January 20th marked the beginning of the new Islamic Year, 1428 years after the Hijrah. Sadly the date goes unmarked in most Western countries - at a time when unity, dialogue and friendship is needed, let's hope that our New Year becomes more widely known. The month Muharram ul haram literally means "the month in which it is forbidden (haram) to fight" - Let's hope that people take heed. A little peace would go a long way.
New Hijrah year an opportunity to fight extremism
King Mohammed VI asserted that the start of the new hegira year should "incite us to ban dissensions and discord and to fight all forms of extremism, aggression, break-up and division."
In a message to the heads of Islamic States on the occasion of the advent, due on Sunday, of the new Hijrah year (1428), the monarch called on the Muslim leaders to work together "towards the fulfilment of the immutable values of Islam, namely brotherliness, moderation, justice, tolerance and co-existence between religions and cultures."
The king also reaffirmed Morocco's stance as regards the Arab causes, especially the need for the Palestinian people to regain its legitimate rights and to establish its independent State with Al Qods Asharif as its capital.
The sovereign also voiced hope of stability and reconciliation in Iraq, and of the pursuit of reconstruction in Lebanon.
The Islamic calendar is based on the time of migration (Hijrah) of Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him-P.B.U.H.) from Mecca to Medina. The Prophet's decision to migrate from Mecca came after several years of inhuman treatment by the powerful tribes who were united despite all their feuds to stop the spread of Islam.
In 622 AD, the tribes joined hands to assassinate Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Again despite their differences they had a common goal to achieve. Therefore, Quresh tribesmen held a meeting and decided that a band of young men, one from each tribe, should assassinate Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) collectively so that their responsibility for the murder could not be placed on any particular tribe.
With this information, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) migrated from Mecca. He reached Quba, on the edge of the Medina oasis, on 12th Rabiul Awwal. With Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) arrival in Quba a new phase of his career and the rise of Islam began.
This migration has a special significance in the history of Islam. It ended the Meccan period of humiliation and torture, where people to whom Islam was preached for 13 years, neglected the Prophet of Islam; and began the era of success in Medina where he was cordially received as an honoured chief.
In Medina, he was not only the religious leader but took the role of a politician and statesman too. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) expired ten years after his migration to Medina but only in one decade he changed the course of human history. In view of this special significance of the Prophet's migration, the consultative body advised the Second Islamic Caliph, Hazrat Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (R.A ) to start the Islamic year from the date of migration of the Prophet from Mecca to Medina.
At that time conflicting dating systems were used. In order to rationalize, Hazrat Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (R.A ) consulted with his advisors on the starting date of the new Muslim chronology. It was finally agreed that the most appropriate reference point for the Islamic calendar was the Hijrah. Hazrat Ali Ibn-e Abu Talib (R.A.), suggested the Hijrah as the beginning of the Islamic year with Moharram as its first month. Consequently, Caliph Hazrat Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (R.A ) in 21 A.H. or 641 A.D introduced the Islamic calendar in its present form.
But note: Our Amazigh brothers and sisters celebrated their own New Year for the 2,957th time in accordance with the Julian calendar back on the 12th of January.
Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
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