Lessons and Wisdom from the Prophetic Migration (Hijrah)

A Turning Point in History

الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على أشرف الأنبياء والمرسلين، نبينا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the most noble of Prophets and Messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.

Dear brothers and sisters,

The Hijrah—the migration of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Makkah to Madinah—was not merely a flight from persecution or a relocation to a safer haven. It was a monumental turning point that reshaped the course of human history, established the first Islamic society, and birthed the Islamic calendar.

Allah Almighty reminds us of this pivotal moment in the Holy Qur'an:

إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا

"If you do not aid the Prophet - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, 'Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.' And Allah sent down His tranquillity upon him and supported him with soldiers [i.e., angels] you did not see..." (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:40)

As we reflect on this historic journey, let us extract timeless lessons (دروس وعبر) that we can actively apply to our modern lives.

1. True Trust in Allah (Tawakkul) Combined with Strategic Planning

One of the greatest misconceptions about faith is that relying on Allah means sitting back and doing nothing. The Hijrah shatters this myth.

The Prophet ﷺ was the most beloved creation to Allah; Allah could have easily transported him to Madinah on the Buraq (the heavenly steed) in the blink of an eye. Instead, the Prophet ﷺ engaged in meticulous human planning:

• He chose a secret companion (Abu Bakr).
• He hired a skilled, trustworthy non-Muslim guide (Abdullah ibn Urayqit) to navigate uncommon routes.
• He arranged for logistics, ensuring food and news would be delivered secretly to the Cave of Thawr.

Yet, after taking every possible human precaution, his ultimate reliance was entirely on Allah. When the Quraysh trackers stood right outside the mouth of the cave, Abu Bakr feared for the Prophet’s safety. The Prophet’s response is a masterclass in faith. As narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari:

عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَنَا فِي الْغَارِ: لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ نَظَرَ تَحْتَ قَدَمَيْهِ لَأَبْصَرَنَا، فَقَالَ: «مَا ظَنُّكَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ بِاثْنَيْنِ اللَّهُ ثَالِثُهُمَا»

Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: "I said to the Prophet ﷺ while I was in the cave, 'If any of them should look under his feet, he would see us.' The Prophet ﷺ replied: 'What do you think, O Abu Bakr, of two partners whose third is Allah?'"

The Takeaway: Tie your camel and trust in Allah. Put maximum effort into your goals, education, careers, and families, but let your heart rest easy knowing the outcome belongs to Allah.

2. Sacrifice and Prioritizing Faith Over Comfort

The Muhajirun (the Emigrants) left behind their homes, wealth, businesses, and sometimes even their immediate families, solely to protect their faith (Deen). They prioritized the eternal over the temporary.

Allah praises their sincere devotion in the Qur'an:

لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا وَيَنصُرُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ

"For the poor emigrants who were expelled from their homes and their properties, seeking bounty from Allah and [His] approval and supporting Allah and His Messenger, those are the truthful." (Surah Al-Hashr, 59:8)

In our daily lives, we may not be asked to leave our homes, but we are asked to make sacrifices. Are we willing to sacrifice fifteen minutes of sleep for Fajr? Are we willing to give up a dishonest financial gain for the sake of Halal earnings?

3. The Power of Radical Brotherhood and Unity

When the Muhajirun arrived in Madinah, they were penniless. The Prophet ﷺ established the system of Mu'akhat (brotherhood), pairing each Emigrant with a resident of Madinah (Ansar / the Helpers).

The Ansar did not see the refugees as a burden; they welcomed them with open arms, offering to split their wealth, homes, and lands. Allah immortalized their legendary generosity:

وَالَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُوا الدَّارَ وَالْإِيمَانَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ يُحِبُّونَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِّمَّا أُوتُوا وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ ۚ

"And [also for] those who were settled in Al-Madinah and [adopted] the faith before them. They love those who emigrated to them and find not any jealousy in their hearts of what the emigrants were given, but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation." (Surah Al-Hashr, 59:9)

The Hijrah teaches us that a strong community is built on empathy, shared sacrifice, and breaking down barriers of race, culture, and social status.

Conclusion: Our Daily Hijrah

Dear community, while the physical migration from Makkah to Madinah is a historical event that has concluded, the spiritual essence of Hijrah remains open to every single one of us until the Day of Judgment.

What is the Hijrah of today? The Prophet ﷺ defined it clearly in a beautiful Hadith found in Sahih al-Bukhari:

قَال النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ، وَالْمُهَاجِرُ مَنْ هَجَرَ مَا نَهَى اللَّهُ عَنْهُ»

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe, and the Muhajir (emigrant) is the one who abandons what Allah has forbidden."

Every time you walk away from gossip, you are making Hijrah. Every time you leave behind a bad habit, toxic environments, or anger for the sake of Allah, you are a Muhajir.

Let us make the intention today to migrate away from laziness to productivity, from sin to obedience, and from division to unity.

أقول قولي هذا، وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولجميع المسلمين، فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرحيم.

I say these words of mine, and I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself, for you, and for all Muslims. So seek His forgiveness, for He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.