The World Muslim community has just opened the door to a new year, bringing with itself new beginnings, promises, and challenges. The start of a new year in the Hijri or Islamic calendar is a time to think about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the sacrifices he made, his conduct, heroism and leadership, and the victories that the Muslims recorded in history after embarking the journey from Makkah to Madinah. In a Friday's sermon, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais,the Imam of the Grand Mosque, said that with the start of a new year, we must rekindle the light of hope and optimism in our lives just as the first morning sunrays appear to wipe out the previous night's darkness. Although the Ummah is suffering pain, tragedy, displacement, and calamity, Muslims are not those who give into despair, hopelessness, and idleness. Hope is what motivates people to work hard, to change, and to accomplish great feats. Optimism is what dispels boredom and laziness. “After hardship there will be ease, after adversity there will be relief, and after defeat and oppression there will be victory and triumph. Peace will prevail, Islam will rise and the struggle of our Muslim brothers and sisters in Syria, Burma, and Palestine will end in success,” said Al-Sudais. The Hijra, the Prophet's original trip from Makkah to Madinah should not be viewed as a flight or escape from adversity nor it should be taken as a sign of weakness. The migration was in fact a turning point for Muslims to move forward, to grow in strength, and to solidify their mission. The blessed journey is a lesson that emphasizes that a Muslim's life is one of continuous work, ascension, activity, and self-improvement that brings Muslims closer to their goals. There is no place in a Muslim's life for inactivity, despair, and inertia. The Imam of the Grand Mosque urged Muslims to start the new Islamic year by making a commitment to hard work, discipline, optimism, maintaining a positive attitude, doing good, and helping others. The advent of a new year is a golden opportunity to repent from sins and to break bad habits. “It is an old custom in Damascus to prepare foods and sweets that are white in color on the day of the new year. For lunch we cook kibbeh balls in yogurt sauce and we serve guests and visitors milk pudding or rice pudding for dessert. White symbolizes a clean slate, purity, a fresh start, and a new page to turn,” said Suzan Hamal. “In our tradition, on the first days of the new Hijri year we have been raised to seek forgiveness from people we may have hurt, to inquire about loved ones, visit relatives, and to mend ties with blood relations that may have been severed as a result of disputes or family problems,” said Sameera Al-Masri. According to Al-Masri, celebrations in Egypt are far more festive and enthusiastic as Muslims greet the new year with rejoice. Friends and family gather over a special dinner feast and sweets are distributed among the children. Girls garb in brightly colored dresses and jewelry, and boys wear clean white thobes. The story of the journey from Makkah to Madinah is retold all across Egypt: in homes, schools, mosques, and even on the radio and television. The favorite and famous song is chanted for days, “O the White Moon rose over us from the Valley of Wada' and we owe it show gratefulness where the call is to Allah!”
