ORIGIN OF THE HIJRAH CALENDAR

 By Abdussalaam Alimi. A.

All praise be to ALLAH (Mighty and Exalted) for making us witness another hijrah year (1445 years after hijrah). We as Muslims, we have been counting the hijrah calendar right from our primary school days (especially those that attend Islamic primary school). But do we really know what it is, how did it came into existence or did it just emerge suddenly? To answer the questions above, let’s move forward!

During the early period of the messengership of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), the disbeliever of the Quraysh realized that the Muslims are increasing in number then they began to melt out torture on them, most especially the weak among them and the slaves. Example of such people are the family of ‘Ammar bn Yaasir. His father (Yaasir) died during this torture while his mother, Sumayyah bint Khayyat was killed on solaah by Abu jahl, who put sword through her, thus she was the first female martyr in Islaam. Anytime the Prophet passed by them, he do assure them to be patient and Jannah will be their final abode.

When the torture became unbearable, the Muslims were permitted to migrate to Abyssinia (today’s Ethiopia), though a land of Christianity then but the Muslims led by Ja’afar bn Abi Taalib (the prophet’s cousin) were received warmly by the king of Abyssinia, who later converted to Islaam.

It got worsened that it remain only a few Muslim in Makkah, most have migrated to Yathrib (Madinah Al munawwarah’s old name). But the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is yet to receive any commandment from Allaah to migrate, so he remain in Makkah .

After some period of time, the command came when the disbelievers of the Quraysh were plotting to kill the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). But he was saved by Allaah.

Before we continue, it’s important for us to discuss exactly what hijrah is:

As explained by the scholars: “Hijrah is the holy migration made for the sake of Allaah, from a land of disbelieve to a land of Islaam {from a land where Muslims are being oppressed and not allowed to practice their religion as laid down by Allaah (Mighty and Exalted) to a land where Islaam and its injunctions are put in appropriate place}.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made the migration with his friend and companion, Abu bakr As siddiq (‘Abdullaah bn ‘Uthmaan, may Allaah be pleased with him). They were faced with a lot of difficulties on their way but they reached Madinah savely after three days.

Certainly, the hijrah calendar was not counted during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) but the lunar were known ever since the jahiliyyah period and it was also mentioned in the Qur’aan.

So how then did the hijrah calendar came into being? When did they start counting it?

It was introduced during the reign of the second rightly guided caliph, Amir –ul- mu’mineen, ‘Umar bn Al khattab (may Allaah be pleased with him).

During his reign, the Islamic state experienced great progress and development with expansion over lands. He realized the need for the Muslims to have a calendar year, so he seek suggestion from the other companions, after much deliberations they all agree to commemorate the counting after the year of the migration of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) from Makkah to Madinah. Thus, the hijrah calendar emerge.

Now, we are currently in one thousand, four hundred and forty five (1445) years after the migration of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) from Makkah to Madinah.

We ask Allaah to make us witness more of it on earth, Aameen.

Then, know that it is not for us to celebrate, if it is to be celebrated, the companions of the Prophet would have done it.

Finally, we ask Allaah to keep us firm upon His Deen and make us among those who adhere strictly to His injunctions, Aameen.