The Hijrah That Never Ends: Ethics and Renewal

Among the sacred months in Islam, Muḥarram carries a beauty and depth that speaks directly to the heart. It is the first month of the Hijri calendar, a time of beginnings. And within it lies a day that the Prophet ﷺ himself honoured: the Day of ʿĀshūrā', the 10th of Muḥarram.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Fasting the day of ʿĀshūrā' expiates the sins of the previous year."(Muslim, 1162)

Although ʿĀshūrā' has passed this year, its meaning stays with us. The lessons it brings are not tied to a date, they live on. It's more than a day of fasting; it's an invitation to come back to Allah, to return to sincerity, and to become who we were meant to be.

The story of Mūsā عليه السلام isn't just history; it reminds us of that Allah always makes a way for those who turn to Him with trust and effort. But salvation and change require more than a single day. They require what the Prophet ﷺ called Hijrah a migration, not always of the body, but of the heart.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands others are safe, and the Muhājir is the one who leaves behind what Allah has forbidden."(al-Bukhārī, 10)

This statement, simple as it may seem, carries within it a roadmap for ethical and spiritual transformation.

A Muslim Who Brings No Harm

The true measure of a Muslim is not how he prays or fasts alone, but how he treats others. No slander, no betrayal, no harsh words. Not even a glance of arrogance. The Prophet ﷺ defined Islam as a source of safety, not fear. In today's world, this standard feels both rare and revolutionary.

Faith is Not Hidden

The early generations of Muslims, the Salaf al-Ṣāliḥ, taught that faith is something that must be lived, not just claimed. They used to say:

"Īmān increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience."

If someone says they believe, yet continues in cruelty, dishonesty, or heedlessness, what kind of belief is that? Real īmān is seen in action, in mercy, in restraint, and the integrity of character.

Hijrah of the Heart

The Prophet ﷺ redefined Hijrah for every age:

"...The Muhājir is the one who leaves behind what Allah has forbidden." (al-Bukhārī, 10)

This is the Hijrah we are all called to make:
from arrogance to humility,
from neglect to remembrance,
from sin to striving,
from worldly obsession to eternal meaning.

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله wrote:

"The Hijrah of the body may end, but the Hijrah of the heart to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ continues until one meets Allah."(al-Fawā'id, 63)

No Change Without Sacrifice

When the early Muslims left Makkah for Madinah, they left behind comfort, wealth, and even family. They migrated not just physically, but emotionally. They chose Allah over everything.

Today, we may not be asked to leave our cities, but we are asked to leave our egos. To give up habits that hurt us, relationships that pull us away from Allah, and pursuits that distract the soul. Change will cost, but nothing given up for Allah is ever wasted.

ʿĀshūrā', More than a Fast

When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he found the Jewish community fasting on the 10th of Muḥarram. They said, "It is the day Allah saved Mūsā and his people." The Prophet ﷺ said:

"We are more entitled to Mūsā than you," and he fasted it and encouraged his companions to do so. (al-Bukhārī, 4737)

Later, he ﷺ added:

"If I live to next year, I will fast the 9th as well." (Muslim, 1134)

The scholars, including Imam al-Nawawī رحمه الله, recommended fasting the 9th, 10th, and even 11th to avoid imitating others and to complete the Sunnah. It is a fast of thanks, not sorrow. A day of victory, not grief. A time to leave behind our own Pharaohs, our sins, our pride, our heedlessness, and emerge on the other side with a purified heart.

And though this blessed day has come and gone for the year, the lesson remains: there is always time to turn back.

This Year, Make Hijrah

May this Muharram not pass by like any other month. Let it be a turning point. A start of something better.

From distraction to dhikr.
From anger to gentleness.
From chasing the world to preparing for the Hereafter.

Allah says:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٰبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

"Indeed, Allah loves those who constantly repent and purify themselves."(Sūrah al-Baqarah, 2:222)

Final Thoughts

We're already into the days of Muḥarram, and the year has quietly begun its course. But the message of this blessed time still speaks. It's a gentle nudge to pause and reflect, even amid daily life. Who am I becoming, truly? And when I stand before Allah one day, who do I hope He sees in me?

May Allah write for us an ongoing Hijrah, one that continues, quietly and sincerely, until we return to Him.

Dr. Nurul Jannah binti Zainan Nazri is Assistant Professor of Qur'an and Sunnah Studies at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Her research lies at the intersection of classical Islamic texts and contemporary realities. She focuses on ḥadīth criticism, Qur'anic sciences, tafsīr, women and society, and environmental ethics. Her work bridges academic rigor and spiritual insight, inviting a deeper engagement with Islam in today's world.