Islam, this is one of the world religions, which has more than one billion followers around the world. In this article we will touch upon one very important concept of this teaching, namely we will try to answer the question of what is hijra.
Definition of a concept
Behind the deep concept of hijra that we have today is one important historical event for the development of Islam. We are talking about the relocation of the Prophet Muhammad to Medina from his native Mecca. This relocation is hijra in the proper sense of the word. All that concerns its other aspects is theological reflection.
Story
Having found out what a hijra is, we now analyze the history of this event in more detail. To do this, we will be transported to the very beginning of the seventh century AD, in 609. It was then that an Arab merchant, a native of Mecca, named Muhammad, came forward with his preaching of the new revelation of one God. He proclaims himself to be a prophet, concluding a series of biblical characters such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. An ambitious preacher claims that the time has come for a new religion and a new law that the Almighty gives to people through it. Unfortunately, the newly-born prophet, most of his compatriots did not imbue calls to turn from the fatherly covenants and accept the new message. Most people simply ignored Muhammad’s claim to God's chosen people, but there were those who showed him and his associates active resistance and even threatened reprisal. To the trouble of the prophet, the leaders and leaders of society were distinguished by a special hostility to him. The life of the first Muslim community was quite difficult and difficult in such conditions, so some of them moved to Ethiopia, where the Christian ruler agreed to shelter them. This is the first hijra of Muslims. In other words, what is hijra? This is a transition, an escape from evil to good, peace and security.
But the prophet at this time still remained in Mecca and was persecuted. At the same time, in another city, which was then called Yasrib, there lived two Arab tribes that were at war with each other. They professed the traditional paganism of the Arabs, but representatives of Judaism and Christianity lived next to them in Yasrib, so they heard about faith in one God. When the news reached them that a certain prophet of this faith from the Arabs had appeared in Mecca, they became interested. In response, Muhammad sent a preacher to the city, who managed to convince many people to renounce paternal polytheism and accept a new religion - Islam. There were so many of them that they even decided to ask Muhammad to move to their city and become the head of the board. The Prophet accepted this offer. His relocation to Yasrib took place in 622, after which the city began to be called the Medina. Muhammad was received with peace and great honor, as the supreme ruler and new leader of the inhabitants. This event in the life of the prophet became a hijra in the proper sense of the word.
Relocation value
But what is Muhammad's hijra for Muslims and why is it of such great importance to believers? The fact is that the resettlement to Medina marked a new stage not only in the private life of the prophet, but also in the history of the formation of the religion he proclaimed. After all, the whole Muslim community of Mecca, who had previously been weak and oppressed, went with him to Yasrib. Now, after the hijra, the followers of Islam have become strong and numerous. The Islamic community has evolved from a company of like-minded people into a social formation and an influential social community. The life of Medina itself has completely changed. If the traditional pagan population used to be based on tribal relations, then from now on they began to be bound by a community of faith. Inside Islam, people were equalized in rights, regardless of nationality, wealth, origin, or position in society. In other words, the social structure of the city has completely changed, which subsequently made possible the wide expansion of Islam into the world. The total Islamization of many countries and states of the Middle and Middle East, Africa, Asia began precisely with the hijra of Muhammad to Medina. Therefore, this event became a kind of reference point in the history of the religion of the Koran.
Outer and inner hijra
In the first time after Muhammad's relocation to Medina, all Muslim converts should follow his example. Then, when Mecca was conquered, this establishment was canceled, but since then the idea of internal resettlement began to spread. What is hijra performed within the human spirit? This is a way of thinking and living when a person avoids all that is evil, which, in accordance with Islamic standards, is considered sinful. Therefore, every time a Muslim avoids the temptation and moves from sin to a righteous lifestyle, this is considered to be a hijra.
The advent of the Islamic calendar
After the death of the prophet, when the Caliph Omar ruled the Muslim community, the question was raised of developing a calendar adapted to the needs of religion. As a result, in the convened light, it was decided to approve the lunar calendar. And the starting point for the new reckoning was decided to determine the relocation of Muhammad to Medina. From then until now, the Muslim New Year Hijri has been celebrated.
Muslim calendar features
As in the traditional calendar, Islamic includes twelve months, which is recorded even in the Quran. Since this system is based on moon cycles, there are thus 354 or 355 days in a year, and not 365, as in the solar calendar. That is, hijra months can start at different times, without being tied to the time of year. It is important to note that four of the twelve months are called forbidden and are of particular importance for the life of believers. In conclusion, it is worth saying that the lunar hijra, that is, the New Year according to the Muslim calendar, is not a holiday in the European sense of the word. Followers of Islam do not mark the beginning of a new cycle. For them, this event, however, serves as an occasion to engage in introspection and a good time to take stock and make plans for the future.