Maal Hijrah celebrated with message urging Muslims to appreciate 'hijrah'

The Maal Hijrah 1438H celebration today was also celebrated in several states with a message urging all Muslims to appreciate and learn about the 'hijrah' event where Prophet Muhammad led Muslims from Makkah to Madinah, towards strengthening solidarity of the ummah (faithful).

Themed 'Islamic Brotherhood, Fundamental to Unification of Ummah', the celebrations at the state level were celebrated moderately but with full of meaning.

In KEDAH, Kedah Regency Council chairman Tan Sri Tunku Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah urged Muslims to appreciate the essence of the Islamic brotherhood between the Muhajirin and the Ansar groups who inspired the establishment of a sovereign Muslim country.

"The integration between the two groups helped form a strong union and create a consensus to help Prophet Muhammad to spread Islamic teachings," he said.

He said this at the Maal Hijrah Celebration in Kedah at Dewa Seri Negeri, Wisma Darulaman here today, which was attended by more than 1,000 Muslims.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah and State Secretary Datuk Bakar Din.

Tunku Sallehuddin said all the people in the country must unite and set aside their political differences.

"If we are narrow minded, the wall of our Muslim brotherhood and the country's honor which was built over the years will collapse," he said.

In PAHANG, Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah call for the Maal Hijrah to be starting point for uniting all political leaders and to restore unity among Muslims.

"The meaning of freedom, prosperity and democracy and constitutional monarchy practiced in Malaysia will not mean anything if the Muslims are not united, "he said.

Therefore, he called on leaders of political and religious organisations, communities and universities to come together to discuss why Muslims are disunited and how to overcome it.

"Political leaders should appreciate and reflect the deeper meaning of this year's Maal Hijrah theme 'Islamic Brotherhood, Fundamental to Unification of Ummah'," he said when launching the Maal Hijrah celebration in Pahang at the Jubli Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hall, here today.

Also present were Tengku Puan of Pahang Tunku Azizah Maimunah Iskandariah and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.

In JOHOR, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin urged the public to reform, including to be more daring, innovative and to think beyond the future in order to bring the country and the nation to be more developed and prosperous.

"Hijrah itself is loaded with elements that are outside of a normal thinking cap, such as intelligence and innovativeness," he said at the Maal Hijrah celebration ceremony at Iskandar Johor Main Hall, today.

In SABAH, Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah said Muslims should celebrate Maal Hijrah as a platform to commemorate the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah, which became a starting point of the integration of the ummah.

'The 'hijrah' event should set as an example to Muslims to build a sovereign, dynamic and progressive nation," he said in his message in conjunction with the Maal Hijrah celebration at the the Sri Putatan Hall, today which was attended about 3,000 Muslims.

Meanwhile, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said all parties should focus on efforts to strengthen the solidarity and unity of the nation through a simple approach that is relevant to current demands, especially in the context of a plural society in Malaysia, particularly in Sabah.

He said Muslims should also dare to make changes and improvements to accelerate the development of the country in various fields.

At the event, Tun Juhar also presented the'Tokoh Maal Hijrah' award to former Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah and a special award to Datuk Jamdin Buyong besides five other awards to selected recipients.

The Maal Hijrah celebration was also celebrated at Abdullah Fahim mosque in PENANG, which was attended by Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas who hoped through the celebration, it could strengthen ties among Muslims not only in Penang but also in the whole country.

At the celebration, he also presented the state-level 'Tokoh Maal Hijrah' award to former Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer, Mohd Zahry Shaikh Abdul Rahman, 63.

In KELANTAN, Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Muhammad V said the ummah integration agenda is an important matter that had brought Islam to build a nation.

"In conjunction with the celebration, let us together live up to the hijrah fighting spirit of Prophet Muhammad in the aspect of brotherhood in Islam," he said.

He was speaking at the recitation of 'Doa Sempena Akhir Tahun and Awal Tahun' ceremony and the celebration of Maal Hijrah in Kelantan at Al Ismaili mosque, here last night.

During the occasion, Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad was announced as the Kelantan 'Tokoh Maal Hijrah' 1438H/2016M'.

In PERAK, Maal Hijrah celebration was attended by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah with Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim accompanied by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

Besides presenting the state's 'Tokoh Maal Hijrah' award to former assistant mufti at the office of the Mufti of Perak, Muhamed Abdullah, Sultan Nazrin also presented the 'Best Mosque Management Award' to Al-Islah Keledang Utama Mosque, Sungai Siput.

In SARAWAK, the Maal Hijrah celebration which was held at the Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan Hall, Betong was attended by Yang Di Pertua Negeri, Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Also present was Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Openg, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, former Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and wife Tan Sri Empiang Jabu, as well as other state Cabinet members and 2,000 people.

In PERLIS Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail urged all Muslims to improve themselves towards a better life.

He said, those who strived for something better in life was part of the meaning of 'hijrah' and it would be rewarded if their intends were for Allah.

He was speaking before 2,000 Muslims who attended the Maal Hijrah celebration in Kangar today.

Also present were Raja Perempuan of Perlis, Tuanku Tengku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid; Raja Muda, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail; Raja Puan Muda, Tuanku Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man with wife Datin Seri Nor Aswana Omar.

At the ceremony, Raja Perlis also presented the state level 'Tokoh Maal Hijrah' award to Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidi Zainal, 60, who received RM10,000 cash, a plaque and certificate of appreciation. -- Bernama