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Hijrah of Hearts
By Sheikh Saleh AI-Fawzan
Among the different kinds of Hijrah is the abandonment of wrongdoing such as acts of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy.
Muslims should follow the example of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) by modelling themselves after his guidance and course of life and following in his footsteps in terms of talking and behaving.
Literally speaking, the word ‘Hijrah’ in Arabic indicates separating oneself from others bodily, spiritually or in speech. Legally speaking, it means departing from lands of disbelievers, evil people or evil deeds.
Hijrah in this sense is among the traditions of Prophet Ibrahim (Pbuh) who said: “And he said (after his rescue from the fire): Verily, I am going to my Lord. He will guide me.” (Qur’an: 37:99).
The verse refers to Prophet Ibrahim’s emigration from the country of disbelievers, seeking faith. Some of his offspring accompanied him to Ash-Sham region, where Al-Aqsa mosque is located in Palestine, and then, accompanied by some others of his offspring, he moved to Hijaz, where the Sacred Mosque is situated in Makkah. This is stated in the invocation mentioned in Surah Ibrahim (Qur’an: 14:37).
Hijrah was also established by Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) as he twice ordered his companions to migrate to Abyssinia to preserve their faith when the disbelievers in Makkah began torturing them severely. The Prophet however remained in Makkah calling people to the way of Allah, in spite of the great harm he received.
Then Almighty Allah permitted him to migrate to Madinah. The Prophet allowed his companions to go to Madinah and accordingly, they began leaving their homes and properties, seeking the pleasure of Allah, and helping the cause of Allah and His Messenger. Allah praised those immigrants to Madinah and promised them a great reward.
Emigration has become an established fact that will not cease until the Day of Judgement. Almighty Allah compensates those who emigrate, for the properties left behind. He says: “And as for those who emigrated for the cause of Allah, after they had been wronged, We will certainly give them goodly residence in this world, but indeed the reward of the hereafter will be greater; if they but knew” (Qur’an: 16:41).
Among the different kinds of Hijrah is the abandonment of wrongdoing such as acts of disbelief, polytheism, hypocrisy, other evil deeds and bad morals. The Prophet tells us that a Muslim is one who avoids harming other Muslims with his tongue and hands, and an emigrant is the one who abandons all that Allah has forbidden.
Another kind of Hijrah is to desert wrongdoers such as disbelievers, hypocrites, immoral people and the like, as Almighty Allah says: “And be patient (O Muhammad) what they say, and keep away from them in a good way.” (Qur’an 73:10).
The highest form of Hijrah is the Hijrah of hearts which is worshipping Allah sincerely in secret and in public. In this form of Hijrah, the true believer should not intend to do anything through his words and deeds, except to gain Allah’s pleasure alone.
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