1442AH: Time to persevere, not grieve

Yesterday Friday August 21, 2020 was declared by the Sultanate Moon Sighting Committee as the first day in the new Hijrah year; 1442. We give gratitude to Allah that we are alive to witness the end of the Hijrah year 1441 and the beginning of another. Hijrah calendar was introduced by the second Khalifa of Islam, Umaru bn Al-Khattab (RA). The Muslim calendar is called Hijrah because the counting of the year began from the year in which Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his followers undertook the historic migration (called Hijrah in Arabic) from Makkah to the second holiest city of Islam, Madinah. That divinely inspired relocation of the Prophet (SAW) from his birthplace to Madinah took place in 622 Christian Era (CE).

It has been tough for many Nigerians for most part of the 1441AH. Increased criminal activities of bandits, kidnappers and insurgents are some of the critical security challenges that threatened the life of many Nigerians in the past 12 lunar months of the Hijrah calendar. Residents of some states including Katsina and Zamfara were forced by persistent insecurity to abandon their farms. While some states are experiencing flood disaster, rainfall in others including Niger has in recent weeks become irregular and little. As these troubles stare many in the face amidst exigencies of the new normal life orchestrated by COVID-19, cut-throat prices of food items in recent weeks joined the catalogue of predicaments confronting ordinary Nigerians.

But no matter our national challenges, regional difficulties or personal predicaments, we have reasons to thank the most Merciful. The fact that we are alive and perhaps healthy is Allah’s the greatest favour and mercy on us. Some of those who saw the start of 1441 AH did not live to witness its end. There are several other reasons for which we must give glory to Allah (SWT). However, most people naturally find it easier to recall sad moments; pushing the remembrance of the favours received from Allah (SWT) to the sub-conscious. Our ability to acknowledge Allah’s blessings, sometimes in their disguised forms, surely presents further privileges for accessing greater favours. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 14:7 “… if ye are grateful, I will indeed add more (favours) unto you…” Let us therefore consider our existence as a respite for us to repent from our acts of unrighteousness and strive to become obedient servants of Allah (SWT); avoiding any thoughts, speeches or actions that would make us appear or sound ungrateful.

Zakat is one of the five fundamental principles of Islam and therefore obligatory on Muslims (male or female) whose wealth of crops, livestock or cash has reached Nisab. In Islamic Jurisprudence, Nisab is the minimum amount which wealth (in cash or crops or livestock) is required to attain before it attracts Zakkat. Being a cardinal principle of Islam and owing to its socio-economic benefits that seeks to ensure even distribution of wealth among members of the society, we encourage those who qualify to give Zakat to do so with the fear of Allah (SWT).

The beginning of a new Hijrah Year equally marks the beginning of a new fiscal year in Islam. According to figures recently released by the Society for the Propagation of Islam (in Nigeria), the minimum taxable amount of money (Nisab) upon which two and a half percent is payable as Zakkat in the year 1442AH is put at N1, 473, 300.00 which is the current cost of 20 pieces of dinar (gold). The value of one quarter of a dinar (rub’u dinar) which is the minimum amount of money payable as dowry as well as the least theft of property that can attract amputation of hand is put at N18, 437.82. The sum of N73, 664, 138.00 (which is the value of 1,000 dinar) is the blood-money (diyyah) payable for manslaughter. The value of Nisab, Sadaq and Hadd mentioned above in naira are all relative because the amounts are determined by the prevailing price of dinar as well as the exchange rate of local currency, the naira.

The beginning of a Hijrah year is always a wordless reminder that a surviving individual has lost another 365 days from his life-span. As usual, lest we forget that the beginning of a Hijrah year is always a period to check the state of our al-Kafan (the white sheet for shrouding the dead). Let us use this period to replace it if it has changed colour or has been defaced.

In our prayers to mark the new Hijrah year, let us pray fervently to Allah (SWT) to change all the unpleasant narratives about Nigeria into prosperity; making 1442AH a year in which Nigerians will live to forget the critical challenge of general insecurity of lives and property including banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and the resurgence of insurgency. Let us plead with Allah (SWT) to make the end of 1441AH the beginning of COVID-19’s exit from the surface of the earth. Kullu Aamin Wa Antum Bi-Alfi Khairin!

Fasting on Tasu’ah and Ashura days:

The Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) exhorts the observance of voluntary fast on the 9th (Tasu’ah) and 10th (Ashura) of the first month, Muharram, of the Hijrah year. The six authentic compilers of hadith relate on the authority of Ibn Abbas (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) fasted on Ashura day (10th of Muharram) and he instructed that believers observe (voluntary) fast on that day. Further on Ashurah (10th of Muharram), Abi Qatadah (RA) reports that the Prophet (SAW) said, “It vitiates for (the sins of) the previous year”. About observing voluntary fast on Tasu’ah (9th of Muharram), Imam Muslim (RA) relates on the authority of Ibn Abbas (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said, “If I am alive till next year, I will surely observe (voluntary) fast on Tasu’ah (day)”. Based on the official statement from the Sultanate Moon-Sighting Committee, which declared Friday August 20 as the first day of Muharram, 1442AH; next week Saturday August 29, 2020 and Sunday August 30, 2020 will, insha Allah, be Tasu’ah and Ashurah. May Allah (SWT) accept the voluntary fast and other acts of devotions of those who are able to fast on either or both days, amin. Once again, Happy New Hijrah Year!