While the various calendars in practice were discussed and rejected, Khalifa Umar (RA) announced that the year calculation would be started from the Prophet’s Hijra, even though there were discussions to start the year calculation based on the Prophet’s birth, prophethood and death. This decree was passed in the 17th year of Hijrah.
This decision of Umar (Radhiyallahu Anhu) emphasized the role of Hijra in implementing the Prophet’s message of world peace. Through this migration a nomadic society became a world ruling power. A society that was oppressed and tortured by the majority society became a majority society and became a pioneer society for humanity embracing the enemy. As a result of the Hijrah which brought about such changes, Islam had spread over two-thirds of the world during the time of Caliph Umar (RA).
Hijrat is a social migration undertaken with great planning. The Prophet (peace be upon him) planned and moved towards a suitable place for the mission assigned to him. Abyssinia and Najran were also targets of the Prophet. Eventually the reception in Madinah made the Prophet move towards Madinah. The Companions who followed the Prophet were subjected to severe torture to defend their principles. When the Prophet approached his companions to send them to a safe place, they happily agreed to leave their homeland to protect their Prophet’s messenger. It was not an easy decision for the Prophet (peace be upon him) to leave the land where he was born and grew up, lived with his family, where he received his prophethood, and leave the holy place of Kafa. This Hijrah exemplifies the determination of the Prophet to stop at nothing in fulfilling the mission he had undertaken.
When the Prophet first went to Madinah he established a bond between the Muhajirs who had gone as refugees from Makkah and the Ansar who had embraced them in Madinah.
Had this initiative been delayed there was a possibility of regionalism prevailing and division among the people. The Prophet nipped the opportunity in the bud. This bond showed that the bond of those united by principle was stronger than that of blood. This fraternal strength was the foundation of a strong Islamic empire. Hijra means that the members of a society working together towards a common goal is the basis for a society to become an empire. After the arrival of the Prophet in Madinah, the Madinah Charter became very important in the event of Hijrah. When the Prophet reached Madinah, Madinah was a diverse community. Various tribes following polytheistic religions and Judaism lived in Madinah. Some Jewish tribes allied with other polytheistic tribes as a team, while other Jewish tribes allied with other polytheistic tribes and acted as opponents. For many centuries bitter enmity and fighting prevailed between them. There they saw the people divided into various gotras and clans beyond the divisions of Muslims and non-Muslims.
The people accepted the Prophet who came to Medina as their leader. To end the endless fighting between the tribes that lived in Madinah and to establish peace, the Prophet made an agreement with the various tribes that lived in Madinah. Historians call this agreement the ‘Constitution of Madinah’. Twentieth-century historian Kalanithi Muhammad Hamidullah of India refers to it as the first written Yap in human history. This agreement was written with great emphasis on fundamental rights like equality, justice and freedom of religion which are necessary for social peace and harmony.
According to this charter,
* Jews were recognized as a community like Muslims.
* Muslims have the right to practice their religion. Similarly, Jews have the right to practice their religion.
* There will be harmony and understanding between Jews and Muslims.
Before this covenant, even among the Jewish tribes, discrimination and prejudice were rampant. Banu Nadir and Banu Quraiza were two Jewish tribes living in Madinah. If a member of Banu Nadir kills a member of Banu Quraiza, they will only pay damages as punishment. But if a member of their tribe is killed by a member of Banu Qurayzah, they will kill the murderer. The Prophet put an end to such unjust practices and established equality through this treaty. The fact that all the Prophet’s endeavors were to establish humanity beyond religion is highlighted by going beyond the Muslim community and making agreements.
Especially in matters common to mankind, the covenant of the Prophet did not prioritize those who accepted him.
As stated in the Medina Charter,
* Muslims will unite against evil and unjust rulers, whoever they may be. Even if the wrongdoer is a Muslim, other Muslims will rally against him.
* No Muslim should support or give shelter to murderers.
– This covenant shall never intervene to protect a wrongdoer or a breach of contract.
This Madinah Charter established by the Prophet after the Hijra is the basis for the peace of nations living in diversity. The year of Hijri is a reminder every year that the way to peaceful coexistence is for all races to recognize the other races and give priority to humane behavior.
