SIGNIFICANCE OF HIJRAH -02

A Note Made From A Khutbah Presented By Bar. Adam Toyin Jamiu At Hilal (Crescent) Islamic Center, Ilorin, on 2nd Muharram, 1437 AH

By

Ibn 'Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

3. AL-IKHLAAS (SINCERITY)

Another significant lesson from the Hijrah is that it trains us to purify our intentions so that our acts of worship can be accepted by Allaah. Doing good deeds (praying, fasting, performing hajj and paying zakah etc. is not enough, we must do all good deeds for the sake of Allaah alone. We must not do it to please anyone other than Allaah. This is the simple message derivable from the popular hadith 1 of Arba'een An-nawawiyyah. When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم noticed that a lot of people were trooping towards Madeenah because of material reasons, he told them that hijrah is a great effort that draws great rewards from Allaah. But only those who migrate for the sake of Allaah alone would be granted the rewards. Those who migrated for worldly reasons would not have any reward before Allaah.

Unfortunately, many Muslims today use this hadith to justify their wrong beliefs, sins and innovations in the deen. When they are advised to quit those acts of worship they engage in without proofs from the Qur'an and Sunnah, they would say, "our intention is good". Their intention may be good, but the act itself is not good because Allaah and His Rosul صلى الله عليه وسلم warn us strongly against bid'ah, sins and several other evils. For an act of worship to be acceptable to Allaah, it must be legislated by the Qur'an, Sunnah or both; it must be done the way the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his companions رضي الله عنهم did it and the intention must be to please Allaah alone and not anyone other than Allaah.

4. ISLAMIC BROTHERHOOD

The hijrah also teaches us Islamic brotherhood. We should love ourselves the way the Companions رضي الله عنهم loved themselves. There is no kind love of that can be compared with the love between the the Muhajireen (those who migrated from Makkah) and the Ansar (those who helped them in Madeenah). The Ansar were so kind to the extent that they were sharing their wives with the migrants from Makkah. They gave them houses, foods, clothes and many other things. 

The Muslims of this generation are different. Instead of following the footsteps of the pious predecessors, we hurt ourselves in a ruthless manner. Muslims are killing their innocent Muslim brothers and sisters through suicide bombing and deadly attacks. We do not assist ourselves murally and financially. We see Muslims nations having blockades with another Muslim nations. Some Muslims are snatching the properties of fellow Muslims. We must go back to pristine Islaam. We must emulate the conducts of the best generation of Muslims, otherwise, we would continue to deceive ourselves thinking we are on the right track. Allaah says: 

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

"The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy" (Suratul Hujraat)

This verse shows that if a Muslim does not do good to his fellow Muslim, he does not fear Allaah and he would not receive His mercy. There are many hadith on the essence of Islamic brotherhood. May Allaah make it easy for us to comply.

To be continued in sha Allaah...