The Hijri New Year is a time when Muslims must turn their thoughts to the memory of Prophet Mohammed and his migration (Hijra) from Mecca to Medina, the sermon will tell mosque-goers on Friday.
These days remind Muslims of a significant time in Islamic history when a new era of development and civilisation was born.
For this reason, Umar Ibn Al Khattab established the year of the Prophet's migration as the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
Umar Ibn Al Kattab consulted the companions on the starting date of the new Muslim chronology. Some of them said, "Start with the date the Prophet received his prophecy." Others suggested to mark the date of Hijra as the beginning of the new Muslim calendar.
“It was finally agreed that the most appropriate reference point for the Islamic calendar was the Hijra since it has brought in the seeds of development and civilisation to the whole humanity,” the sermon will say.
With the Hijra, the Prophet laid the principles of coexistence with non-Muslims based on the values of safeguarding rights and discharging duties. Such important values were stipulated in the Charter of Medina which the Prophet himself drafted.
Based upon this Charter, the companions of the Messenger of Allah established edifices of human civilisation and disseminated the tolerant principles of Islam.
On the occasion of the Islamic New Year, the sermon reminds Muslims to take account of their deeds during the previous year and to plan for the year ahead.
Allah urged man to be self-accountable and prepare for the Day of Resurrection.
"That Day, you will be exhibited [for judgement]; not hidden among you is anything concealed." (Al-Haqqa: 18).
Umar Ibn Al Khattab reiterated this message when he said: "Hold yourselves accountable before you are held accountable and weigh yourselves (your actions) before they are weighed for you."
To this end, it the duty of every Muslim to assess their actions and make sure they performed the prescribed acts of worship and best invested their time by engaging in good deeds, the sermon will say.
Self-accountability also entails striving to benefit oneself, one’s family, society and nation.
“This in turn requires the person to work diligently in improving their performance at work, seek to acquire further knowledge and add new strengths to their expertise as well as increase their achievements,” the sermon will say.
