards Madinah Tayyibah. He ﷺ had Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه seated behind him on his mount. Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه was old and recognizable, while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was young and not recognized. If someone met Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه on the way, they would ask him: 'Abu Bakr! Who is this sitting in front of you?' Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه would reply: 'He is guiding me on the path.' The listener would think that perhaps this person is guiding the way of the journey, whereas Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه meant that he was guiding towards the path of goodness... During the journey, Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه looked back and suddenly realized that a horseman was pursuing them. He informed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it. The Prophet ﷺ looked back and, while supplicating against him, said: 'O Allah! Overthrow him.'"
So the horse threw him down and neighed. The rider said: O Prophet of Allah! Command me whatever you wish. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Stay in your place and do not let anyone pursue us." Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه says that this horseman was an enemy of the Prophet of Allah at the beginning of the day and by the end of the day became the protector of the Prophet ﷺ.
The story of Suraqa bin Malik رضي الله عنه in his own words
In Sahih Bukhari, there is a narration of Hazrat Suraqa bin Malik رضي الله عنه that several representatives of the disbelievers of Quraish came to us and informed that Quraish had announced a heavy reward for the person who would kill or capture alive the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. One day, I was sitting in a gathering of my tribe Bani Mudlij, a man came and said: I have just seen some shadows on the seashore, I think they are Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions.
Suraqa bin Malik رضي الله عنه says: I realized that they were indeed them, but I told that man: No, they must be someone else! Perhaps you saw so-and-so person who just passed by here in front of us.
Then I sat in the gathering for a while, after which I got up and upon reaching home, I ordered my servant girl to take my horse and wait for me behind a hill. I took up my bow and went out from the back of the house. Then I ran quickly to the hill where my servant girl was waiting for me. I mounted the horse and suddenly galloped it, until when I reached near them, my horse's feet slipped and I fell down. I got up and took the arrows for divination out of my quiver, then I drew a lot to see whether I could harm them or not. The lot came out 'No.' But I disobeyed those arrows and mounted the horse again. I came so close to them that I heard the recitation of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, although he was not looking back, while Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) was repeatedly looking back. Suddenly, my horse's front legs sank into the ground up to the knees. I fell down and started scolding the horse. The horse struggled hard to pull its legs out of the ground and stood up. With its legs, a dusty smoke rose towards the sky. So I drew the lot again and the same result came out as before. Now I called them peacefully, and they stopped. I mounted the horse and reached them. A thought came to my heart that what has happened to me today indicates that the command of the Noble Messenger ﷺ will surely prevail one day. I said to them: Your people have announced a reward for killing or capturing you. Then I informed the Messenger ﷺ about those people and offered provisions and equipment, but he rejected it.
He just said: "Do not tell anyone about us." I asked the Prophet ﷺ to write me a sign of safety. So the Prophet ﷺ ordered Amir bin Fuhaira to write it down. Accordingly, he wrote the word "Aman" (safety) on a piece of dyed leather for me. Then the Prophet ﷺ departed.
In the tent of Umm-e-Mu'bad
Imam Hakim, may Allah have mercy on him, narrated in Al-Mustadrak from Hisham bin Hubaysh bin Khuwailid, may Allah be pleased with him, that the caravan of the Hijrah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, passed by two tents of Umm Ma’bad. This woman used to feed and give drink to travelers. When the caravan of the Hijrah expressed a desire to buy meat and dates from Umm Ma’bad, they found nothing with her. The Prophet, peace be upon him, saw a goat and asked Umm Ma’bad about it. Umm Ma’bad said that this goat is extremely tired and weak and has fallen behind the herd of goats. The Prophet, peace be upon him, asked: Does it give milk? Umm Ma’bad said: No, it is very thin and weak! He asked permission to milk it. She said: May my parents be sacrificed for you. If it has milk, you may extract it. Then the Prophet, peace be upon him, stroked its teats, said Bismillah, prayed to Allah, and began to milk it. The goat’s teats filled with milk, and he started to pour the milk into a vessel of Umm Ma’bad. The vessel filled until the foam of the milk reached its brim. He first gave milk to Umm Ma’bad, then to his companions, and finally drank it himself until he was satisfied. Then he milked it a second time, and the vessel filled again. After that, he proceeded on his journey... etc. It should be noted that some scholars of hadith have disputed the chain of narration. And Allah knows best.
Dear respected ones! These were the events of the migration until your arrival, O Prophet ﷺ, in Madinah Munawwarah. We pray to Allah Almighty that He grants us the ability to understand these events and learn lessons from them. Ameen.
Honorable gentlemen! In the first sermon, you heard our few requests in detail about the virtues of migration and the migration to Madinah. Now let us also listen to how the people of Madinah welcomed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ upon his arrival.
The stay of the Holy Prophet ﷺ in Quba and the reception in Madinah
The people of Madinah were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Prophet ﷺ. To understand the extent of their enthusiasm, listen to the narration of Hazrat Urwah bin Zubair رضي الله عنه.
He states that while going to Madinah Munawwarah, on the way, the Holy Prophet ﷺ met Hazrat Zubair رضي الله عنه who was returning from Syria with a Muslim trading caravan. Hazrat Zubair رضي الله عنه presented white clothes as a gift to the Holy Prophet ﷺ and Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. Meanwhile, when the people of Madinah learned about the migration of the Holy Prophet ﷺ from Makkah, every morning they would go towards Al-Harra and wait for the Prophet ﷺ until the afternoon heat. One day, after a long wait, when they were returning to their homes, a Jew climbed a hill for some need. Suddenly, he saw the Holy Prophet ﷺ and Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه dressed in white clothes. He could not contain himself and, losing control, loudly announced:
"O people of the Arabs! Your elder has come whom you were waiting for."
Upon hearing this, a wave of happiness spread among the Muslims. They took up their weapons and welcomed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ near (Al-Harrah). The Prophet ﷺ turned to the right with those who welcomed him and descended among Banu Amr bin Awf. It was a Monday in the month of Rabi' al-Awwal. There, Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه stood and continued to welcome the people while the Prophet ﷺ sat silently. Those among the Ansar of Madinah who had not seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and greeted Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. When the sun began to shine on the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه shaded him with his cloak. From this, the people realized that this was the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stayed in Banu Amr bin Auf (Quba) for more than ten nights. During this time, he ﷺ laid the foundation of a mosque (Masjid Quba), about which Allah Almighty said in the Quran:
﴿لمسجد أسس على التقوىٰ من أول يوم أحق أن تقوم فيه﴾
"The mosque founded on piety from the first day is more deserving that you stand in it."
Reference: Sahih Muslim abridged:237
There, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) offered prayer. Then he mounted his ride and started walking with the people, until his ride stopped at the place where now in Medina stands the mosque of the Prophet (peace be upon him). At that time, a few Muslims used to pray there. This place originally belonged to Suhail (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sahl (may Allah be pleased with him), who were orphans and were raised in the care of Hazrat As'ad bin Zararah (may Allah be pleased with him). It was used for drying dates. When the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) ride stopped there, he said: إن شاء اﷲ This is our destination. After that, the Prophet (peace be upon him) called those two orphan children and wanted to buy that place so that a mosque could be built there. The children said: No, O Messenger of Allah! We will gift it to you. But the Prophet (peace be upon him) refused to take the place as a gift and bought it from them. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) built a mosque there. He himself participated in its construction and, along with the noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them), kept bringing bricks.
Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه states that after this, the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم descended near Medina (on one side of Al-Harra) and called the Ansar of Medina. They came and met the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه and requested that now you are completely safe. Therefore, please mount your mounts, and whatever command you give will be obeyed. So, the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه mounted, and the Ansar of Medina armed themselves and started accompanying them. Meanwhile, in Medina Munawwarah, it was announced that "The Prophet of Allah has arrived." People climbed walls and rooftops, eagerly waiting for him, repeatedly joyfully proclaiming, "The Prophet of Allah has arrived."
Then the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, while walking, finally got down near the house of Hazrat Abu Ayyub, may Allah be pleased with him. He, peace be upon him, asked: Whose house is closer? Hazrat Abu Ayyub, may Allah be pleased with him, said: O Prophet of Allah! My house is closer, look! This is my house and this is my door. So the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: Very well, come inside and prepare a place for us to rest. Hazrat Abu Ayyub, may Allah be pleased with him, said: You both are welcome by the blessing of Allah.
In a narration from Mustadrak Hakim, it is mentioned that Hazrat Abu Ayyub (may Allah be pleased with him) had a two-story house. When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) visited his house, he stayed on the lower floor while Hazrat Abu Ayyub (may Allah be pleased with him) and his wife were on the upper floor. Both of them came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and expressed their displeasure about this. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "It is better for us and for the people who come to us that we stay on the lower floor."
Meanwhile, Abdullah bin Salam, who was picking fruit in the date palm orchard at that time, came quickly and after listening to the conversation of the Prophet ﷺ, said: "I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah and that you have brought the truth. And the Jews know that I am their leader and the son of their leader. And I am the greatest scholar among them and the son of the greatest scholar. Therefore, you should call them and before they learn about my embracing Islam, ask them about me, because if they find out about my embracing Islam, they will not speak the truth about me." Accordingly, the Prophet of Allah ﷺ called them and said:
"O community of the Jews! Fear Allah. By the One besides whom there is no true deity! You know that I am indeed the Messenger of Allah and I have brought the truth to you, so accept Islam."
The Jews said: We do not know him (Muhammad, peace be upon him).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: Tell me, what kind of man is Abdullah bin Salam among you?
They said: He is our chief and the son of our chief. He is the greatest scholar among us and the son of the greatest scholar.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: What do you think if he has accepted Islam?
They said: That can never be.
The Prophet ﷺ repeated the same question twice, and they kept giving the same answer. Then the Prophet ﷺ said to Hazrat Abdullah bin Salam رضي الله عنه: "Now you come before them." So he came before the Jews and said: "O people of the Jews! Fear Allah. And by Allah, besides whom there is no true deity! You know that he is the Messenger of Allah and has brought the truth to you!" They said: "No, you are lying." After that, the Prophet ﷺ ordered the Jews to leave.
And Hazrat Bara bin Azib, may Allah be pleased with him, says:
"Among the Muhajireen, first came to us Hazrat Mus'ab bin Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, and Hazrat Abdullah bin Umm Maktum, may Allah be pleased with him, and both of them began teaching people the Holy Quran. Then came Hazrat Ammar, may Allah be pleased with him, then Hazrat Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, and Hazrat Saad, may Allah be pleased with him. After that, Hazrat Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, arrived with forty horsemen, and then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came. I saw the people expressing such joy at the arrival of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, as if they had never expressed such happiness before, even women, children, and servants were saying repeatedly that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, has arrived."
And Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says, "I saw the day when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) entered Medina. That day was so beautiful that I have never seen a more beautiful and brighter day than it. And I also saw the day when the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away. That day was so sorrowful that I have never seen a more dreadful and darker day than it."
Honorable gentlemen! You have listened to the events of the migration in detail, in which there are many lessons and numerous instructive matters. The most important thing is that when the servants of Allah obey Allah Almighty, support His religion, and show patience in the difficulties that come in this path, Allah Almighty does not leave them alone in difficult times but supports them and creates ways for them to overcome hardships. Just as He supported His beloved Prophet Muhammad __ARABIC_N__ and his believing companions, the noble Sahabah __ARABIC_N__ in the most difficult moments, saved them from the torment of the people of Mecca, and granted them a peaceful refuge in Madinah Munawwarah.
The event of the migration to Medina was certainly the most important event in the pure biography of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, after which the first Islamic state was established under his leadership. Then Allah Almighty commanded to fight the disbelievers, as a result of which the distinction between truth and falsehood became clear, and Allah fulfilled the promises made to His Prophet, peace be upon him, granting Islam dominance and supremacy.
In view of the importance of the migration to Medina, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) began Islamic history with this memorable event. However, it is regrettable that today Muslims have forgotten their Islamic history and have started to prefer non-Islamic history over it. Whereas many Islamic rulings are related to Islamic months. For example, fasting in the month of Ramadan, the obligation of Hajj, the obligation of Zakat, the fast of Ashura, the three days of Sunnah fasting in every Islamic month, the fasts of Sha'ban, the fast of the Day of Arafah, and the two Eids, etc. Islamic history is the identity of the Muslim Ummah. Therefore, it is necessary for Muslims to understand its importance and keep their identity alive.
Hazrat Sahl bin Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not count history from the Prophethood of the Prophet (peace be upon him) nor from his death, but they counted it from the arrival of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Medina Munawwarah."
The reason mentioned for this is that Hazrat Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote a letter to Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) stating that letters were coming to us from your side which did not have dates written on them. Therefore, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) gathered the people and sought their advice. Some said: Count from the time of the Prophethood, and some said: Count from the time of the Hijrah. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
(الہجرۃ فرقت بین الحق والباطل فأرخوا من الہجرۃ)
"The Hijrah distinguished between truth and falsehood, so count the dates from the Hijrah." This is an event from 17 AH.
Reference: Fath al-Bari bi Sharh al-Bukhari: 268/7
While Ibn Sirin says that a person came from Yemen and said: I have seen something in Yemen called history. It mentions the years and months. So Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: This is a very good thing, you should also keep track of history. Thus, when they decided to do so, some said: Calculate from the birth of the Holy Prophet (may Allah be pleased with him), some said: from the time of the revelation, some said: from the migration, and some said: from the death. So he said: Calculate it from the migration.
As we have mentioned, the event of the migration to Medina took place in the month of Rabi' al-Awwal, but when the calendar was started, it began from the month of Muharram. Why? The reason, according to Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, is that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had actually resolved to migrate in the month of Muharram because the pledge he took from the Companions who had come from Medina was in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. And this pledge was essentially the prelude to the migration to Medina. After that, the first month was Muharram. Therefore, the calendar was counted from this month.
We pray to Allah Almighty to have mercy on all of us in our current state. Ameen.
