The Hijrah – Background

After 12 years of struggle and strife hope for Islam’s progress was seen; The Prophet صلى ال عليه وسلم was Commanded by Allah to migrate despite his love for Makkah, where he had lived for 52 years:

(Command of Hijrah): Az-Zumar, Verse 10

قل يا عباد الذين آمنوا اتقوا ربكم للذين أحسنوا في هـذه الدنيا حسنة وأرض ال واسعة إنما يوفى الصابرون أجرهم بغير حساب

Say (O Muhammad وسلم عليه ا ): ”O My slaves who believe, be afraid of yourصلىLord and keep your duty to Him. Good is (the reward) for those who do good in thisworld, and Allah’s earth is spacious (so if you cannot worship Allah at a place, then go toanother)! Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning.”

Hijrah – The Journey, Concept and Process

Revelation to emigrate for the Cause of Allah: whoever leaves something for Allah, He’ll bestow something greater

Plots to kill The Prophet صلى ال عليه وسلم (mainly headed by Abu Jahl); but Allah is the Best of Planners (3:54);

He صلى ال عليه وسلم made special dua‘ for safe entry and exit and of a supporting authority to accompany him (17:80); Abu Bakr (ra) asked him the next day if he could accompany him ; he agreed and he (ra) wept for it was an صلى ال عليه وسلمhonour to make that momentous journey with the Prophet صلى ال عليه وسلم

The Hijrah…

Journey was that of fear yet trust; no risk can be taken without faith; tawwakul on Allah despite the real threat of the persecutors, The Prophet comfort to Abu Bakr (ra) صلى ال عليه وسلم

In the Cave: At-Taubah, Chapter 9, Verse 40إل تنصروه فقد نصره ال إذ أخرجه الذين كفروا ثاني اثنين إذ هما في الغار إذ يقول لصاحبه ل

تحزن إن ال معنا فأنزل ال سكينته عليه وأيده بجنود لم تروها وجعل كلمة الذين كفرواالسفلى وكلمة ال هي العليا وال عزيز حكيم

If you help him (Muhammad صلى ال عليه وسلم ) not (it does not matter), for Allah did indeed help him when the disbelievers drove him out, the second of two, when they (Muhammad صلى ال عليه وسلم and Abu Bakr) were in the cave, and he (صلى ال عليه وسلم said to his companion (Abu (Bakr): “Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us;” then Allah sent down His Sakinah upon him, and strengthened him with forces (angels) which you saw not, and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowermost, while it was the Word of Allah that became the uppermost, and Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

The Hijrah…

Soldiers of Allah: even the weakest of Creation can be His soldier: The spider – its web the most feeble of houses yet Used to protect them

Stayed for 3 days; meeting with Suraha who later became their bodyguard, stay at Umm-e Ma’bat’s house who later became Muslim

The Hijrah…

Hadith: “Hijrah is to leave what Allah (swt) Dislikes.” From (move from) sin → (submit to) obedience; make hijrah (h-j-r: to separate) from something impure to pure

Rationale: o Unlike hijrah to Abyssinia, this was to establish an Islamic

community o economic boom: brought talents of the Makkans and the

Medinians together; o manifestation of the conflict between good and evil; o Sunnah of the anbiya’ – to face harship and then emigrate for

the Cause of Allah

Arrival to Medina

Arrived at Quba (September 4, 622), zenith of sun, the Prophet صلى ال عليه وسلم was first spotted by the Jews of Yathrib; first mosque built at Quba (reward for offering 2 rak‘ah prayer = ‘umrah); Long-awaited arrival, Medinians rejoiced, gave gifts, offered lodgings etc)

Ethnic variety in Medina: 2 tribes of Aws and Khazraj (who became the Ansar) were Arabs, 3 tribes of Jews (Qurayzah, Nadir and Qaynuqa’); conflict and bitter relations between themselves (A + K) and the Jews; different beliefs and practices – Islam expected to unify which was not easy

‘Abdullah b. Ubayy; chief of the Khazraj tribe showed resentment as he was to be the next leader but the Prophet was chosen by the people as their leader; later صلى ال عليه وسلمbecame the head of the Munafiquun (hypocrites)

At Medina

4 major projects: o Institution of the Masjid – organized worshipo Establishment of Brotherhood between Ansar

(people of Medina, the Aws and Khazraj and the Muhajirs (people of Makkah, the migrants)

o Covenant that governed relationship between the different people of Medina (The Arab tribes, the Muhajirs and the Jews)

o Establishment of the army

At Medina… The Masjid

At Quba and then Masjid-al Nabawi; o Center for learning for Muslims, expansion of the role of the Dar al-

Arqam (at Makkah) which was private, this was public and out in the open; halaqahs (study circles) carried out for tarbiyah of the Muslims

o Location of his صلى ال عليه وسلم living quarterso Organized worship and establishment of salah and adhan; house where His Name

could be exalted; a place of sakinah and Allah’s Rahma, surrounded by Angels, and those gathered therein will have their names mentioned in a gathering better than theirs

o Social/community center; function of the jam‘at to signify unityo Dwelling place for the wayfarers and poor (Ahl-al Suffa and Abu Hurayrah [ra]) o Departure point of armieso Center for da‘wah (Christians from Najran and Yemen)

At Medina… Brotherhood

Command: Aal-‘Imran, Verse 103 and An-Anfal, Verses 72 and 74

واذكروا نعمت ال عليكم إذ كنتم أعداء فألف بين قلوبكم واعتصموا بحبل ال جميعا ول تفرقوالك يبين ال لكم آياته كذ‌ شفا حفرة من النار فأنقذكم منهافأصبحتم بنعمته إخوانا وكنتم على

لعلكم تهتدون

And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. the Qur’an), and be notdivided among yourselves, and remember Allah’s Favor on you, for you were enemies oneto another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethrenand you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makesHis Ayat clear to you, that you may be guided.

إن الذين آمنوا وهاجروا وجاهدوا بأموالهم وأنفسهم في سبيل ال والذين آووا ونصروا أولـئك والذين آمنوا ولم يهاجروا ما لكم من وليتهم من شيء حتى أولياء بعض بعضهم

وإن استنصروكم في الدين فعليكم النصر إل على قوم بينكم وبينهم يهاجروا وال بما تعملون بصير ميثاق

Verily, those who believed, and emigrated and strove hard and fought with their property and their lives in the Cause of Allah as well as those who gave (them) asylum and help, - these are (all) allies to one another. And as to those who believed but did not emigrate (to you O Muhammad صلى ال عليه وسلم ), you owe no duty of protection to them until they emigrate, but if they seek your help in religion, it is your duty to help them except against a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance, and Allah is the All-Seer of what you do.

والذين آمنوا وهاجروا وجاهدوا في سبيل ال والذين آووا ونصروا أولـئك هم المؤمنون حقالهم مغفرة ورزق كريم

And those who believed, and emigrated and strove hard in the Cause of Allah (Al-Jihad), as well as those who gave (them) asylum and aid; - these are the believers in truth, for them is forgiveness and Rizqun Kareem (a generous provision i.e. Paradise).  

At Medina… Brotherhood

Basis of bond of brotherhood was iman – faith-based community; not built on family ties, social-standing, tribal bonds etc.; question of loyalty: who should be considered an ally and WHY?; loyalty should be given to none but Allah and His Messenger صلى ال عليه وسلم and those who, therefore, follow Islam

Migrants in need of help; the Ansar pledged to help them; brotherhood established in pairs at first which later on was dissolved when circumstances stabilized

The Prophet صلى ال عليه وسلم instilled spirit of gratitude, “one who is not grateful towards people is not grateful towards Allah”

Hadith: “Only a believer would love them (the Ansar) and only a munafiq (hypocrite) will hate them. Whoever loves them, Allah will love him; whoever hates them, Allah will hate him.”

At Medina… The Covenant

The covenant or the Al-Waseeqa was written to govern the relationship between the different ethnic groups in Medina

It stipulated conditions for the welfare of the citizens of Medina and was issued in the Name of Allah and on grounds of justice and equality

The good was to upheld and enjoined and the bad was to be forbidden Believers were urged to offer all forms of help, shelter, sanctuary; rules for

fighting in and for Allah’s Cause were established; rules for retaliation and punishment were also instated

Jews were to pay their own expenses along with Muslims as long as they were allies in warfare; Jews were to have their own religion and Muslims their own but none would go to war except with the permission of Muhammad صلى ال عليه وسلم

All matters of difference must be referred to Allah and His Messenger صلى ال عليه وسلم

War and War Ethics

Threat from Quraysh in Makkah real; Muslims established their army whose fidelity was to Allah and His Cause only

The tradition of the ghazu: an acquisition raid which was was an unavoidable necessity during times of scarcity and a custom of the Bedouin tradition upheld by the Prophet صلى ال عليه وسلم

The last day of Rajab and Muslims drew first blood; Prophet’s صلى ال عليه وسلم confusion (Rajab one of the four sacred months in which fighting forbidden)

War and War Ethics…

Revelation of Confirmation: Al-Baqarah, Verse 217سألونك عن الشهر الحرام قتال فيه قل قتال فيه كبير وصد عن سبيل ال وكفر به والمسجد

الحرام وإخراج أهله منه أكبر عند ال والفتنة أكبر من القتل

They ask you concerning fighting in the Sacred Months (i.e. 1st, 7th, 11th and 12th

months of the Islamic calendar). Say “Fighting therein is a great (transgression) but agreater (transgression) with Allah is to prevent mankind from following the Way of Allah,to disbelieve in Him, to prevent access to Al Masjid-Al-Haram (at Makkah), and todrive out its inhabitants, and oppression (Al Fitnah) is worse than killing.

19 battles (major and minor) fought in all by the Prophet صلى ال عليه وسلم Jihad (j-h-d = struggle or to exert oneself) to be understood as struggle for

Allah against one own base self (nafs) and against all others who “prevent mankind from following the Way of Allah” (2:217)

Summary of Significant Battles

Badr: 2 A.H.; (favors mentioned by Allah in Al-Anfal) 314 Muslims vs. Makkans led by Abu Jahl; Angels sent down as Allah’s

Soldiers: :إذ تستغيثون ربكم فاستجاب لكم أني ممدكم بألف من الملئكة مردفين

(Remember) when you sought help of your Lord and He answered you (saying): “I will help you with a thousand of the angels each behind the other (following one another) in succession.” (8:7)

Quraysh deprived of water and rain sent down by Allah to remove doubt from the fighters’ hearts and terror was cast into the disbelievers’ hearts

Other events: Muhammad صلى ال عليه وسلم married Hafsa (ra); Ali (ra) married Fatima (ra), Ruqqayah (ra) died; Banu Qaynuqa’ broke the Covenant, siege of 2 weeks but no violence

Summary of Significant Battles

Uhad: 3 A.H.; Abu Sufyan leading 3000 men vs 1000 Muslims (3:1

ratio); Jews refused to fight (Banu Nadir broke agreement and helped Abu Sufyan; later tribe expelled to Khyber after 2 weeks siege), Ibn Ubayy withdrew;

Issue of the archers, disobeyed Muhammad’s صلىcommand to hold ground (3:121) ال عليه وسلم

Other events: 2 years 2 Jewish tribes expelled, Muslims began to control markets held by Jews; Muhammad صلى ال عليه وسلم married Umm-e Salamah ([ra] daughter of Abi Ummayah)

Summary of Significant Battles

Trench: 5 A.H.; (details mentioned in Al-Ahzab) 10,000 Makkans vs. 3000 Muslims; all sides of Medina

protected except the North; Salman Farsi’s (ra) idea to dig the trench; one-month heavy siege in which Muslims showed extreme forbearance (33:10-11); Ibn Ubayy and munafiqs raised doubt (33:12); Abu Sufyan recognized defeat

Treason of the Jews: Banu Qurayzah supported the Quraysh; exiled Banu Nadir chief tried to persuade Qurayzah to enter and attack from rear or smuggle 200 Nadiris to slaughter women and children; initial reluctance but eventually agreed but Qurayzah failed to deliver

Battle of The Trench…

Punishment of the Jews: Jews asked Sa‘d b. Muadh, a former ally of the Jews to be an arbiter and todeliver a verdict; Muhammad صلى ال عليه وسلم agreed; Sa‘d’s judgment overthe security risk and manifest treason of the Jews: 700 men to be executed,women and children taken as slaves and property to be taken by Muslims;decision confirmed by Allah in 29:46 and approved by Muhammadصلى ال : ”You have judged according to the ruling of Allah above the seven عليه وسلمskies.” Violation of trust and threat to the Muslim ummah; decision moderated by their former trusted confidante but crime inexcusable and far worse than Banu Nadir and Qaynuqa’s

Events Preceding Return to Makkah… Hudaibiyyah March 628, 6 A.H.; Muhammad صلى ال عليه وسلم dreamed of Hajj, pilgrims

to enter without arms to the Holy City – nature of Makkah as sanctuary, Hajj as pinnacle of ‘ibadah

2000 men led by Khalid b. Walid to attack pilgrims Qaswa’s refusal to budge at Hudaibiyyah; “sit-in” of the pilgrims; Uthman b.

Affan (ra) sent as goodwill ambassador but false news of his death Oath of Rizwan (Good Pleasure); Uthman not killed after all, negotiations

with the Quraysh Suhayl b. ‘Amr, chief of the clan of Amir in Makkah, pious pagan, stipulated

conditions that were clearly disadvantageous to the Muslims; a proper “secular” document

Rituals of Hajj to be completed at Hudaibiyyah; pilgrims’ anxiety, Muhammad’s صلى ال عليه وسلم confusion; Umm-e Salamah’s (ra) suggestion for him صلى ال عليه وسلم to take initiative and others followed suit

Hudaibiyyah

Return to Medina; Revelation of Surah Al-Fath; “open victory”:

إنا فتحنا لك فتحا مبيناVerily, We have given you (O Muhammad وسلم عليه ا ) a manifest victory.صلى

ليغفر لك ال ما تقدم من ذنبك وما تأخر ويتم نعمته عليك ويهديك صراطا مستقيماThat Allah may forgive you your sins of the past and the future, and complete His Favouron you, and guide you on the Straight Path,وينصرك ال نصرا عزيزاAnd that Allah may help you with strong help.

هو الذي أنزل السكينة في قلوب المؤمنين ليزدادوا إيمانا مع إيمانهم He it is Who sent down As-Sakinah into the hearts of the believers, that they may grow morein Faith along with their (present) Faith.

Hudaibiyyah…

Treaty of Hudaibiyyah managed to canvass much support; many embraced Islam henceforth, Revelation of Surah Nasr:

إذا جاء نصر ال والفتحWhen there comes the Help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad صلىا

وسلم ) and the conquest.عليهورأيت الناس يدخلون في دين ال أفواجاAnd you see that the people enter Allah’s religion (Islam) in crowds.فسبح بحمد ربك واستغفره إنه كان تواباSo glorify the Praises of your Lord, and ask His Forgiveness. Verily, He isthe One Who accepts repentance and Who forgives.

Events Preceding Return to Makkah

629, 7 A.H.; the month of Hajj; 2600 pilgrims departed for ‘umrah

Defeat at Mu’tah: death of Ja‘far, Zayd and ten other Muslims, death of his صلى ال عليه وسلم daughter Zaynab

November 629, Quraysh broke the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah; the tribe of Bakr attacked the tribe of Khuza’ah that had joined Muhammad’s صلى ال عليهconfederacy وسلم

Return to Makkah

630, 10 Ramadhan, 8 A.H.; largest force of Muslims (nearly all the men of the ummah volunteered) plus Bedouin allies who joined the force along the road: number rose to 10,000

Abu Sufyan awe-struck by the zeal and spirit of the Muslim army, told the Makkans that defiance was now useless

Suhayl, Safwan and Ikrimah decided to attack a small band of Khalid b. Walid’s (ra) soldiers but fled soon after

Muslim army entered without striking a single blow

Conquest of Makkah

وقل جاء الحق وزهق الباطل إن الباطل كان زهوقا

And say: “Truth has come and Batil (falsehood) has vanished. Surely! Batil is ever bound to vanish.”

Al-‘Isra, Verse 81

Muhammad صلى ال عليه وسلم as the Iconoclast – idols broken, shirk created by the jahilliyah removed; the Haram sanctified once more according to the values of his forefather, Ibrahim’s (as) deen; Hanif – the straight way i.e. Tawhid, the only deen i.e. Islam, the last Prophet صلى ال عليه وسلم

Conquest of Makkah

يا أيها الناس إنا خلقناكم من ذكر وأنثى وجعلناكم شعوبا وقبائل لتعارفوا إن أكرمكم عند ال أتقاكم إن ال عليم خبيرO Mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (49:13)

Mount Safa, another declaration and invitation to Islam, full circle, he صلى ال عليه وسلم began his da‘wah from there

Quraysh pledged fealty to Islam; 10 people on the black-list who had injured Muhammad’s صلى ال عليه وسلم , his family or spread anti-Muslim propaganda; some on the list asked for pardon and they were spared

From Makkah Back to Medina

January 630, Battle of Hunayn between tribes of Hawazin and Thaqif who were ready for battle at Taif, Hawazin joined Muhammad صلى ال عليه وسلم confederacy

Prayer made at the time hijrah fulfilled: Medina had made been more loving in his صلى ال عليه وسلم eyes; chose to return to Medina

Munafiquun and the Masjid-e Dharar

أل إنهم هم السفهاء ولـكن ل وإذا قيل لهم آمنوا كما آمن الناس قالوا أنؤمن كما آمن السفهاء يعلمون

And when it is said to them (hypocrites): “Believe as the people (followers of Muhammad وسلم عليه ا , ”,Al-Ansar and Al-Muhajirun) have believed صلىthey say: “Shall we believe as the fools have believed?” Verily, they are the fools, but they know not.

وإذا لقوا الذين آمنوا قالوا آمنا وإذا خلوا إلى شياطينهم قالوا إنا معكم إنما نحن مستهزئونAnd when they meet those who believe, they say: “We believe,” but when they are alone with their Shayatin, they say: “Truly, we are with you; verily, we were but mocking.”

ل يستهزئ بهم ويمدهم في طغيانهم يعمهونAllah mocks at them and gives them increase in their wrong-doing to wander blindly.

Surah al-Baqarah: 13-15

Munafiqun and the Masjid-e Dharar

Camp of Ibn Ubayy gained strength in his صلى ال absence; mosque built by the Munafiqs عليه وسلمcalled the Masjid-e Dharar which was destroyed on his صلى ال عليه وسلم arrival;

Death of Ibn Ubayy Mosque: a symbol of the unity and fraternity of the

Muslim ummah but its foundation built on anything other than love for the deen and the unity of ummah

Comparison with other mosques built on purity of iman

The Last Sermon (Khutbatul Wada’)

Last Hajj of the Prophet صلى ال عليه وسلم sermon given at ;Mosque Namira near Mount ‘Arafat

“Lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore, listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.”

Emphasis on the life of a Muslim as a sacred trust just as the city of Makkah, the ritual of Hajj, and the month of Hajj, of justice, of equity in money matters; of bewaring Shaytan; rights and duties towards wives and viceversa; the duty of Hajj; of mankind being one family; what sets apart is taqwa and good deeds;

Meeting with Allah when we would be Questioned

The Last Sermon (Khutbatul Wada’)…

People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well therefore, O people, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and if you follow these you will never go astray.

Affirmation and acknowledgement of his صلى ال عليه وسلم mission being duly fulfilled: All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listened to me directly.

Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed Your Message to Your people

The Last Sermon (Khutbatul Wada’)…

Lend an attentive ear: same tone as his صلى ال عليه وسلم sermon at Mount Saffa

Much emphasis on those who could not be present on that day: may the last ones understand it better than those who heard the words directly: trust and hope in his صلى ال عليهummah to carry his mission forward وسلم

To hold life and pledges, duties and rights sacred; to be one ummah and the oneness to be established on holding onto the Qur’an and his Sunnah which will guide mankind to do good so that it is successful in its Meeting with Allah

To live by His deen Chosen as a Completed Favor upon us (5:3) as no one else would come again to explain it as perfectly as Muhammad صلى ال عليه وسلم has

Last Hours and Demise

He صلى ال عليه وسلم remained sick for 13-14 days; when condition persisted he asked all his wives (ra) where he should stay and they all knew that he wanted to stay with ‘Aishah (ra)

12 Rabi-ul Awwal, 11 A.H.; last fajr which was his صلى ال عليه وسلم last prayer: Abu Bakr (ra) leading the prayer as he had been doing since the past 3 days; he raised the curtain and smiled to see his ummah in jama‘t offering صلى ال عليه وسلمsalah; Abu Bakr (ra) stepped aside for him صلى ال عليه وسلم to lead the prayer but he صلى ال عليه وسلم asked him (ra) to continue, he صلى ال عليه وسلم prayed seated;

He صلى ال عليه وسلم asked to meet daughter Fatimah (ra), his grandsons (ra) and all his wives (ra)

His صلى ال عليه وسلم last command which he said repeatedly: Be careful of prayer and of those whom you possess or have under your charge

Last words: With those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace with the Prophets and the Truthful ones, the martyrs and the good doers. O Allah, forgive me and have mercy upon me and join me to the Companionship on high…The most exalted Companionship on high. To Allah we turn and to Him we turn back for help and last abode

Last Hours and Demise

Abu Bakr’s words: And now, he who worships Muhammad, Muhammad صلىوسلم عليه is dead now. But he who worships Allah, He is Ever Living and He ا

never dies. Allah says: ‘Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah, and Allah will give reward to those who are grateful.’ (3:144)

Last hours: he صلى ال عليه وسلم met with his family and spend his final moments with his most beloved wife after Khadijah (ra): the Prophet’s attitude as a family man and yet his concern and joy over صلى ال عليه وسلمhis ummah as he watched the fulfillment of his mission by seeing it aligned in jam‘at; the importance of salah and to have responsibility when one is in authority

Last words: even as Prophet he صلى ال عليه وسلم begged for Allah’s Forgiveness and Mercy and for his ranks to be Raised and fulfilled his duty that to Allah is his and everyone’s return

Muhammad صلى ال عليه وسلم – The Best There Ever Would Be

يا أيها الذين آمنوا ل ترفعوا أصواتكم فوق صوت النبي ول تجهروا له بالقول كجهر بعضكملبعض أن تحبط أعمالكم وأنتم ل تشعرونO you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet عليه ا صلى nor speak aloud to him in talk as you speak aloud to one another, lest your , وسلمdeeds may be rendered fruitless while you perceive not. (Al-Hujraat, Verse 2)

Prophet Muhammad صلى ال عليه وسلم is the Greatest Rahma that Allah has bestowed on all of humanity and as he was Chosen by Allah as the Final Messenger and the Message he was Commanded to Deliver was of Islam, that Message like Its Messenger صلى ال عليه وسلم is Perfect and has been sent for all of humanity

من يطع الرسول فقد أطاع الHe who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad وسلم عليه ا ), صلى

has indeed obeyed Allah (4:80)