By Mustafa Makumba

When we talk about calendars, most of the time we expect them to start with something very big: the birth of a great person, the beginning of a kingdom, a famous victory, or an event that everyone can merely celebrate. But the Islamic calendar is different. It does not begin with comfort or celebration. It begins with the Hijrah, the journey of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions from Makkah to Madinah.

That already teaches us something deep. The Hijrah was not an easy move. It was not like travelling when everything has been planned nicely and people are waiting to welcome you with comfort. It was a tough journey. The early Muslims had to leave their homes, their businesses, their families, their memories, and the life they knew. They left because they wanted to protect their faith and live according to what was right.

Later, during the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab, the Muslim community needed a proper way of counting the years. They could have chosen many other moments, such as the birth of the Prophet (peace be upon him), an important battle, or another well-known event. But they chose the Hijrah. That decision was not small. It gave the calendar a message. It reminds us that real change does not always start when things are easy. Sometimes change begins when you have to leave something behind, trust Allah, and move forward even when you are not fully sure what tomorrow will look like.

This is something many of us can understand, even here in Malawi. People move from the village to town looking for school, work, or a better life. Others leave home to start a business, to help their families, or simply to find a place where they can grow. But not every journey is about moving from one place to another. Sometimes the real journey is inside us. A person may be trying to leave bad habits, anger, pride, laziness, fear, or painful memories. That kind of movement can also be a Hijrah in its own way.

The Qur’an speaks about migration with honour. It talks about those who migrate and struggle for the sake of what is right, reminding us that sacrifice made for Allah is never wasted (Qur’an 8:72). We also remember the moment when the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companion were in the cave during the Hijrah. It was a frightening moment, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave words of comfort: “Do not grieve; indeed, Allah is with us” (Qur’an 9:40). Those words are still powerful today. They remind us that even when the road is not clear, Allah is never absent.