January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Hirja in Islam is migrating to find religious freedom
Hence, in Islam, this self-exile is not just a matter of moving from one place to another to perhaps gain worldly commodities or interest, no; it is meant rather to be undertaken for the sake of Allah: in other words, for some higher purpose and that purpose is to serve Allah to the hilt without hindrance and oppression. Over the past ten days or so Bermuda has been the recipient of persons whom made Hijra, albeit, they ended up in further peril. However, because of enduring faith and hope, Allah has opened up for them another way by opening the hearts of the powers that be, and hence they are here.
Divine intervention
On this note, we must reflect on the kindness of Bermuda, where Muslims are living under religious freedom in which there is no hint of religious persecution, where we are able to serve our God to the fullest whilst enjoying the bounty of the land. This is why Hijra was recommended by God the Almighty and is such an important principle in Islam. It makes me realize that divine intervention is at work. This gesture reminds me of the Abys-sinia King who so kindly accepted the persecuted Muslims way back in AD 622.
During this period the Muslims were under heavy persecution by the rulers of their own homeland. Our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) fearful for the safety of his followers, sent some to Ethiopia, where the Christian ruler extended protection to them, the memory of which has been cherished by Muslims ever since. Some of you may remember the movie entitled The Messenger, and in that movie our own renowned and famed Earl Cameron was the actor who played the Ethiopian King; is it not ironic that we should be now displaying the kindness of the Christian ruler extending protection to the persecuted Muslims? The signs are there, as Allah says, for those whom reflect. I indeed am convinced there is something very positive to this than merely meets the eye and only time will undoubtedly tell.
Let me relay to you a Hijra story I came across from IslamiCity: Whilst the Ethiopian King had provided protection to some of Muhammad's followers, back in Mecca the persecution worsened. Muhammad's followers were harassed, abused, and even tortured. At last, therefore, Muhammad sent seventy of his followers off to the northern town of Yathrib, which was later to be renamed Medina ("The City"). Later, in the early fall of 622, he learned of a plot to murder him and, with his closest friend, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, set off to join the emigrants.
In Mecca the plotters arrived at Muhammad's home to find that his cousin, 'Ali, had taken his place in bed. Enraged, the Meccans set a price on Muhammad's head and set off in pursuit. Muhammad and Abu Bakr, however, had taken refuge in a cave where, as they hid from their pursuers, a spider spun its web across the cave's mouth. When they saw that the web was unbroken, the Meccans passed by and Muhammad and Abu Bakr went on to Medina, where they were joyously welcomed by a throng of Medinans as well as the Meccans who had gone ahead to prepare the way.
This was the Hijrah - anglicized as Hegira - usually, but inaccurately, translated as "Flight" - from which the Muslim era is dated. In fact, the Hijrah was not a flight but a carefully planned migration, which marks not only a break in history - the beginning of the Islamic era - but also, for Muhammad and the Muslims, a new way of life. The men who accompanied Muhammad on the Hijrah were called the Muhajirun - "those that made the Hijrah" or the "Emigrants" - while those in Medina who became Muslims were called the Ansar or "Helpers."
Muhammad was well acquainted with the situation in Medina. Earlier, before the Hijrah, the city had sent envoys to Mecca asking Muhammad to mediate a dispute between two powerful tribes. What the envoys saw and heard had impressed them and they had invited Muhammad to settle in Medina. After the Hijrah, Muhammad's exceptional qualities so impressed the Medinans that the rival tribes and their allies temporarily closed ranks and lived in peace. Peace Bermuda, is the way of the Muslims, we come in peace and peace abides in us. We welcome peace. There is a famous hadith that goes - Allah's Messenger, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "Allah is at the assistance of a person so long as that person is at the assistance of their brother." As salaamu alaykum.
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