The years that have passed will be considered as successful if they were spent in obedience to almighty Allah, and miserable if they were spent in disobedience of almighty AllahThe years that have passed will be considered as successful if they were spent in obedience to almighty Allah, and miserable if they were spent in disobedience of almighty Allah
This month marks the beginning of a new Islamic year, which was initiated after the Hijrah, or emigration, of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and which marked the formation of the first Muslim nation within an independent Islamic territory under the rule of Muslims. The muslims had no formal annual calendar until the caliphate of ‘Hazrat Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab (RA). In the third or fourth year of his caliphate, ‘Hazrat Umar (RA) received a message from Abu Moosa Al-Ash’ari (RA) who suggested that their future correspondence be confirmed with the appropriate date. Therefore, ‘Hazrat Umar (RA) gathered some of the surviving companions of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and consulted them on this matter. Some of them suggested adopting the Persian Calendar; others proposed adopting the Roman Calendar; others still proposed that the Muslims should form their own calendar and that it should start from the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) another group agreed but thought that the new Islamic Calendar should start from the day on which the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) embarked upon his mission; another group believed that this new Islamic Calendar should begin from the emigration of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) while a final group believed that it should start from his death. After a discussion, all agreed unanimously to adopt that the Islamic Calendar should start from when the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) emigrated from Makkah to Madeenah and that the first month of this new Calendar be that of Muharram. This is because Muharram is a sacred month and because it follows Thul-Hijjah which is the month in which the Muslims perform Hajj, or the pilgrimage, which is the last of the five pillars of Islam that was enjoined upon the Muslims. Muharram also follows the month in which the Ansaar (the Madeenan supporters of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) pledged allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) which was prior to his migration to Madeenah.
The years that have passed will be considered as successful if they were spent in obedience to almighty Allah, and miserable if they were spent in disobedience of almighty Allah
This pledge of allegiance was one of the introductory acts of the emigration itself and therefore Muharram was deemed the most suitable month to start the Islamic Calendar by the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). It is truly saddening that some Muslims have chosen to use the Gregorian Calendar instead of the Hijri calendar. The Gregorian calendar has no relation with Islam and although it has been in existence for longer than that of the Hijri Calendar, that is no excuse for the Muslims to adopt it. It is well known that the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) would hate that any Muslim would use the Roman or Persian Calendar. We have just ushered in the new Hijri year. Allaah Says (what means):“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year) so was it ordained by Allaah on the day when he created the Heaven and the Earth; of them four are Sacred – that is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein…” [Quran 9: 36] .These are the months that Allaah has appointed for the whole of mankind. He, The Most Exalted, also Says (what means): “They ask you [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say ‘They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj (Pilgrimage].” [Quran: 189]. Therefore, we know that these months, based on the lunar calendar, were appointed for all of mankind and not just for the Arabs. This is due to the fact that the lunar months can very easily be detected and calculated by the sighting of the crescent-moon, which marks the end of the month and the beginning of a new one. We are in the new Hijri year. It is not from the Sunnah to celebrate it or to congratulate one another on its advent. For the Muslims, the passage of years does not constitute a real cause of happiness; rather, what counts is the amount of time spent in obedience to almighty Allah during these years. The years that have passed will be considered as successful if they were spent in obedience to almighty Allah, and miserable if they were spent in disobedience of almighty Allah. Therefore, the most evil person is he who has lived a long life and has committed evil deeds throughout. It is a must that we receive our days, months and years while in obedience to almighty Allah. We must bring ourselves to account, redeem ourselves from our bad deeds and duly perform our responsibilities towards our wives, children and relatives.