By Haroon Balogun

Chief Imam Sulaimon Buhari Olanijo is the Chief Imam of Mushin-Olosa Central Mosque and the Chairman/President, Council of Imams and Ulamau in the area. In this interview with Facing The Kaaba in his office, he charges the Muslims on expanding the frontiers of knowledge in order to practice the religion appropriately while urging them to imbibe the legacies of Prophet Muhammad’s migration in the wake of persecution. Excerpts.

WHAT is the significance of Hijrah?

We give praises and adoration to Allah. In this part of the world, the Gregorian calendar is prominent but in Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries, the Hijrah Calendar is in use in these countries. As a result, the first day of Muharram is very popular in these countries but it is not the same in this part of the world. In the past, our forbearers did not give it the necessary publicity it deserved, but as time and information technology advanced, we were able to see the need to popularize it and give it due attention. The Quran, chapter 9 verse 36 says

Sulaimon Buhari

It was at a time when Prophet Muhammad was surrounded by the infidels who wanted to kill him right in his bedroom, what transpired that day became a cornerstone and a reference point for Islam. The Prophet exhibited good leadership and love even love for his enemies. At that point, there was a communication between him and Allah. Allah asked him how he wanted the enemies to be dealt with, whether they should be inflicted with madness or made to fight and kill themselves; the prophet did not choose any of the options but rather preferred to let them go unhurt because many of the enemies and infidels were from the same clan with the Prophet.

God then asked him through angel Gabriel what he wanted and the Prophet replied that he wanted to go out of the ambush unhurt and it was so granted. The enemies were made unconscious; they did not know when and how he escaped. Even when he saw them and walked out, he panicked, God assured him that though they were there but they would not see him. The prophet walked away unnoticed.

The mercy and compassion that the Prophet exhibited is a lesson for all of us because he would have chosen to fight and have them killed. What we should be remembered for should be the good works we have done. That was what led to the migration from Makkah to Madinah. It was never easy for him passing through all these challenges including those challenges on the way to Madinah but he endured, he persevered and that was why he could record those successes that will continue to stun the world.

Applying these virtues in our daily lives as Muslims may be somewhat difficult considering the society we live in. How can we adequately imbibe these virtues?

Mankinds are very difficult but we are far above other creatures with our developmental knowledge. That was why Allah made man to dominate all other creatures. Allah gave the world to man and the hereafter are meant for him also. No animal no matter how big or powerful has been so honoured. If it is about power, the animals are powerful, if it is beauty, there are more beautiful animals. So, it is nothing but our developmental knowledge.

So, before we can grasp the significance of Hijrah and internalize the lessons, we have to increase our knowledge of Islam. All what we are doing in Islam are in concert with Hijrah and the cyclical moon. The Ramadan fast and Hajj rites have their specific time in the Islamic calendar calculated through the moon cycle. So, I appeal to Muslims to learn and know about the religion.

Some Muslims do not know that the 1st of Hijrah is in Muharram let alone knowing all other Islamic months in sequence. (Muharram, Safar, Rabiul-Awwal, Rabiu-Thanni, Jumadal-Awwal, Jumadal-Thanni, Rajab, Shaaban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Zhul-Qada and Zhul-Hijah) If all Muslims take it seriously, government can also consider a public holiday on that day. We should also know the days of the week, it is important to know about our religion because we will spend less time in this world but eternity in the hereafter.

How do the new hijrah day can best be celebrated?

It is not new, the celebration did not just start today, but I think we should first of all visit and pay courtesy call to leaders in Islam, then we visit the less privileged including the orphanage, prisoners, hospitals and show love to them, there are so many people who could not pay their hospital bills let lone living good life after hospital.

Although, in Islam, we don’t have to wait for a day like this because we should make it a duty, but observing it also on that day will reignite the love of the prophet to all in the face of persecution and a worthy hijrah. Again, we should organize lectures to commemorate that day. Islamic organizations should get scholars to teach people on this in order to cleanse their hearts of some impurities in our attempts to live a good life.