Dr. Cerić's Message on the Occasion of the Hijri New Year: Hijra Means a Move from Evil to Good

On the occasion of the new 1436 Hijri year, reisu-l-ulema emeritus Dr. Mustafa Cerić sent a congratulatory message to Muslims in the homeland and the world, stating:

Dear brothers and sisters,

Today (Friday, October 24, 2014) at sunset, the New Hijri year begins, thus reminding us of the days, years, and centuries that came and passed, while only God's will, omnipotence, and all-mercy remained to test us humans how strong and courageous we are to resist evil and surrender to good.

Precisely so, hijra means a move from evil to good, it is a move from hopelessness to a state of hope, it is a move from darkness to light, it is a move from a state of waiting to a state of moving towards a better and safer world.

Hijra is a symbol of brotherhood of those people who are ready to extend a hand to their brother in need, and those are the ones who are free to be good and to give their heart to man. Therefore, as we mark the beginning of the New 1436 Hijri year, we must look within ourselves and around us and ask ourselves whether we, Bosniak Muslims, are worthy of the date of hijra and the messages of hijra?!

We must ask ourselves who among us is a muhajir, an exile, and who is an ansar, a caretaker? How many of us are ready to extend a helping hand to one another? Are there any ansar, true advocates, among us?

Was it necessary for UNICEF to remind us that on the streets of our Bosnian cities there are more than 1,000 children begging? How painful is that for every honest Bosniak Muslim?! Whose children are those? Whose shame is that? Who is responsible for this state of ours? Where are the Bosniak ansar, the caretakers? When will those who are intoxicated with themselves and their power, which has no feeling for those begging on Bosnian streets, come to their senses?

Those are our children! And that is our shame! And we are all responsible, except that some are more responsible because they have a monopoly on charity... they have a monopoly on the life and destiny of our people! They will not and do not know how to be ansar, caretakers, but they also do not allow others to be so. Therefore, it is especially important to remember this 1436 new Hijri year to awaken the consciousness and revive the dormant conscience of those who have forgotten to be ansar, caretakers, who should be aware of their responsibility before God and the world to do everything necessary so that our children do not beg on Bosnian streets, so that our mothers do not beg in mosque courtyards. And for that to happen, those who have taken haram must return it immediately, they must sober up from the intoxication of power that destroys the fabric of our people.

With these thoughts of faith and hope for our better tomorrow, I congratulate all Muslim men and women in the homeland and the world on the New Hijri year with a prayer to Allah Almighty to grant us the will and knowledge to be ansar, caretakers, to those who need our help, and to distance us from haram and bring us closer to halal!