Al-Hijra

Photo by Alan Gilespie.

Al-Hijra is the first day of the Islamic month of Muharram, the Islamic New Year; it begins at sunset tonight, when the crescent moon is sighted. 

Hijra means migration, and also an escape from a dangerous situation. The original hijra was the journey of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, after he learned that another Arab tribe was trying to assassinate him.

Islamic years are calculated from 1 Muharram, 622 CE. They are followed by the suffix AH, which stands for "After Hijra". (Tonight begins 1440 AH.)

Al-Hijra is celebrated quietly, with prayers, readings, and reflection, not the hoopla we associate with the western New Year. Muslims tell the story of Muhammad’s flight through the desert on camel-back with sword-wielding thugs in pursuit. They reflect on their own migrations, actual or of the soul.

Agenda:
1. Journal queries
2. Prayer

1. Journal queries:
Because hijra means moving from a bad state of affairs to a good one, many Muslims use this time to think about resolutions for the New Year.

Today I consider:
If I am on the path to a new life-
  What resources do I need for the journey? 
  How can I better enjoy the journey?
  What is my destination, and how will I know when I have arrived?

2. Prayer:

It would be pointless for me to try to pray like Muslims do; I would not get it right. I do however enjoy chanting in Arabic.
For this first week of Muharrem, I will repeat some of the 99 names of God:
Ar-Rahman - The All-Merciful
As-Salam - The Source of Peace
An-Nur - The Light
Ar-Rahim - The All-Beneficient
Al-Karim - The Generous