Islam’s Greatest Lesson: Why Life Demands Constant Migration
The Hijrah: When Islam Became Complete – A Journey of Faith and Transformation
The 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal: The Birth of Complete Islam
The 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal marks the historic migration of the Prophet Muhammad (S) from Makkah to Madinah—the day when Islam, in its fullest and most comprehensive form, was truly born. In Makkah, the Prophet (S) laid the spiritual and moral foundations of faith, but it was in Madinah that he established a complete Islamic society, implementing divine laws in every aspect of life.
Why Was This Day Chosen as the Start of the Islamic Calendar?
Islam has many momentous occasions—the birth of the Prophet (S), the day of his first revelation, the victories of the believers in battle—yet it was the Hijrah that was selected by Imam Ali (AS) and the companions as the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Why?
Because the migration was not merely a journey from one city to another; it was the transformation of Islam from a personal faith into a complete way of life. Before the Hijrah, Islam was a call to individual piety in a society dominated by disbelief. After the Hijrah, it became a comprehensive system—governing worship, social justice, politics, and culture.
Migration: The Beginning and the End of Transformation
Migration is the essence of all meaningful change. As Imam Ali (AS) taught, "A person is alive if they move." But true migration is not just physical—it is the movement of the soul.
Migration means leaving behind not just a place, but also bad habits, selfishness, grudges, and stagnation.
Migration means striving for a better self, a better society, and a closer connection to Allah.
Migration means breaking free from oppression—both external and internal—to establish justice and faith.
Islam Is Migration
Islam itself is a journey—from ignorance to knowledge, from arrogance to humility, from selfishness to submission to Allah. The Prophet (S) said: "The believer is always in a state of migration." True faith begins when we take that first step away from sin and toward righteousness.
The True Birth of a Believer
Just as the Hijrah marked the birth of a complete Islamic society, personal migration marks the true birth of a believer. One cannot attain goodness, excellence, or piety without leaving behind their old ways.
He Migrated So That We May Migrate
When we reflect on the Prophet’s migration, we walk with him in spirit—seeing him leave the oppression of Makkah, enduring the scorching desert, his blessed feet wounded by thorns, his body exhausted yet unwavering. He bore every hardship not for himself, but for us—so that his Ummah would learn how to migrate from darkness to light.
Islam Before and After the Hijrah
Before the Hijrah: Islam was a call to personal piety, worship, and moral reform within a hostile society.
After the Hijrah: Islam became a complete system—governing law, economy, social justice, and statecraft.
The Key Difference
In Makkah, Islam shaped individuals; in Madinah, it shaped an entire civilization. A person cannot reach perfection in isolation—they need a righteous society. Just as one cannot enter the sea without getting wet, a believer cannot live in a corrupt environment without being affected. The Prophet (S) needed authority to establish divine justice—and that authority came in Madinah.
A Day That Changed History
Now we understand why Imam Ali (AS) and the companions chose the Hijrah as the start of the Islamic calendar. It was not just a journey—it was the dawn of a new era, the moment Islam became complete. And just as the Prophet (S) migrated for the sake of Allah, we too must embark on our own Hijrah—away from sin, toward righteousness, until we meet our Lord.
Reference: Ali Reza Panahian