What is the Hijra? The Value of Hijra for Muslims

Islam, this is one of the world's religions, which has more than one billion followers around the world. In this article, we will touch on one very important concept of this teaching, namely, we will try to answer the question of what is the Hijra.

Definition of concept

Behind that profound notion of the Hijrah that we have today is one historical event, important for the development of Islam. It is about the transfer of the Prophet Muhammad to Medina from his native Mecca. This migration is a hijra in the proper sense of the word. All that concerns its other aspects is theological reflection.

History

Having found out what is the Hijra, let us now analyze the history of this event in more detail. For this we will move to the very beginning of the seventh century AD, in 609 year. It was then with his sermon of the new revelation of one God that the Arab merchant, a native of Mecca, named Mohammed, appears. He proclaims himself a prophet, enclosing a number of such biblical characters as Abraham, Moses and Jesus. The ambitious preacher claims that the time has come for a new religion and a new law that the Almighty gives to people through it. Unfortunately, the newfound prophet, most of his countrymen did not feel appealed to turn from the father's covenants and accept the new message. Most people simply ignored Muhammad's claim to God's choice, but there were also those who showed active resistance to him and his associates and even threatened with reprisals. On the prophet's misfortune, the chiefs and leaders of society differed in special dislike to him. The life of the first Muslim community was quite difficult and difficult in such conditions, therefore some of them moved to Ethiopia, where the Christian ruler agreed to host them. This is the first Hijra of Muslims. In other words, what is the Hijra? This is a transition, an escape from evil to good, peace and security.

But the prophet at this time still remained in Mecca and was persecuted. At the same time, in another city, which was then called Yasrib, there were two Arab tribes who were at loggerheads with each other. They professed the traditional paganism of the Arabs, but next to them lived representatives of Judaism and Christianity in Yasrib, so they heard about the belief in one God. When the news reached them, that a certain prophet of this faith from Arabs appeared in Mecca, they became interested. In response, Muhammad sent a preacher to the city, who managed to persuade many people to renounce paternal polytheism and adopt a new religion - Islam. There were so many of them that they even decided to ask Muhammad to move to their city and become the head of the board. The Prophet accepted this offer. His resettlement in Yasrib was held in 622, after which the city became known as Medina. Muhammad was received with peace and great respect, as the supreme ruler and new leader of the inhabitants. This event from the life of the prophet and became a hijra in the proper sense of the word.

The meaning of resettlement

But what is Mohammed's Hijra for Muslims and why is it so important for believers? The fact is that the relocation to Medina marked a new stage not only in the private life of the prophet, but also in the history of the formation of the religion he proclaimed. After all, together with him, the whole Muslim community of Mecca left for Yathrib, which had previously been weak and oppressed. Now, after the Hijra, the followers of Islam became strong and numerous. The Islamic community has evolved from a company of like-minded people into a social formation and an influential social community. The life of the Medina itself has completely changed. If the traditional pagan population was previously based on tribal relations, then from now on they began to be bound by the community of faith. Inside Islam, people were equalized in rights, regardless of nationality, welfare, origin and position in society. In other words, the social structure of the city has completely changed, which subsequently made possible the broad expansion of Islam into the world. The total Islamization of many countries and states of the Middle and Middle East, Africa, and Asia began precisely with the Hijrah of Muhammad in Medina. Therefore, this event became a kind of starting point in the history of the religion of the Koran.

External and internal Hijra

In the first time after the transfer to Medina Mohammed, all Muslim converts had to follow his example. Then, when Mecca was conquered, this establishment was abolished, but since then the idea of internal relocation has spread. What is the Hijra committed within the human spirit? It is such a way of thinking and living, when a person avoids all the bad things that according to the norms of Islam are considered sinful. Therefore, every time a Muslim avoids temptation and passes from sin to a righteous way of life, this is considered a Hijra.

The appearance of the Islamic calendar

After the death of the prophet, when the Caliph Omar ruled the Muslim community, the question was raised about the development of a calendar adapted to the needs of religion. As a result, in the convened light, it was decided to approve the lunar calendar. A reference point for the new chronology was taken to determine the migration of Muhammad to Medina. Since then, and up to now, the Muslim New Year for the Hijri is celebrated.

Features of the Muslim calendar

As in the traditional calendar, the Islamic calendar includes twelve months, which is recorded even in the Koran. Since this system is based on the cycles of the moon, in the year, therefore, there are 354 or 355 days, and not 365, as in the solar calendar. That is, the Hijri months can begin at different times, without having a binding to the time of the year. It is important to note that four of the twelve months are called taboo and have special significance for the life of believers. In conclusion, it should be said that the Lunar Hijra, that is, the New Year according to the Muslim calendar is not a holiday in the European sense of the word. Followers of Islam do not mark the beginning of a new cycle. For them, this event, however, serves as an excuse to do introspection and a good time to take stock and build plans for the future.