عربي
Home


Articles

Articles

In Commemoration of the Prophet's Hijra (Migration)
Author : Dr Noah Ali Salman
Date Added : 14-10-2015

 

In Commemoration of the Prophet's Hijra (Migration)

 

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

 

Usually, a significant event marks the beginning of any nation`s history. As Muslims, our history is pregnant with significant events such as the birth of the Prophet (PBUH), the descent of the revelation, the Hijra (Divinely ordained migration) from Makkah to Medina, the divine declaration in which Allah has perfected our religion for us, completed His favor upon us, and has chosen Islam for us as our religion.

 

However, when Umar Bin Al-Kattab consulted the honorable companions (May Allah Be Pleased with them) on the starting date of the Islamic calendar, they agreed that the most appropriate reference point for the Islamic calendar was the Hijra. Umar justified that by saying: "Islam has been powerful since the Hijra." In fact, Islam has assumed its right and complete position by the Hijra, and there are three important issues in this regard:

 

First: The noble companions have agreed that having a calendar is one aspect of any nation`s independence and a reflection of its privacy, so it is unacceptable that the Muslim nation follows the calendar of another nation for marking its events. Thanks to Allah, our Islamic nation has been using the Islamic calendar to show that it is proud of its religion, it is distinguished, it is independent, and it is loyal to the Prophet who initiated the Hijra.

 

Second: Allah, the Almighty, has honored Islam with the Hijra, because Muslims gathered in Medina under the leadership of the Prophet (PBUH) and they established a state concerned with spreading Islam and protecting Muslims against aggression. As a result, the principles of Islam were reflected in the behavior of the Muslim society, and this led to the spread of justice, goodness, observing kinship ties as well as ending injustice, aggression, lewdness and abomination, as indicated in the following verse, (What means): "Indeed God enjoins justice and virtue and giving to kinsfolk, and He forbids lewdness, and abomination, and aggression: He admonishes you so that you might remember." [An-Nahil/90].

 

A close comparison between the number of Muslims before Hijra and after it shows that there is a big difference although they were invited to Islam by the same Prophet, Mohammad (PBUH). He enjoyed the needed eloquence and wisdom, but his style varied in accordance with the new conditions since people are more influenced by what they see, than what they hear. Rather, they neither listen to the weak nor respect what is right unless it was backed with might.

 

Three: It is necessary at this time and at every other time that Muslims reflect the bright image of the glorious Islam through their behavior and that the task of inviting others to embrace Islam should be passed to the different generations, because Allah has sent this religion as a mercy to all humanity.

If some Muslims have tarnished the bright image of Islam through violating its very teachings, then it is incumbent upon every Muslim to set the records straight and clear that suspicion.

It is a relief that people the world round are still embracing Islam owing to the sincere efforts of faithful Muslims who invite them to Allah by good word and good deed.

 

Finally, people of reason, even non-Muslims, are still admiring and praising Islam; however, if some have insulted Islam by word or deed, or insulted the Prophet (PBUH), then he is too honorable to be belittled by the rancorous and the disbelieving.

 

And All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds.

 

 

Article Number [ Previous | Next ]

Read for Author




Comments


Captcha


Warning: this window is not dedicated to receive religious questions, but to comment on topics published for the benefit of the site administrators—and not for publication. We are pleased to receive religious questions in the section "Send Your Question". So we apologize to readers for not answering any questions through this window of "Comments" for the sake of work organization. Thank you.




Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling of Islamic Law regarding one who purchases a sacrificial animal (uḍḥiyah) and it then develops a defect before slaughter?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
If a defect that invalidates the sacrifice (uḍḥiyah) arises after its purchase — for example, if one purchased a sound, defect-free animal, and it then developed a limp, blindness in one eye, or a similar defect before slaughter — it does not fulfill the requirement of a valid uḍḥiyah, according to the Shāfi'ī school.
It is stated in Asnā al-Maṭālib fī Sharḥ Rawḍ al-Ṭālib (Vol.1/P.535): "Even if the limp develops [in the animal] while the knife is upon it, it still does not fulfill the requirement, because it is lame at the moment of slaughter — this is analogous to a case where a sheep's leg breaks and one hastens to slaughter it [in that condition]."
The Ḥanbalī school, however, held that if the one offering the sacrifice purchased the animal while it was sound and defect-free, and a defect then befell it afterward, the sacrifice remains valid and there is no obligation to replace it.
It is stated in Masā'il al-Imām Aḥmad, one of the Ḥanbalī reference works (Vol.8/P.4021): "I said: If a person purchases the sacrificial animal while it is sound, and it is then afflicted with illness, blindness in one eye, or a broken limb [before slaughter]? He [Imam Aḥmad] said: It is said that it still fulfills the requirement. Isḥāq said likewise, because he purchased it while sound, and the defect befell it only afterward, so it remains sufficient on his behalf." [End of quote]
Accordingly, a sheep afflicted with a defect that invalidates the sacrifice does not fulfill the requirement of a valid uḍḥiyah — whether the defect arose after purchase or during the slaughter itself — according to the Shāfi'ī school. However, there is no objection to following the Ḥanbalī position on this matter [as a valid alternative]. And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

What is the ruling on omitting the prostration of recitation?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The prostration of recitation (Sajdat al-Tilawah) is a Sunnah for both the reader and the listener. There is no sin in omitting it, though doing so results in missing a great reward. Muslim narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: 'When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration and prostrates, Shaytan withdraws weeping, saying: "Woe to him! (and in the narration of Abu Kuraib: "Woe to me!") The son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and he prostrated, so Paradise is his; and I was commanded to prostrate and I refused, so the Fire is mine."'
 
Sheikh al-Islam Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: 'It is recommended to prostrate immediately after reciting or hearing a verse of prostration. If one delays it but the interval is short, he may still prostrate. However, if the interval is long, the opportunity is missed.' [Rawdat al-Talibin Vol.1/P.323].
 
Furthermore, the prostration of recitation becomes obligatory (Wajib) in congregational prayer if the Imam prostrates, out of the necessity of following him. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling on selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) described with specific attributes and authorizing an agent to slaughter them?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) that are described with specific attributes is permissible. This falls under the category of a salam sale (forward sale) if conducted using the terminology of salam, and under the category of a regular sale if not using the terminology of salam.
 
As for authorizing the seller to slaughter the sacrificial animal, the basic principle is that it is permissible, because the agent (wakil) stands in the place of the principal (muwakkil) in achieving his objective. This is a contract that the principal (the buyer) is entitled to perform himself, so authorizing another (the seller) to do so on his behalf is valid.
 
However, it is a condition for authorization to slaughter that the intention (niyyah) is present either at the time of slaughter or at the time of handing over the sacrificial animal to the agent. The basic principle is that the sacrificial animal must be specifically designated, as it is an act of worship. It is not required to designate it at the time of slaughter; rather, it is valid to do so before that.
 
It is permissible for the principal either to delegate the intention to the agent or to formulate it himself when authorizing the agent to slaughter. However, the sacrificial animal must be designated, even if at the time of slaughter, by the agent.
 
It is obligatory to designate the sacrificial animals so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own specific animal. Therefore, charitable organizations and companies must take this into consideration and establish a specific mechanism that ensures no mixing of sacrificial animals occurs, so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own designated animal. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What are the signs of Laylat al-Qadr?

It is said that among its signs are:
● A sense of peace and tranquility during the night.
● The sun rises on the following morning white and without strong rays.
However, one should not be preoccupied with searching for its signs at the expense of worship. Allah has hidden its exact date so that we strive in worship throughout multiple nights, ensuring that we attain its great reward.

See More