9 Lessons from Hijrah
The Hijrah of the Prophet ‘peace be upon him’ from Makkah to Medina teaches us so many precious lessons that could make a major switch in our personal and social life, as a Muslim person and as a community. It does not only apply to the time when the prophet ‘peace be upon him’ emigrated, yet it is valid for all times and places. To read our previous post on Hijrah, check it here: On The Day of Hijrah: A Migration to Allah and his Prophet.
In this article, we provide you with a set of lessons that the blessed prophet’s emigration taught us, and we hope you consider them throughout your life:
1-Prioritize your Religion and Faith
Choose your religion over anything else, over your land and money, and even sometimes over your soul.
Although the prophet left behind everything he owned, from memories, home, work, and land, so did many other Companions (Sahaba). The Companions of the prophet sacrificed their money and bodies for the sake of emigration with the beloved prophet, not only to protect themselves from oppression, but also to set up the religion of Islam and let it grow. One of the Sahaba, named ‘Sohaib’, had to let go all of his money, fortune and everything he owns for the sake of his religion, and to be able to emigrate with others. When the Prophet ‘peace be upon him’ knew about what his companion ‘Sohaib’ did, he said that he Gained the Profit.
and their lives are greater in rank in the sight of Allah. And it is those who are the attainers [of success]”
(Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 20)
2-The Orders of Allah are above Everything Else
Obeying Allah’s order in leaving the place to another. When the prophet ‘peace be upon him’ received the permission for emigration, he responded without slackening or retreating. And this was his case in all his life matters with Allah. He wouldn’t question Allah’s orders.
Since the prophet ‘peace be upon him’ said, “I saw in a dream that I was an emigrant from Makkah to a land where there are palm trees, so I thought that it was al-Yamamah or Hajar, but it was Yathrib (Medina),” and the Companions prepared for that day with sincerity and certainty, and for sure this is all rewarded by Allah.
We will surely settle them in this world in a good place; but the reward
of the Hereafter is greater, if only they could know”
(Surah An-Nahl, Verse 41)
The same applies to us, in all our life matters, from the simplest thing to the largest decision we want to make, we must obey Allah’s orders and follow the instructions of his prophet ‘peace be upon him’.
3-The Love & Attachment to Moher Land
The Prophet ’peace be upon him’ was very careful to have Makkah as the origin of the message, the basis of it, and that its people be its protectors. So, he was so sad that its people pushed him to leave the land he grew up in and lived with its people. So he said:
Were it not that my people expelled me from you, I would live nowhere else” (At-Tirmidhi)
A major sacrifice in the feelings and the emotions, to protect the Muslims and Islam.
4- No place for underdogs in the Muslim Community
Muslims in Makkah were highly abused and treated unfairly by the tribe of Quraish, and they have supported this oppression for a long time before the emigration. The lesson here is that whenever you are oppressed in a certain piece of land, or among a certain community, you must leave to a better place, where you could perform your religion and inform others about it. You are not allowed to say that you were the underdog in a place because you always have the option to leave: The land of Allah on Earth is vast.
Allah said in the Quran:
is spacious, so worship only Me”
(Surah Al Ankabout, Verse 56)
And in another verse, He mentioned:
"In what condition were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land."
The angels will say, "Was not the earth of Allah spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?"
(Surah An-Nisaa, Verse 97)
5-Importance of Brotherhood in Islam
The Prophet ‘peace be upon him’ found in Medina a welcoming community of Muslims. They were based on solidarity so he encouraged each individual to view their neighbor (emigrating from Makkah) as a sibling and he requested them to never leave the poor and the less fortunate to their fate. The prophet created a Fraternity among the Muhajireen (emigrants) and the Ansar (people of Medina), who shared everything they owned with the emigrants, so Allah mentioned them in His Holy Book:
and those who followed them with good conduct, Allah is pleased with
them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens
beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment”
(Surah At-Tawba, Verse 100)
This holds a lesson for all Muslims around the world nowadays, that no matter where you are coming from, we are all brothers in Islam and humanity, and we must act as a single body.
6- Planning for Major Events in your Life is Crucial
The prophet ‘peace be upon him ‘planned for the Hijrah carefully and considered all the reasons and the outcomes that might take place, in total secrecy. He set all logistics and divided the roles, from choosing someone to replace him in his mattress (Ali Bin Abi Taleb), selecting an assistant (Abu Bakr), choosing a person to deliver the food and the provision (Asmaa Bint Abi Bakr), A person to guide them throughout the trip and another to hide the trace of feet on the sand while on the journey.
The Prophet’s wisdom and cleverness hold a major invitation for all the Muslim community, and each Muslim to follow the steps of the prophet ‘peace be upon him’ in planning and implementing because this is the right way to reach positive outcomes.
7- A Major Lesson in Trusting Allah
The hijrah demonstrated a strong belief in Allah and His promises. Considering the journey of the prophet with his Companion Abau Bakr, they passed through many dangers and suffered to reach the place they got into, only to protect the Muslims and spread Islam.
While they were hiding in Ghar Thawr, and when the men of Quraish appeared outside the cave where they were hiding, Abu Bakr was terrified. He said, “I saw the feet of the polytheists very close to us, as we were in the cave. I said: ‘Oh Messenger of Allah! If one of them were to look at his sandals, he would surely see us.’ Thereupon the Prophet replied reassuringly: Aba Bakr! Don’t worry! What do you make of two, whom Allah is their third?’.” (Al Bukhari)
The prophet ‘peace be upon him’ started a new life in Medina after everything he went through, with the faith he held in his heart. His faith in Allah and the support he offered for his friends and followers, was a major motif to let them leave their land, homes, money and tribute to another place.
This teaches us to have a high level of faith and trust in Allah no matter what happens because all our matters are in his hands, and he is capable of changing our situation in a blink of an eye.
8-Hijrah teaches us to choose our friends wisely.
Choose a good friend for a lifetime. The journey is very long and tiring and our life is a trip that will end after a while. So how much we need a person, a friend, to tap on our shoulder and comfort us with beautiful encouraging words, that revive the faith in our hearts, like those that the prophet told Abu Bakr while in Ghar Thawr:
(Surah At-Tawba, Verse 40)
9-To Believe in Allah’s Miracles that Took Place on this Journey
As Muslims, we believe that Allah’s miracles happened, and that they ended with the end of the era of the Prophets. Allah has protected the prophet ‘peace be upon him’ on this journey, in one of the well-known images, through the Spider’s web and the pigeon nest on the opening of Ghar Thawr, despite many other events that happened and that would have not happened without a miracle from Allah.
The lesson here is that although the era of miracles has come to an end, yet Allah is able to help you in your darkest times, whenever you trust him and have true faith in his power.
The memory of The Prophet’s Emigration will always be alive in the heart of every Muslim, and the lessons learned from it must be applied, because they are a life guide for each Muslim.
🌴 🌴 May you always have the high spirit of the Prophet and Companions during the Hijrah and may you always apply the lessons from Hijrah in your life. 🌴 🌴
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