....THE HEGIRA (HIJRA) of HAZRAT MUHAMMAD .
At first, polytheists were not concerned about the emigration of the Muslims from Mecca; in fact, they were even happy. But later on, they realized its importance and strategic dimensions, and they began to worry.
....From their perspective, when the Aws and Hazraj tribes of Medina embraced Islam and established peace between them, the blood feud, which had lasted so long, between them was over, and they had joined the Muslims who had emigrated from Mecca; this meant that they could now emerge as a powerful alliance.
....If Hazrat Muhammad were to go to Medina and become the leader of the society there, and the Muslims that belonged to tribes living around Medina were to join them, then this alliance could become more powerful. This could constitute a danger for the people of Mecca in the future.
....For this reason they met at Dâru'n-Nadwa, and considered the issue. They decided that the best solution was to kill our beloved Prophet.
....Following this decision, they laid siege to the house of Hazrat Muhammad, and began to prepare for a sudden attack to take his life.
....On the command of Allah Almighty, Hazrat Gabriel came to our beloved Prophet and told him to emigrate with Abû Bakr.
....Our beloved Prophet went out of his house, reciting the first 8 verses of Chapter Yâsîn, and he passed by the polytheists without being seen by them to Abû Bakr's place.
....Hazrat Muhammad, who had left his house, which was under siege by polytheists, thanks to the permission of Allah Almighty, immediately went to a cave on Mount Sawr with Hazrat Abû Bakr. They stayed there for three days.
..The polytheists of Mecca, who could not understood how Hazrat Muhammad had escaped without being noticed, despite the heavy guard around the house, began to search for him everywhere. Some of them came up to the edge of the cave, where he was sheltering, following the their footprints.
....However, upon seeing that the opening of the cave had a cobweb over it and that a bird had built its nest there, they went back, saying that "for years, no man has entered this cave."
....Our beloved Prophet, who stayed in the cave for three days, set out with Hazrat Abû Bakr to immigrate to Medina. They followed the coastline, and arrived at Qûba village on 8 Rabiulawwal, Monday.
....Hazrat Muhammad who rested in Qûba for a few days, and built the Qûba Mosque with the help of Muslims there, left there on the Friday, heading for Medina with the people who came there to welcome him.
....When they arrived at the Ranuna valley, which is situated between Qûba and Medina, it was noon. Then our beloved Prophet dismounted his camel on the higher side of the valley, and gave the first Friday Sermon (khutba), and then he led the first Friday ritual prayer. Then he mounted his camel again and set off toward the city of Medina.
....While the polytheists of Mecca, filled with hatred and anger, were searching for Hazrat Muhammad to kill him, the people of Medina, impatiently and with tears of joy on their eyes, were waiting for Hazrat Muhammad.
....The immigrants, in a foreign land, were burning with longing for Hazrat Muhammad! ...Women were standing in front of their houses, holding their babies in their arms!
....The Muslims of Medina, who had sworn their oath in Akaba!
....Ill people, elderly, young people, and children were all on the road, waiting for Hazrat Muhammad, with tears of joy in their eyes!
....As news of Hazrat Muhammad's approach arrived, voices were heard crying "Allahu Akbar" ,
....Excitement and enthusiasm of the people increased, they were holding their breath, with tears of joy in their eyes, looking for Hazrat Muhammad.
....Thus, the happy moment came. The last Prophet of Allah Almighty, Hazrat Muhammad, entered Medina from the Saniyyatu'l-Wada'.
....The people of Medina experienced the greatest, the most exciting festival of their history. There were people crying out loud! There were people shouting, "May my life be sacrificed for you," and fainting!
....There were also people heard chanting "Tala'a'l badru alaynâ, min Saniyyati'l-Wadâ'!"
....The last Prophet of Allah Almighty, was then in Medina. Hazrat Muhammad was among them.
....They could not help but cry "O my Lord! How great a blessing it is! O my Lord! How great a grace it is! Wajaba'sh-shukru alaynâ, mâ daâ Lillâhi dâ!" and they prostrated.
....When Hazrat Muhammad went by the houses, the people opened their doors and tried to catch the bridle of the camel of the Prophet to invite the Prophet to stay in their
house, saying "O the Prophet of God, please stay at our place."
....Our beloved Prophet, who did not want to hurt anybody's feelings, said to them "I will stay where my camel rests."
....The camel of the Prophet, which walked through the streets of Medina looking to the right and the left, as if it were greeting people, first stopped at the edge of an empty plot. Then it got up and walked a bit, and then rested again in front of the door of the house of Abû Ayyûb Khâlid b. Zayd al-Ansârî (Eyup Sultan). Eyup Sultan is buried in the Eyup district in Istanbul, and through him channels the blessing and pride to Turkey. Then the camel let its head rest on the ground, groaning slightly. It was saying that this was the end of the journey.
....While our beloved Prophet was preparing to get off his camel, saying that Allah has willed this to be the place, Eyup Sultan, who saw that the camel had rested in front of his door, and who saw that Hazrat Muhammad was preparing to get off his camel, could not believe his eyes for the greatness of the divine blessing and grace that had been granted him. He ran crying and invited our beloved Prophet in, saying "O the Prophet of God, please come in."
....At a moment, the house of Eyup Sultan became the most sacred house on Earth and the headquarters of Islam.
....Hazrat Gabriel and other angels came down to visit Hazrat Muhammad and to welcome to Medina.
....The people of Medina came to visit him in groups, listened to his talks and expressed their pleasure in seeing him in their area.
....The people of Medina could not get enough of the enlightening talk of Hazrat Muhammad. However, the house he was staying in was small and so few could have the opportunity to attend to his talks. The solution to this problem was to erect a mosque as soon as possible. ....The plot where the camel first rested upon arrival in Medina was the place selected for first mosque; the point where the camel first rested would be where the door was.
....The plot belonged to two orphan brothers, the guardian of whom was As'ad b. Zurâra .
....The price of the plot was agreed at 10 mithgal gold; Hazrat Abû Bakr bought the lot and consecrated it for the Mosque to be built there.
....They building work on the mosque started immediately, and our beloved Prophet worked throughout, carrying stones and plaster on his back, and mixing up the mud.
....When the building of the mosque was completed, they also built a one-room house for the Prophet.
....Then the Prophet moved to this place, his own house, after staying at Eyub Sultan's house for seven months.
....From then on, Muslims began performing five daily ritual prayers as a community in this mosque, led by the Prophet himself.
....After the prayers they used to listen to the illuminating talks of the Prophet; they were now free to worship as they wished.
....The days of suppression and torture were over, they had been left in the darkness of the nights. The Sun had now risen and morning had broken. |