A New Year

There are just a few days left to the beginning of the new Islamic lunar year 1427. Traditionally this is a time for reflection and remembrance. Moving from one year to another is a bit like migrating in time, from a familiar past into an open future. The Islamic calendar starts with the hijra, the Prophet Muhammad's migration from Makkah to Madinah. The beginning of a new year and the first ten days of the first month Muharram are therefore an occasion to remember examples from the past that are about an end and a new beginning.

One of them is the landing of Noah's ark. The story is known and there are versions of it far beyond the cultures based on the Bible and the Qur'an: Noah, those who were near to him as family members and in faith, and the animals were saved from the great flood that God sent over the earth to end the mischief caused by the people. The new beginning is marked by God's covenant with Noah that includes God's promise, symbolized by the rainbow, not to use complete destruction against humankind again as long as the earth exists. According to popular imagination, Noah and his family then collected all the leftover provisions from the ark, grain, lentils, dried fruit and the like, put it together in a pot and made a stew or soup that would give them the strength for the fresh start. At least this is told to explain why it is custormary to have the local variety of this dish, especially after the fasting days that are observed by some.

Another one is Abraham's emigration, both spiritually and geographically. Questioning the polytheist tradition of his environment, he started a spiritual search. According to the story, he observed the heavenly bodies that were objects of worship until he realized the One Source of all Being behind them. This result soon got him into conflict when he challenged the guardians of tradition. As a consequence, he left his ancestral home for an uncertain future and spent the rest of his life travelling, trusting only God for support, protection and guidance. Because of his closeness to God he is called "God's Friend". Three religious traditions consider Abraham their spiritual ancestor - him who started off questioning tradition.

Another example is the emigration of the Children of Israel from Egypt, their liberation from slavery. There is a dramatic account of how Pharaoh, in order to preserve his position of power, oppressed and decimated them until Moses, himself a survivor of Pharaoh's murderous attempts, was commissioned by God to confront the tyrant. By a miracle they were able to cross the sea while Pharaoh and his pursuing troops drowned. Now they were free for a new beginning that proved anything but easy: only after a variety of experiences and forty years in the wilderness they were able to really take over the responsibility for their own society in God's presence.

The above Qur'anic text refers to the hijra, the Prophet Muhammad's migration from Makkah to Madinah. The word "flight" that is still used for it in some history books is beside the point. One aspect of the emigration was certainly the promise of protection by the people of Yathrib that offered some safety to the Muslims after years of persecution. But their invitation itself was motivated by the hope that the Prophet would be able to make peace in the city after generations of war. Relying on God's help, he set about to integrate the people with each other, both his fellow emigrants and the native helpers and a number of formerly hostile groups with different religious and cultural backgrounds, keeping in mind a vision of unity in plurality. This was the root for later Muslim civilization.

Another event that is remembered in the beginning of the Islamic year, on Ashura, the tenth day, is the martyrdom of the Prophet's grandson Husayn. Committed to the values and visions taught and exemplified by his grandfather, he refused allegiance to injustice in the name of his own religion and its new institutions and was therefore ambushed and killed by the ruler's troops. Again we are left at a decisive point between settling in the shadow of "the course of this world", comfortably following human habits and siding with those who happen to be in power, or setting off on the path of commitment for something more just and humane.

Especially the latter experience shows that there is no "Happy End". Life not like a novel that starts out introducing the protagonists and ends with the solution of the mystery. In real life there is always something before the "beginning" and after the "end". It runs like a constantly flowing river of ups and downs, victory and defeat, none of it being the "last word". The beginning of every new year can be conceived as point of transition, a chance to work through past experiences, to develop visions for something better and plans to put it into practice. We are taught that "our actions depend on our intentions and our migration is to what we migrate for." "Hijra," the Prophet explained, "means to leave what is bad and to move on to something morally better," to something that is more likely to promote justice and peace.

God, You are God since before immemorial time, and this is a new year. Therefore I ask You for protection from evil during this year and for strength against this ego of mine that suggests bad actions and for work that takes me closer to You, Most Generous One, Owner of Majesty and Honour, Supporter who does not need support, Sustainer who does not need sustenance, Refuge who does not need refuge, Helper who does not need help, Reliance who does not need anyone to rely on, Treasure who does not need treasures, Fortress against afflictions, Great Hope, Strength of the weak, Deliverer of those who are sinking, Rescuer of the lost, Giver of Kindness, Beauty, Favours and Goodness.
You are the One who is worshipped by the blackness of the night and the light of the day, the shimmer of the moon and the radiance of the sun, the roaring of the water and the liveliness of the trees. God, there is no one beside You.
God, make us better than what others expect from us, forgive us even that which nobody knows of, and do not take us to account for what others say.
God is sufficient for me. There is no god but He. In Him I put my trust, and He is the Lord of the great throne. We have faith in Him. Everything rests with our Creator and Sustainer. Only the people of understanding keep it in mind.
Our Creator and Sustainer, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided is and grant us mercy from Your presence. You are the One Who Gives.

The supplication in the last paragraph has been transmitted from Muhammad Rida.

(c) Halima Krausen, 2006