The 11th Muharram 1437 which is equivalent to the 25th of October, 2015 would remain memorable in the minds of the students of Nurul Bayan International Academy, as the school celebrated its Hijrah day with attractive and educative programmes aimed at conscientising the public on the importance of the migration of the Holy Prophet peace be upon him from Makkah to Madinah.
Highlights of the events included recitation from the Holy Qur’an, address by the executive director of the school, Hajiya Maryam Tahan, presentation of Islamic songs and poems, lectures and drama among others.
The Executive Director of Nurul Bayan International Academy and proprietor of the school, Hajiya Maryam Muhammad Tahan, harped on importance of Muslims knowing about Islamic migration.
She said the migration of the Prophet from Makkah to Madina has many lessons for Muslims to learn from and abide by.
She however said some Muslims take the Hijra lessons for granted and therefore didn’t even bother to teach their children the rationale behind it.
“It is very important to the Muslims to look at the history of Islam and see how the Prophet struggled to propagate the Islamic religion. We should also look at the political, socio-economic and religious aspects of the migration. Unfortunately, the Muslim ummah take it for granted,” she said.
According to her, that is the major reason why some people were accusing Muslims for being illiterate about their religion.
She insisted that if Muslims could emulate the Prophet and practice his teaching accordingly they would resolve the challenges facing them in the world.
In his lecture titled ‘The Impact of Hijrah on Islamic History: Relevance and Lessons’, eminent Islamic scholar and university don, Dr. Gabardeen A. Wasiu, observed that lack unity among Muslims was the major challenge facing Muslim community in the country.
Dr. Wasiu a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education in the University of Abuja, said that Hijra was not peculiar to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, alone.
He added that many prophets of Allah like Ibrahim and Musa, peace be upon them, migrated to other places.
According to him, the major reason of their hijra (migration) was due to persecution and molestation by the unbelievers of Islam.
He said that the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him migrated based on the instruction from God Almighty.
He established that if not for the Hijrah of the Prophet the religion could have not been spread to the entire world.
He enjoined Muslims to emulate the strategic planning, and tolerance of Hijrah.
According to him, some of hijrah lessons include that the Prophet tried to create good relationship between companions and God by building a mosque, bringing integration among those who followed him from Makkah and those who are in Madinah by matching them together so that love and brotherhood could radiate among them, establishing rules and regulations that would bring peaceful co-existence between Muslims and non-Muslims, creating economic relationship by trying to ensure that what they sell in the market was qualitative, affordable and controllable.
Other lessons included, ensuring security by establishing “Baraya” security system to protect the territory and the Muslim during the time of the prayer.
He said if Muslims were able to emulate and practice these lessons they would be on top of the world and become stronger nation.
He explained that women played a very vital role in the successful migration from Makkah to Madinah.
He cited example with Asma’u, the daughter Abu-Bakr Siddiq that Prophet gave her responsibility to monitor what was going on in Makkah and report to him.
But he lamented the way and manner Muslims women were treated in the society.
He insisted that women were precious and very important in decision making in Islam.
He however, appealed that women should be given their rightful position as provided in Islam for the development of Islam as well as the development for the nation.
According to him, lack of unity among Muslims was the major challenge facing Muslims in the country.
“Our major problem is unity. We are not united. Everybody is defending his tribe and his small association. All these things will not lead us to anywhere. We should come together under one umbrella to achieve the desired goal. Unity is the key to any success”. He said.
He lamented the high rate of lack love, brotherhood, peaceful co-existence sincerity among Muslims in the country.
The students of the secondary section staged a drama show to enlighten the public on the importance of Hijra in Islam.
The drama included the ‘Torture and aggression;, ‘Migration to Abyssinia’, ‘The Boycott Agreement’ and ‘The great Hijrah to Madinah’.
