REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOURNEY

One of the greatest forms of mutual help in righteousness and piety is to help one another in the journey of migration to Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. This help should be done by the hands, tongues and hearts – through teaching, advising, educating, guiding and caring.

If a person has this attitude toward Allah’s creatures, prosperity will rush to them from all directions, Allah will move His creatures’ hearts toward them, will open the gates of knowledge for their heart, and will facilitate the path of bliss for them. Conversely, one with an opposite attitude will receive opposite consequences.

One might then ask, “You have described a very great journey and a very important matter; but what provisions should be taken along? Which way to follow? And what are the means to use for transportation?” The answer to this is provided in the following sections.

THE TRIP’S PROVISIONS:

The provisions for this journey are the knowledge inherited from the Seal of the Prophet’s, peace be upon him – there are no other provisions.

Let anyone not prepared with these provisions stay in their house and sit with those who lag behind. They will find multitudes of other laggers for company. Let them follow their example; but let them know that this company will not avail them anything on the Day of Distress. Allah says:

“On that Day, it will avail you nothing that, since you have done wrong [together], you shall be partners in punishment [as well].” (Az-Zukhruf 43:39)

Thus Allah assures us that the wrongdoers’ association in punishment will not profit them. In this life, people find comfort in sharing disasters. But none of this kind of consolation will exist among those sharing punishment on the Day of Resurrection.

THE WAY:

The way to accomplish this journey is through exerting at full capacity and striving to the extreme. It can neither be accomplished by wishes, nor attained through loitering. It is not possible for a person to take this way unless one satisfies two matters:

First, as long as one is following the right way, one should never be concerned about the reproaches of those who like to find faults.
Second, one’s soul should be so worthless to them, for Allah’s sake, that they would rush forward, fearless of any perils. The moment the soul becomes frightened, it retreats and turns away from facing dangers, preferring the lowliness of the earth.

These two matters cannot be further fulfilled without patience. One who exercises patience for just a short while will find dangers turn into a smooth breeze which can carry them to where they wish. Thus the danger that they feared suddenly changes to become their best helper and assistant. This is a matter that cannot be comprehended well except by those who have tried it.

THE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION:

The means of transportation in this journey [of migration] is to take refuge in Allah all praises and glory be to Him, and to turn to Him with one’s whole being. It is to exhibit, by all means, full reliance on Him and true confidence in Him. It is to lie down before Him like a subdued and defeated person who possess nothing – a person who looks up to their Master for dignity and security and for attaining some of His bounty, hoping that He would shelter them. Such is the one whom, it is hoped, Allah will guide and show what has been concealed from others concerning the way of this hijrah and its ranks.

CONTEMPLATING ALLAH’S AYAT:

The pinnacle of the whole affair [of performing a successful journey] and its central pillar is the continued contemplation on Allah’s ayat – to such an extent that these ayat would overpower the person’s thoughts and fascinate their heart.

Once of the meanings of the Qur’an replace the passing thoughts of the heart, one’s journey goes smoothly and the course becomes manifest; and even when it appears to other that the person is standing still, they would in fact be moving ahead so fast as to race the wind. Allah tells us:

“You see the mountains and think them firmly fixed. But they pass away as the clouds pass away. [Such is] the mastery of Allah who disposes of all things in perfect order. Indeed, He is well acquainted with all that you do.”

(Surah An-Naml 27:88)

One might ask, “You have pointed to a great aspiration. Would you disclose the door which opens into it; and would you raise the curtain that conceals it? Would you reveal how to understand thoroughly the meaning of the Qur’an, and how to reflect upon its extraordinary delights and treasures? We have in our hands the book of tafsir of various imams; are there any interpretations to be offered beyond what has already been done?”