| Dr Muhammad Hadi Bin Muhammad Melayong, Senior Special Duties Officer, Secretariat Office, MIB Supreme Council |

ISLAMIC history’s importance as a reference and guidance for Muslims was emphasised by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in his titah in conjunction with the celebration of the New Hijrah Year on October 12, 2015.

Therefore, we can take lessons from the historical events recorded in Al-Quran and the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to build a perfect civilisation that may be blessed by Allah the Almighty.

For example, the migration (Hijrah) of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from Makkah to Madinah when he did not receive a favourable response from the people of Taif could be taken as a lesson for Muslims.

Therefore we need to understand and know the struggle of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to strengthen our faith by acknowledging the events and challenges faced by the Messenger of Allah the Almighty in upholding the religion of Allah the Almighty for Muslims and their devout followers till the end of time.

In this regard, His Majesty emphasised the significance and worth of that history, because without history, we would not know what the fate of Islam and its people would be today.

This may be one of the reasons why Allah the Almighty ordered (Hijrah) to save Islam and his followers.

Among other things the Sultan mentioned about the importance of the history of Hijrah:

Ini semua namanya ilmu: ‘Ilmu Sejarah’. Peranannya sungguh besar, selaku ‘cermin kehidupan’.

Daripadanya, kita dapat melihat gambaran keadaan, bagaimana negara dan umat pada ketika itu, dan bagaimana mereka berusaha dan berjuang? Dari sejarah juga, kita tahu siapa kawan dan siapa lawan. Semuanya terakam dalam sejarah.

Dalam sejarah Hijrah, kita melihat Nabi Muhammad Shallallahu ‘Alaihi Wassallam adalah rasul dan pemimpin, sementara Sayyidina Abu Bakar pula, sebagai teman dan pengikut yang setia. Kedua-duanya berpegang kuat kepada falsafah: Rela melakukan apa saja untuk memperolehi redha Allah.

…Siapakah di antara kita pada masa ini yang sanggup berbuat demikian itu, dengan cuma berjalan kaki merentas padang sahara, mendaki dan menuruni gunung-ganang dan bukit-bukau di bawah terik matahari?

Mereka bukan berjalan sebatu dua, tetapi hampir 500km daripada Kota Makkah ke Madinah Al-Munawwarah. Bayangkanlah betapa sukarnya misi ini. Kita boleh nampak, betapa pengorbanan yang amat mencabar ini tidak berlaku dengan sia-sia.

Tetapi Allah membalasnya dengan kejayaan dan keselamatan.

Beta yakin, manakala kita umat Nabi Muhammad Shallallahu ‘Alaihi Wassallam ini mahu belajar daripada Sejarah Hijrah dan mengambil pengajaran daripadanya, maka tidak mustahil, kegemilangan umat yang telah hilang akan kembali semula ke pangkuan kita.

Tetapi syaratnya, semua pemimpin dan yang dipimpin hendaklah mengikut gaya kepimpinan Nabi dan gaya siapa yang dipimpin, seperti sahabat Abu Bakar As-Siddiq Radhiallahu ‘Anhu. Mereka ini mengajak umat mentauhidkan Allah sambil membawa semua yang dipimpin bersatu padu menghindari perpecahan.

Alhamdulillah, we are grateful to Allah the Almighty for making it possible for 157 Bruneian pilgrims led by Raudah Al-Amin Sdn Bhd to travel to the holy land of Makkah from February 26 to March 10 this year to perform Umrah and visit some of the historical sites relating to Islamic civilisation that still exist today.

All these remaining monuments are the products of the historical twists and turns of the events marking the struggle of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in upholding the teachings of Islam.

The historical places the pilgrims visited are relics from the development of Islamic civilisation around Madinah and Makkah cities including Taif City.

By visiting Taif City, the Bruneian pilgrims can experience the journey Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) took from Makkah to Taif before he migrated to Madinah two years later to save his people.

The Bruneian pilgrims departed from their accommodation in Makkah on March 4 using a rental bus and embarked on a journey that took more than an hour.

They visited the local fruit market and rose industry, Addas Fruit Garden, Masjid Abdullah bin Abbas (named after the Prophet’s (pbuh) cousin) and his tomb, and had the pleasure of feasting on lamb and chicken Mandi (traditional Arabic food).

Taif is a unique city that is different from the city of Makkah, both in terms of its history and its natural surroundings.

Based on historical perspective, we hope that it will produce the sense of conviction and tawadhuk on Allah the Almighty based on the experiences and illustrations given on Prophet’s (pbuh)journey in the development of Islam three years before he migrated to the city of Madinah.

The city of Taif is well-known for the sad events and stories of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in flaring Islam around in the year 7 AD.

In fact, in the early stage of Islamic development in Makkah, the Quraisy began to oppose and threaten him when Islam was introduced among his family and his people.

Therefore, he intended to seek a new place for protection away from the Quraisy threats.

The Prophet’s (pbuh) journey to Taif, accompanied by Zaid bin Hartsah, was made after the deaths of his beloved wife Sayyidatina Siti Khadijah in 619 AD and her uncle Abu Thalib in 620 AD.

The ultimate aim of the Prophet’s (pbuh) visit was to preach and invite the Kabilah Tsaqif to accept Islam as their religion. The Prophet (pbuh) hoped that if the Taif people accept Islam, the city could provide shelter for the Muslim followers.

Just imagine, to achieve these ideals for the sake of his people and Islam, the Prophet (pbuh) has walked through the steep mountains and hot and dry desert sands, estimated to be 100 kilometres from the city of Makkah (by bus) and reaching temperatures as low as four degrees Celsius and as high as 40 degrees Celsius.

This is evidence of the Prophet’s (pbuh) immense strength to fight for the cause of Islam, a religion that has endured to this day.

However, the majority of Taif inhabitants opposed the Prophet’s (pbuh)missionary efforts and reproached him and his group, treating them in a rude and despicable way.

According to information from the tour guide, the Prophet’s (pbuh) journey to Thaif lasted almost 10 days, during which the Prophet (pbuh) was injured, hit by stones thrown at his legs and head.

This brutal act of the Taif prompted Zaid bin Haritsah to defend and protect the Prophet (pbuh).

Not all of Taif’s residents dismissed the call of the Prophet, however.

For example, a young man named Addas extended his help to the Prophet (pbuh), shielding him from the cruelty of the Taif people by providing him shelter in his garden.

And Addas was the first person to embrace Islam when he heard the Prophet (pbuh) uttering the verse ‘Bismillahirrahmannirrahim’ while eating the grapes he had been given.

Apart from the historical significance of Taif City, we also take inspiration from the greatness of Allah the Almighty in transforming this dry, sandy desert into a fertile region and the source of its agricultural economy.

The Bruneian pilgrims witnessed how the cultivation of roses and local fruits play a key role in driving the local economy.

It turns out that the cold temperatures allow the city to produce fresh fruits, especially grapes, corn, melons, pomegranates, olives, roses and honey.

A historical visit to a city such as Taif is beneficial in our efforts to strengthen our taqwa to Allah the Almighty, and Taif is among the locations that remind us of the struggle of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

It also so happens to be the birthplace of the third Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Sharif Ali (historical records on Sultan Sharif Ali, also known as ‘Sultan Berkat’, indicated that he came from Taif before being appointed as Governor Makkah).

For the Bruneian pilgrims, the visit to Taif has provided them more clarity on Islamic history and strengthened their faith in Islam, the city’s historical heritage and agriculture-centred economy giving them that added inspiration.