Knowledge International University

Final Assignment

Course Name: Seerah 1

Course Code: SER 1
Instructor: Shaykh Hacene Chebbani

Student Details
Name: Hassan Basarally
Student ID: 1120020
Batch:
Semester: 2 (Fall 2012/2013)

Assignment Question: Discuss the view that the Hijra to Madina was not an end in itself but a
means to an end. (Maximum 1200 words)

Answer:
Hirja means to move away from, to leave or migrate from something. In Islam, it refers to the
Migration of the Muslims to Madinah. It is one of the defining moments in the history of Islam. Its
importance in illustrated by this being selected by Umar, , as the epoch of the Islamic

calendar. The Hijrah was not an end in itself but a means to an end; it did not simply allow Muslims
to escape oppression but enabled the establishment of the Islamic state and for Islam to spread
throughout the land.

The majority of Muslims, especially during the first ten years of Prophethood, had a life that was
characterised by restrictions in worshipping Allah, , physical torture, economic
sanctions and restrictions in propagating Islam. The disbelievers taunted and ridiculed the
Messenger, , distorted the message of Islam to the masses, and derided the Quran

as myth and stories. Amongst the Sahabah tortured were Uthman, Bilal, Ammar, Umm Ubais and
Zanirah, . Yasir and Sumaiyah, were martyred. Even the Messenger of

Allah, , was not spared, the disbelievers singled him out for verbal abuse,

humiliation and physical attacks despite him being under the protection of his uncle. All who
showed inclination to Islam, no matter their status in society faced this. The disbelievers also sought
to hamper the Muslims worshipping at the Kabah. For example, they would throw the guts of a
camel on the Messenger, , while he prostrated.

This situation resulted in an environment in which Islam would have great difficulty is flourishing
as the masses of the disbelievers outnumbered the Muslims, they were in many ways in control of
the Muslims and it was easy for them to oppress the Muslims. At the same time, the trials
experienced by the Muslims developed their conviction and belief. It developed an unshakable
belief in Allah, and it developed a love for the Messenger, , he was not

a detached leader as he suffered the same torture they did. The Muslims also knew that they were
responsible for spreading Islam as they we all of the Ummah. They were confident of the victory of
Islam and of their reward in the Hereafter as Allah, had promised them so:

١٧٣﴿ ‫ن‬
َ ‫جنَدَنا َلُهُم اْلَغاِلُبو‬
ُ ‫ن‬
ّ ‫﴾ وَِإ‬١٧٢﴿ ‫ن‬
َ ‫صو‌ُرو‬
ُ ‫﴾ ِإّنُهْم َلُهُم اْلَمن‬١٧١﴿ ‫ن‬
َ ‫سِلي‬
َ ‫ت َكِلَمُتَنا ِلِعَباِدَنا اْلُم‌ْر‬
ْ ‫سَبَق‬
َ ‫﴾َوَلَقْد‬

And Our word has already preceded for Our servants, the messengers. [That] indeed, they
would be those given victory. And [that] indeed, Our soldiers will be those who overcome.
(37:171-173)
In the beginning of the tenth year of Prophethood, the Messenger, , started to call to

Islam outside of Makkah. Despite the rejection of the people in Taif, individuals from dispersed
tribes entered into Islam, amongst those who accepted Islam at this time was Abu Dhar, .
In the eleventh year of Prophethood six people from Madinah accepted Islam, the following year
seven and the next, over seventy. This was not only important because of the numbers but also that
those who accepted Islam went back to Madinah to propagate Islam. Therefore, for three years
Madinah was nurtured upon Tawheed in preparation for the Hijrah. The Messenger,
send Musab bin Umair, to teach resulting in a strong foundation being

created for the launching of the Islamic state.

Proof that the Hijrah is not an end in itself is seen in the act of the Hijrah by itself developed the
Muslims. It required them to leave their wealth, property and family to migrate to a foreign city.
Only those with firm conviction in Islam will risk everything to move to where Islam could be
cultivated, as Hijrah was a physical and well as material risk. For example, the Quraish sent search
parties to capture the Messenger, , and Abu Bakr, . Allah

says:
‫ج‌ِري‬
ْ ‫ت َت‬
ٍ ‫جّنا‬
َ ْ‫عّد َلهُم‬
َ ‫عْنُه وََأ‬
َ ‫ضوا‬
ُ ‫عْنهُْم وَ‌َر‬
َ ‫ي الّلـُه‬
َ‫ض‬
ِ ‫ن ‌ّر‬
ٍ ‫سا‬
َ ‫ح‬
ْ ‫ن اّتَبُعوُهم ِبِإ‬
َ ‫صا‌ِر َواّلِذي‬
َ ‫ن َواَْلن‬
َ ‫ج‌ِري‬
ِ ‫ن اْلُمَها‬
َ ‫ن ِم‬
َ ‫ن اَْلّوُلو‬
َ ‫ساِبُقو‬
ّ ‫َوال‬

‫ظيُم‬ َ ‫ن ِفيَها َأَبًدا ۚ ذِٰل‬

ِ ‫ك اْلَفْوُز اْلَع‬ َ ‫خاِلِدي‬
َ ‫حَتَها اَْلْنَها‌ُر‬
ْ ‫َت‬

And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who
followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him,
and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide
forever. That is the great attainment.
Shaykh Abu Amr Al Hajoori explains that the Muhajireen (Emigrants) are superior to the Ansar
1
(Helpers) as they combined making Hijrah with supporting Islam . This is substantiated by the
Hadeeth: “The people should be led in prayer by the one who has most knowledge of the Qur’aan
and has been reciting it for longer. If they are equal in their knowledge and reading of the Qur’aan,
then they should be led by the one who made hijrah first. If they are equal with regard to
2
hijrah, then they should be led by the one who is older…” . The Hijrah further strengthened the

1
Guiding the Best of People to the Obligation of Making Hijrah from the Lands of the Disbelievers. Dar Al Imam Ahmad, Cairo. 2006
2
Narrated by Muslim, 1079
Muslims, preparing them for a different set of challenges in Madinah; the development of the
Muslim society.

The purpose of Hijrah was not just to escape oppression it was to build a new society. This was done
through the establishment of a Masjid, the development of brotherhood, the establishment of ritual
acts of worship, calling to Allah, , in a more confident manner and the Messenger,

, moving into the role of a statesman. With the establishment of the Masjid, the

Muslims were able to pray without interference. In addition, the Masjid became the centre of the
Muslim community; it was the centre of learning and decision making. It was from here that
expeditions were sent and emissaries received. With Hijrah, the Muhajiroon were very vulnerable
after losing their possession and livelihood, by pairing the Muhajiroon with the Ansar, the Muslims
learnt about true brotherhood and reliance on each other. They left the tribal loyalties and
established loyalty based on the obedience to Allah. With the new Muslim society growing in
Madinah, the Prophet, , had attained a state of safety that allowed him to spread

Islam farther than before. The safety of Madinah also provided the space where the Muslims, whose
faith was strengthened by the years or oppression and deprivation, to start enacting more ritual acts
of worship and moral values. For example, laws of fasting, pilgrimage, trade, and charity were
revealed in Madinah. The Hijrah allowed the Muslims to worry less about extinction and focus of
getting closer to Allah, and establishing His Shariah on earth. After Hijrah, was

characterised by the Messenger, , spreading Islam to all tribes in the Arabian

Peninsula and sending emissaries to world powers. During this stage, many accepted Islam and had
a home in Madinah to go to if they faced oppression in their tribe. Hijrah also placed the Messenger,
in the role of a statesman as he made treaties with the disbelievers, implemented

the Islamic legal code and its prescribed punishments, presided over disputes and engaged in
fighting for the sake of Allah, . Many of these reasons that show Hijrah as a means to

and end is seen in the verse:

 َ ‫ص‌ُروا ُأوَلـ ِٰئ‬
‫ك َبْعضُُهْم‬ َ ‫ن آَووا ّوَن‬
َ ‫سِبيِل الّلـِه َواّلِذي‬
َ ‫سِهْم ِفي‬
ِ ‫جاَهُدوا ِبَأْمَواِلِهْم َوَأنُف‬
َ ‫ج‌ُروا َو‬
َ ‫ن آَمُنوا َوَها‬
َ ‫ن اّلِذي‬
ّ ‫ِإ‬

‫ن َفَعَلْيُكُم‬
ِ ‫ص‌ُروُكْم ِفي الّدي‬
َ ‫سَتن‬ْ ‫نا‬ ِ ‫ج‌ُروا ۚ َوِإ‬
ِ ‫ح ّٰتى ُيَها‬ َ‫ي ٍ ء‬ ْ ‫ش‬َ ‫ج‌ُروا َما َلُكم ّمن َوَلَيِتِهم ّمن‬ ِ ‫ن آَمُنوا َوَلمْ ُيَها‬َ ‫ض َۚواّلِذي‬
ٍ ‫َأـْو ِلَياءُ َبْعـ‬
ُ ّ َ ُ َ َ َ ّ َ
ْ َ َ ُ
‫ص ُر‌ ِإل ع ل ٰى قْو ٍم بَ ْيَن كْم َوبَ ْيَن هم ّميثا ٌق ۗ َوال لـ ُه ِب َما ت ع َم لو َن بَ ِصي ٌر‬ ْ ‫‌ال َّن‬

Indeed, those who have believed and emigrated and fought with their wealth and lives in the
cause of Allah and those who gave shelter and aided - they are allies of one another. But those
who believed and did not emigrate - for you there is no guardianship of them until they
emigrate. And if they seek help of you for the religion, then you must help, except against a
people between yourselves and whom is a treaty. And Allah is Seeing of what you do. (8:72)
This verse mentions the Muhaajiroon and the Ansar as fulfilling their duty to Allah, ,

and that they are brothers who aid each other and the obligation of doing so. In Tafseer Ibn Katheer ,
the following statement is made about this bond, “Here Allah mentions the types of believers,
dividing them into the Muhajirin, who left their homes and estates, emigrating to give support to
Allah and His Messenger to establish His religion. They gave up their wealth and themselves in this
cause. There are also the Ansar, the Muslims of Al-Madinah, who gave asylum to their Muhajirin
brethren in their own homes and comforted them with their wealth. They also gave aid to Allah and
His Messenger by fighting alongside the Muhajirun. Certainly they are,
﴿‫ض‬ ُ ‫( ﴾َبْع‬allies to one another), for each one of them has more right to the other than
ٍ ‫ضهُْم َأْوِلَيآُء َبْع‬

anyone else.”Allah, , censures those who did not migrate which indicates its importance

in developing the individual’s reliance on Allah, and ability to worship freely. The

verse also mentions aiding Muslims and disbeliever with whom there is a treaty with. This position
is strength was attained after Hijrah.

By viewing the condition of the Muslims and the spread of Islam after Hijrah, it is evident that the
migration was a means to the establishment of the Muslim society. It made the Muslims stronger.
They were able to worship without hindrance, practice revealed legislation openly, interact freely
with different nations and tribes, educate and cultivate the Muslims on a large scale and build a
nation that became a light to all mankind.