The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 7
I - Early Establishment of Madīnah and Foundation of the Islāmic Government 7 this event of migration. However, the year does not begin from Rabī‘ul-Awwal , which was the month of migration. Rather, it begins from Muḥarram , 1 which is considered to be the first month of the lunar calendar. As such, the first year of Hijrah did not actually consist of 12 months, rather, only of nine months and some days. There is also a difference of opinion among the historians with relation to the era in which the Hijrah calendar system was formally instituted. Ḥākim has narrated in Iklīl that the Holy Prophet sa initiated this calendar himself, after the migration. 2 However, in light of other narrations, most historians believe (and this seems to be correct), that this calendar was formally initiated in the Khilāfat of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra. 3 4 ُ وَاللّٰه ُ اَعْلَم Historians write that the first task which the Holy Prophet sa undertook in Qubā’ was to erect a mosque. The Holy Prophet sa laid the foundation stone of this mosque with his own blessed hand. The Companions worked together as labourers and builders. After a few days of hard work, the mosque was complete. The Holy Prophet sa possessed great love for this mosque, until the end of his life. As such, even after taking up residence in Madīnah, the Holy Prophet sa would visit Qubā’ every week, and offer Ṣalāt 5 in this mosque. Various scholars believe that this very mosque at Qubā’ is the one which has been referred to in the following verse of the Holy Qur’ān: 6 - There is no doubt that Muslims had erected various mosques prior to this as well. However, the mosque at Qubā’ was indeed the first mosque in Islām, the foundation of which was laid at the hands of the Holy Prophet sa , on the first day after the completion of the migration. Muslims built this mosque as a national place of worship. It has already been mentioned that when the Holy Prophet sa emigrated from Makkah, he left Ḥaḍrat ‘Alī ra in his place, and strictly instructed him 1 The first month of the Islāmic Calendar [Publishers] 2 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 2, pp. 152-153, Khātimatu Fī Waqā’i‘i Mutafarriqatin Ḥaṣalat Fil-Hijrah…. . , Dārul-Kutubil- ‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 3 Tārīkhur-Rusuli Wal-Mulūk (Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī), By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī, Volume 3, p. 3, Dhikrul-Waqtilladhī ‘Umila Fīhit-Tārīkh, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002) 4 And Allāh knows best [Publishers] 5 The prescribed five daily prayers [Publishers] 6 “. . . Which was founded upon piety from the very first day. ” (At-Taubah 9:108)