Bandar Seri Begawan - Prophet Muhammad`s (peace be upon him) hijrah or migration from Mekah to Medina is one of the most significant events in the history of Islam, so much so that Khalifah Umar (ra), one of the prophet`s close companions, made the date of the hijrah the beginning of the Islamic year.
According to an article from Berita Minggu, the hijrah was not simply a physical movement from one city to another, 300 miles apart, but most importantly it marked the beginning of an era, a civilisation, a culture and a new history for human beings.
Looking at hijrah as more than simply a migration was also mentioned by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in his titah in conjunction with the new Hijrah year of 1429.
The monarch stressed that hijrah means changes from one condition to another, which is even better. His Majesty highlighted that the reality of hijrah was to experience the changes, regardless of how small it was.
In a random interview by The Brunei Times with a number of people on what hijrah means, most of them agreed that hijrah is not just a movement from one place to another but also means bringing about changes.
Yati Hj Ahmad, 24, said that "Hijrah involves a change or shift of attitudes and minds, from bad to good."
A 14-year-old student from the Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Secondary School said that for her hijrah can also mean doing better in her studies and to be more positive about her life.
"For me hijrah is to do things better and to learn from the past for a better future," Siti Syazwani Mohammad said.
A university graduate, Dk Hjh Bahrina Pg Hj Duraman said: "It (hijrah) is sort of a spiritual transition to be a better person from before."
She said it also means to forgive oneself and others and learn from the mistakes. Personally, she wishes to devote more to her duties for the country and Islam.
Source: www.brudirect.com (12 Januari 2008)
