A Christian friend and colleague recently stated, as we discussed religion, that: “Almost all Christian children have memorized the Nativity Story. What equivalent do your [Muslim] children have to memories like ours do?” (For those who may not know, or may have forgotten, the Nativity Story is the narration about the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, Prophet Isa, upon whom and his mother be peace and blessings of Allah. The story is about the appearance of a star, the manger, the Three Wise Men bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, the miraculous birth, etc.)
Well, I told my Christian colleague that in Islamic history, there is no categorical directive to memorize particular events in history, but by far the most significant occurrence in the whole of our religion’s history was and is the Hijra, the Departure (call it Migration) of Prophet Muhammad, upon whom and his family be peace and blessings of Allah. Western writers, called Orientalists (or “Experts in Eastern Ideas”) used to refer to this Hijra as “Flight”; that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, was ‘fleeing’ from the Meccans who were in hot pursuit. The problem with that narrative, I stated, was that the Prophet’s Departure was divinely planned and directed, and his protection was guaranteed, and that he was not ‘fleeing’ for dear life (to which the term would naturally allude), but emigrating for ‘dear religion’, so to say. So if there was any event our children should ‘memorize,’ it is this – the Hijra.
Then my Christian friend also asked: “We base our calendar from the birth of Jesus, why do you not base yours from the birth of [Prophet] Muhammad [upon whom be peace?]”
So I told him this: “One; note that we, Muslims, believe in Jesus and, in fact, he is among the five most important Prophets of Allah (the others being Noah, Abraham, Moses and their Leader Muhammad, upon all of them be peace). The first four are also ‘local’ to Christians, and we only differ in two fundamentals – belief in the Prophet-hood of Muhammad by Christians and belief in the Divinity of Jesus by Muhammad. Apart from these two issues, we generally agree.” And Allah in the Qur’an specifically directs us to not discriminate against any of His prophets: “La nufarriqu baina ahadin minhum!”
Still on the way to answering his question on why Islam is not dated from the birth of Muhammad, upon whom be peace, I continued to inform him of the significance of this man, Prophet Muhammad, to us Muslims. In fact, I told him, Muhammad, upon whom be peace, is the only person Allah (God) Himself (exalted be His Name), celebrates the praises of, unceasingly. Allah says in Surah al Ahzab (The Confederates, or “The Coalition Forces”) Qur’an Chapter 33:56: “Innal Lah wa mala’ikataHu Yusalluna alan nabiy; ya ayyuhal lazina amanu sallu alaihi wa sallimu taslima.” (Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Shower blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation.”
That’s how personal Allah takes the matter of his Prophet. He celebrates him Himself, together with the angels, and announces it in the greatest of all compendiums, the Qur’an, and then clearly directs that we do that as well. To underline how personal, listen to Allah say this in this same Chapter: “O you who believe! Enter not the Prophet’s houses, except when leave is given to you for a meal, (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation. But when you are invited, enter, and when you have taken your meal, disperse, without sitting for a talk. Verily, such (behaviour) annoys the Prophet, and he is shy of (asking) you (to go), but Allah is not shy of (telling you) the truth.”
Secondly, when we recite the Kalma, the ‘Word’ (actually the Sentence) which makes us ‘born again’ and which renews our faith, we have to ‘join’ the Name of Allah to that of the Prophet. We always say: “La Ilaha illal Lah Muhammadur rasulul Lah.” (There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah). Yet, despite all these, because of the centrality of the religion rather than the individuality of the Prophet himself, the Islamic Calendar begins with the Hijra, that epochal migration of the Prophet from Makka to Madina (accompanied by his good friend Abubakar, may Allah be pleased with him and who was later to become First Caliph), rather than the date of the Prophet’s birth.
So, I tell my friend, this Thursday October 15 happened to be Muharram 1, the first day of the Islamic New Year 1437. Though we take our dating from it, the beginning of an Islamic New Year is not a celebration, is not a festival, and is not a feast like the two Eids of Fitr and Adha (Small and Big Sallah). But it is such a significant and momentous occasion of reflection and remembrance. Here in Nigeria, many Muslim-majority states such Kano and Osun have consistently declared Public Holidays to commemorate the historic occasion as is being done all over the Muslim world.
The Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, President-General of both the Nigerian Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), speaking through the JNI Secretary General Khalid Aliyu used the unique opportunity of the Islamic New Year to, as usual, remind the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to remain God-fearing, steadfast and law-abiding at all times. He also reminded the faithful not to celebrate the Islamic New Year with activities repugnant to Islamic tenets.
The Sultan further reminded the Muslim Ummah to remember to observe the voluntary fasts of Tasu’a and ‘Ashura which the Prophet (upon whom be peace) strongly recommended we do on the 9th and 10th of every Muharram, which this year would fall on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th respectively. The Sultan further calls on the faithful to, as usual, pray fervently for the development of our country’s peace and security, particularly now that a new democratically-elected government has been successfully ushered. The faithful should also personally continue to seek Allah’s forgiveness, guidance and protection always.
This new Islamic Year means one thousand, four hundred and thirty seven years have passed since Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace), the greatest person to walk on this Planet Earth, the one person who is the most beloved of all to Allah left his hometown Makka (Mecca) to Madina (Medina). The exact date is said to have corresponded with July 16, 622 in the Christian Calendar. This journey is a history in itself and in it is a message of historical proportions for mankind.
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic Calendar, and the others are (especially for those who are too boko-imbibed and Islamiyya-forgotten) Safar, Rabi’ Awwal, Rabi’ Thani, Jumada Awwal, Jumada Thani, Rajab, Sha’ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Zul Qa’adah, Zul Hijjah). The Islamic Calendar is lunar, and uses the moon, rather than the sun (as in the Gregorian Calendar) to count the days and weeks and months and years. And as the lunar cycle is usually eleven days shorter than the solar, the Islamic New Year reduces by that number of days every year, and Muharram 1 shall fall on each of the days of January to December in a generation of about thirty three years.
When the Noble Prophet arrived Madinah, he entered to the chorus and lyrics and music of Tala al Badru (that song rendered most beautifully by the famous Muslim singer Yusuf Islam, the former Cat Stevens (listen to it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5HiXM9JGJQ):
Tala al badru ‘alayna
Min thaniyati-al Wada’
Wajaba Shukru ‘alayna
Ma da’a lillahi da’
O the white moon rose over us
From the valley of Wada’
And we owe it to show thankfulness
Where the call is to Allah
Ayyuha-al Mab’uthu feena
Ji’ta bi-al amru muta’
Ji’ta sharafta-al Madeenah
Marhaban ya khayra da’
O you, who were raised amongst us
Coming with the words to be obeyed
You have ennobled this city
Welcome O caller to God’s way
May the Islamic New Year 1437 be a harbinger of glad tidings to all!
Happy New year to the entire Muslim Ummah!
Kullu ‘aamin wa antum bikhayr!”
This piece was published in Daily Trust on October 16, 2015. [myad]
