By: Imad Nouri
The Association of Islamic Charitable Projects in British Columbia is always keen on bringing attention to the various Islamic occasions. This year the AICP was the first of all Muslim organizations to raise the flag of happiness, joy and honor with the coming of the New Hijri Year 1141.
The AICP held its annual honoring celebration for coming of the New Hijri Year 1441 at Surrey Arts Centre on Saturday, Aug 31.
The month of Muharram came and it brought with it another chance of a year full of obedience and piety. 1441 years from the time of that blessed Hijrah of the Prophet, sallallahu-^alayhi wa sallam, yet the glory and the effect of that migration still shines over and in every corner of the History since then. An occasion worth of every Muslim to celebrate and feel proud.
That is exactly what the AICP seems to achieve. The AICP reminds the Muslims of their glorious occasions and history; to reflect and to gain some esteem from it. Another marvelous accomplishment for the AICP in particular and for the Muslim Community in the Lower Mainland in general. A great performance suitable for such a worthy occasion.
Recitation from the Blessed Qur’an started the celebration with a diverse attendance enjoyed and interacted with moving chants praising Allah ta^ala and His blessed Messenger Muhammad sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam.
A speech by his Eminence Shaykh Abdur-Rahman Sulayman shed some light on learning and benefiting from that migration to gain the full confidence in the support of Allah, that is, his victory and the assistance for his fearful and faithful slave.
Confidence that is not shaken by the storms of falsehood. Confidence that was clearly shown by those two migrants, when the non-believers reached the mouth of the cave, and when Abu Bakr said: By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, “If one of them looks down at his feet he will see us.” The Messenger of Allah then said his prominent statement, with which he captured the hearts “O Abu Bakr, what you think of two protected and supported by Allah”.
As for what Allah said in the Glorious Qur’an in Surah at-Tawbah, Verse 40: Meaning of which is: “When you did not support him, Allah indeed supported him (Prophet Muhammad) when the blasphemers harassed him. He was the second of two (the Prophet and Abu Bakr) while they were in the cave he said to his Companion: ‘Do not be sad Allah (with us) is protecting us.’”
The words” Inallah ha Mahna” while the literal translation is (with us). The proper interpretation is that ‘Allah Protects us’, and does not mean the physical presence of Allah with them. a matter that is impossible to attribute to Allah as He is clear from any attribute of the creations. Allah protects, supports, aids, preserves, and guides his pious righteous obedient believing slaves. Those who fulfilled fully the orders of Allah, worshiping only Him clearing Him from resembling His creations and leaving all the prohibitions.
This blessed migration with all its pearls of wisdom is worthy to revive in us today the sense of pride, dignity, esteem and all enabling factors, as it did that time. After all these years that have passed, the Muslims still read in the pages of this migration the lessons of glory and sacrifice. Sacrifice for the religion and the acceptance of Allah. They take heed with their mentor, the Prophet who emigrated not for money nor a worldly gain or out of cowardice; rather he emigrated to spread the religion and uphold the word of Tawhid ‘no one deserves to be worshiped but Allah’.
The Association of Islamic Charitable Projects (AICP) wishes the Muslim Community in the Lower Mainland and those all over the world a thriving and flourishing New Year, one that would be filled with security, peace and protection from injustice.
The AICP Centers are always open and welcome anyone and everyone wishing to acquire the knowledge about our splendid Religion, Islam.
May Allah guide us all to strong commitment to piety, righteousness, learning and implementing our religious duties, by the virtue of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu ^alayhi wa sallam.
