It was 1420 years ago when the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. embarked
on the journey with his faithful companion Abu Bakr. His detractors, the leaders of the
Qurayshi tribes in Makkah plotted to kill him by sending a squad of assassins hand picked
from the nine clans. They knew they had to dispose of him before he gathers force that
would eventually defeat them. But Allah the Almighty deceived these evil schemers and the
prophet left his house with his nephew Ali gallantly being the decoy, he went out
unnoticed by the gang of assassins.
The prophet and Abu Bakr proceeded in a southern direction instead of going directly
towards Madinah. They sheltered in a cave. As is frequently recounted to children all over
the world, webs were cast by spiders at the mouth of the cave providing camouflage to
become a symbol of the hijrah celebrations. Abu Bakr's daughter brought food and water,
and another companion provided reconnaissance and information.
Once however, a troop of the Quraysh came close to the mouth of the cave. There was
concern felt by Abu Bakr as they were only two whereas there were many of the Quraysh.
Whence, Muhammad s.a.w. said as was recorded in Surah Tawbah in the al Qur'an: "Do
not worry; for Allah is with us." - la tahzan innallaha ma'ana.
Back to the present and on the night of the 20th September 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
Anwar Ibrahim was arrested. He was arrested spectacularly by a special forces team in a
commando styled raid in his house in front of many relatives, friends, supporters and
journalists. Along the way he was blindfolded and upon arrival at the police headquarters
he was handcuffed. In his dark and lonely cell, he was assailed and pummelled with near
fatal blows. In the subsequent inquiry, what was overheard in his lips as he was
recovering in agony over the injury was "Allah is with us" - innallaha
ma'ana. The chief police officer himself admitted eventually although belatedly to
committing the despicable unprovoked attack against a defenceless man. Anwar Ibrahim is
still imprisoned and has been sentenced to 6 years for crimes he steadfastly decries and
defiantly challenges against great odds.
We leave that part although it is the present and the very core of the reform struggle
here to again look at the hijrah. Whatever the outcome, with forbearance and strive,
Allah's plan will prevail and we hope and pray that the example and lessons of Prophet
Yusuf a.s. would bring that happy ending to the whole tragic episode.
The choice of the route of the hijrah and the preparations were strategies in achieving
the struggle of the cause of Islam. There were no easy ways or quick short cuts. Previous
emigration attempts such as the visit to Taif brought much pain to the prophet tempting
the angels to intervene to demolish the city to smithereens.The emigration to Abbysinia
was helpful to the weak and the meek of Makkah to escape the persecution which was
becoming more severe. They obtained asylum from the Christian King Najashi. However for
Islam to flourish and for the ummah to become a living political community, it needed
nationhood.
In retrospect, asylums provided justly are nothing to be ashamed of in the West. Many
fighters and leaders of the Islamic movements seek shelter in the West to flee oppression
of their native lands. This flight is to obtain that freedom to continue the cause to seek
justice and freedom for their countries from tyranny. Even Imam Khomeini in his struggle
against the Shah operated from Paris after being forced out of Iraq.
The prophet's journey reached Madinah and the first thing he did was to build a Masjid at
Quba symbolising the very centre of operations of the ummah to be focussed in servitude to
Allah - 'ubudiyyah. He made bonds of brotherhood amongst the muhajirin -
the emigrants and the ansar - the helpers. The City itself and its multi-racial
inhabitants consisting Jews and Christian as well as other non-Muslim Arabs were united
under a charter which Prof. Muhammad Hamidullah asserted as the first written constitution
in the world. The hijrah and the existence of Madinah provided the base and model for
Islam to be practised in nationhood and to spread out to the world without the hindrance
and ignorant opposition of the pagan Quraysh.
Muhammad s.a.w. after 10 years did return triumphantly to reopen the City of Makkah to
Muslims and eventually for Islam to be undisputed the religion of the Arab lands. He
returned without vengeance but full of mercy and kindness.
Back to the present time, indeed the ummah needs to move on to find a base for reforming
itself. There are too many displaced Muslims as recent as of now in the cold hills and
bare fields of Kosova, Albania and Macedonia. Pursued and savaged by wicked Serbian thugs.
We must return the true spirit of the jihad and commemorate the hijrah by
adopting its significance, its meanings, its strategies to save Kosova, save justice and
save the ummah.
Hamdan Muhammad Hassan
15 April 1999.
-----------------------------
[Currently, he is a Senior Civil Engineer at the University Science of Malaysia. He is
involved in youth activities with the Muslim Youth Movement in Malaysia. He is also the
President for the Muslim Staff Association in his university.]
