Press Release
NEW ISLAMIC YEAR HAS A WIDE IDEOLOGICAL MESSAGE NOT ONLY A CEREMONIAL ISSUE

Following arrival of the Hijri New Islamic year of 1445 whereby for the first time the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar has officially made the first day of Muharram to be a public holiday making Muslims to undertake various activities on marking and commemorating it, we in Hizb ut Tahrir / Tanzania despite fully participated in some of those activities with the Ummah, we would like to make clear on the following:

1. It is due to wisdom, Islamic scope and broad political vision that made the Sahabah (companions) (ra) in the year 16 Hijri under Caliph Umar Khataab to unanimously agree between them (ijmaa) to establish the Islamic Calendar as well as to select the event of ‘Hijra’ from many events as a starting point of the Islamic calendar.

2. The Sahabas’ selection of the event of ‘Hijra’ as the starting point of the Islamic Calendar is because via it (Hijra), Muslims were able to set up their first Islamic state in Medina prevented them from weakness and humiliation to power and authority (izzah) that enabled them to implement Islam in practical way after being in theory in Mecca without any authority whatsoever. Thus, ‘Hijra’ marked as a demarcation line between early life of Muslims under Dar ul-Kufr rule in Mecca towards happy and glorious rule of the Darul Islam in Medina.

3. The Companions’ selection of ‘Hijra’ intended to firmly paste and remind in Muslim minds until the Day of Resurrection on the obligation of having a single Islamic State. In absence of it, Ummah has responsibility and obligation to undertake task of dawah, seeks a Nusrah to re-establish it.

4. The issue of ‘Hijra’ should be understood in its right perspective and accuracy, and it should not be associated the Prophet (saw) that he had left Mecca to Medina in fear, cowardice or as asylum seeker at Medina, ignoring the fact that he (saw) had previously reached an agreement with the leaders of Medina of being given support/nusra and entrusted with the reins of leadership in Medina. So he (saw) arrived in Medina as a leader who was expected to arrive. Or (Hijra) it should not only be highlighted as an issue of miracles, such as happened during his (saw) hiding in cave, issue of Ummu Maabad, Suraqa etc. We accept and believe these miracles as part of our Aqeedah, but the point at issue is that, the heart and reality of ‘Hijra’ is to bring about Islamic change, and this is the main and vital lesson that the Ummah needs to be reminded.

We pray to Allah Taala to Grant our Ummah a proper understanding of this a vital and glorious event of Hijra as well as to and also to make this year 1445 Hijri a year of Nusra and Victory by re-establishment of Khilafah Rashidah (rightly-guided Caliphate) upon the method of the Prophethood. Ameen.

Masoud Msellem
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Tanzania