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The Prophet's Migration (Hijrah)... Building the Muslim Nation and Shaping its History
Author : Secretary General Dr. Zaid Al-Kilani
Date Added : 09-07-2024

The Prophet's Migration (Hijrah)... Building the Muslim Nation and Shaping its History

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

The Noble Migration is a journey of nation building, transitioning from weakness to strength, fear to security, and fragmentation to unity... It is a journey of constructing a nation chosen by Allah to alter the course of history, led by the greatest leader in history and the best prophet in existence, peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and all his companions.

The Noble Migration signifies the birth of a resilient nation destined to lead the world in a few short years, guided by men devoted to Allah and dedicated to building their homeland and achieving its glory. The companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) understood these profound meanings, marking the beginning of their nation's history. With these lofty meanings, the honorable migration teaches us to trust in Allah's promise to His sincere servants, knowing that He fulfills His promise and completes His light. It is a promise for our people in Palestine that their patience and steadfastness will ultimately be rewarded with victory by the permission of Allah. The journey was a departure for the sake of return, but it symbolizes the return of the victorious, triumphant liberators. The migration serves as a lesson for us to uphold the strength and resilience of our Jordan, and to stand united against any threat that may confront us.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) guided us that one of the most important objectives of migration is to build a strong homeland and establish a state with effective institutions. Building a strong nation begins with the establishment of active institutions that uphold the aspirations of the country, foresee its future, and fulfill the ambitions of its people. Upon his arrival in Medina, the Prophet (peace be upon him) built the mosque, which became the center for nurturing pillars of faith, shaping religious identity, education, communication, judiciary, consultation, opinion, and governance. He built the mosque to house these effective institutions that organize society in accordance with its uplifting values and objectives.

As we learn from the noble migration of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), one of the pillars of a strong resilient nation is to have a strong independent economy. This serves as a fortress against any interference, by adversaries, in the nation`s political will or cultural identity. Therefore, one of the Prophet's first actions upon arriving in Medina was to establish an independent market for Muslims, breaking the monopoly held by the Jews over trade and wealth. They had sought to control the economic sphere to sow discord and animosity among different societal groups, enabling their own dominance.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) formulated the document that can be described in contemporary terms as a constitution, outlining the rights and duties of the state and individuals, including protection and preservation. It clarified the meanings of citizenship and emphasized the necessity of the rule of law.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) established brotherhood between the Muhajireen (The first inhabitants of Mecca to accept Islam) and the Ansar (The first inhabitants of Medina to accept Islam) to replace the tribal values of negative boasting about ancestors and tribes that Arabs used to practice in the pre-Islamic era.

To resolve the issues of division within the Muslim community, based on the principle from ThHoly Quran, it states (What means): "The believing men and believing women are allies of one another" [At-Tawbah/71], and the same applies on Quranic motto, which states (What means): "Verily, the believers are brothers" [Al-Hujurat/10], in accordance with Allah's Command that reads (What means): "hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided" [Al-Imran/103], the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) established these values and principles as the foundation of the Muslim society. This spirit permeated the institutions of the state founded by the Prophet (peace be upon him), leading to cultural and societal advancement within the Islamic community.

Allah the Almighty immortalized the incident of brotherhood in the Quran to serve as a lasting testimony to this crucial foundation of human civilization. Whereas He, The Exalted, Says (What means): "And [also for] those who were settled in the Home [i.e., Medina] and [adopted] the faith before them. They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what the emigrants were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul, it is those who will be the successful." [Al-Hashr/9].

In conclusion, we ask Allah the Almighty to make this new Hijri year a year of goodness and blessings for our blessed country and for the leader of the Hashemite family, His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, may Allah protect and preserve him.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on offering a sheep as a sacrifice (Udhiyah) if its fat-tail is sound, except that when it was young, the tip of its fat-tail was cut so that it would grow larger? And what is the ruling in case of doubt regarding the amount that was cut?

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Cutting a minor, insignificant portion from the tip of an animal's fat-tail (al-alyah) to encourage it to grow larger is not considered a defect, and it does not prevent the animal from being valid for sacrifice (Udhiyah).
 
It is stated in Tuhfat al-Muhtaj (Vol.9/P.352): "There is some scholarly deliberation regarding the common practice of cutting the tip of the fat-tail so that it grows larger. It could potentially be likened to a partial cut of the ear—supported by the jurists' general rule: 'even if it is a small amount.' On the other hand, if it is an exceptionally minor cut, it might have no effect on validity. This is explicitly clarified by the juristic exception to the general rule, which states that cutting a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm. This latter view is more well-founded.
 
Furthermore, I found that some scholars investigated this matter and concluded: 'It should not affect validity if a custom-sanctioned portion of its fat-tail is removed during its youth to make it grow larger and look better, just as castrating a male animal causes no harm.' However, applying this unconditionally contradicts the established texts of the jurists, as understood from what I have laid out; thus, the restriction I specified is what must be relied upon."
 
Similarly, it is mentioned in Nihayat al-Muhtaj (8/135): "If a small piece is cut from the fat-tail to help it grow larger, the most well-founded view is that the sacrifice remains valid, as was given in a formal legal verdict (Fatwa) by my father [Shihab al-Din al-Ramli], may Allah be pleased with him. This is proven by the jurists' maxim: 'The loss of a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm.'"
 
In cases where there is doubt as to whether the portion cut was large or small, the animal is still deemed valid for sacrifice. It is noted in Hashiyat al-Shubramallisi ‘ala Nihayat al-Muhtaj (Vol.8/P.135):
 
"This matter requires careful consideration, but the closer and more correct view is that it is valid. This is because soundness is the default state for the animal from which the piece was cut, and it aligns with what usually occurs—namely, that the part removed to help the fat-tail grow larger is naturally very small." And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on a latecomer who joins the imam during the standing position of the first rakʿah but was unable to complete the recitation of al-Fātiḥah?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If a latecomer (masbuq) joins the prayer while the imam is standing, he should begin reciting Sūrat al-Fātiḥah immediately, without pausing to recite the opening supplication (duʿāʾ al-istiftāḥ) or the seeking of refuge (taʿawwudh). If the imam bows before he completes al-Fātiḥah, he follows the imam into the bow and leaves whatever remains of al-Fātiḥah — the imam bears it on his behalf.
It is stated in ʿUmdat al-Sālik (p. 47): "If a latecomer finds the imam standing and is confident that he has enough time to recite the taʿawwudh and al-Fātiḥah in full, he may do so. If he is uncertain, he should neither recite the opening supplication nor the taʿawwudh, but rather begin directly with al-Fātiḥah. If the imam bows before he completes it, he follows him into the bow — provided he had not already begun the opening supplication or the taʿawwudh. If he had begun either of them, he continues reciting al-Fātiḥah for as long as he spent on them." And Allah the Almighty knows best.

How to pay Zakah (obligatory charity) due on articles of merchandise?

Articles of merchandise are estimated by their whole sale market price at the end of each lunar year, and (2.5%) of their value is paid as Zakah whether it (value) went up, or down compared to actual purchasing price, and whether the increase (profit) was in the article itself such as an increase in the animal`s weight, or in the prices themselves. And Allah Knows Best.

What are the Sunnahs and etiquettes recommended for the person offering the Udhiyah?

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
There are several Sunnahs (prophetic traditions) and etiquettes that are highly recommended for the person offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) to observe:
 
First:
It is a Sunnah for anyone intending to offer a sacrifice to refrain from cutting or removing any of their hair or nails once the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah begin. This is based on the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "When the ten days [of Dhul-Hijjah] begin and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him not touch any of his hair or skin." (Narrated by Muslim)
 
However, if someone does happen to remove any hair or nails, they have not committed a sin, and their sacrifice remains perfectly valid.
 
Second:
The person offering the sacrifice should ideally slaughter the animal themselves. If they are unable to do so, they should at least witness its slaughter. This is drawn from what our Master, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), said to Lady Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her):
 
"Stand up and witness your sacrifice, for with its very first drop of blood, every sin you have committed will be forgiven." (Narrated by Al-Tabarani in his Mu'jam, Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak, and Al-Bayhaqi in his Sunan)
 
Third:
Face the Qiblah (the direction of prayer) at the time of slaughtering, as the Qiblah is the most honorable of directions.
 
Fourth:
Pronounce the name of Allah (Tasmiyah) at the moment of slaughter by saying: "Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim" (In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). Even if one forgets to say it, the meat remains lawful (Halal) to eat. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, says:
 
"So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned." (Al-An'am: 118)
 
It is also recommended to send blessings upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and to follow it with the Takbeer (Allahu Akbar).
 
Fifth:
Supplicate for acceptance by saying: "Allahumma hadhihi minka wa ilayka, fa-taqabbal minni" (O Allah, this is a blessing from You and is offered back to You, so please accept it from me). This means: This sacrifice is a blessing that originated from You, and I am offering it to draw closer to You. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.