The calendar year of Islam begins not with the birthday of our prophet (peace be on him), not from the time that the revelation came to him (Bethat) nor from the time of his ascension to heaven, but with the migration (Hijra) from an undesirable environment into a desirable place to fulfill Allah's command. It was migration from a plot that was set by the leaders of the Quraysh who were plotting to kill prophet Muhammad, and to destroy the truth that today is being conveyed to mankind everywhere against tyranny and injustice. Their purpose was to destroy the foundation of the Islamic state, the Sunnah of the tradition of the prophet, and to prevent the revelation being delivered by Allah's messenger to mankind.

This plot was defeated by the Prophet's migration from Mecca to Medina. So as not to leave the plot unknown, Ali Ibn Abu Talib the fourth Caliph or the first Imam, remained in the bed of our Prophet Muhammad (Peace be on him) in Mecca, to witness that when the truth is conveyed, a plot will be made to counteract against it. It was understood by the leaders of the non-believers, Quraysh, that the message of Islam was and is spreading and that those who have accepted the revelation and the prophecy of the prophet were so strong that no enemy could destroy them.

Such a one was Bilal who was tortured and beaten so much that his breath stopped but when he took his first breath again his breathing was combined with the word "Ahad" (One God). The 'one' that is not after zero and the one that is not going to be two. The belief in the uniqueness of the creator sank into the souls of the companions of the prophet and their life became combined with the understanding of their faith- their life and faith were integrated - neither one was neglected for the benefit of the other. His breath was combined with his creator's name.

Individuals have a "place" according to the materialistic system. One is higher than the other and everyone in the system of "Ism" has a material value. In matters of faith, belief in the creator, has a value which cannot be paid in worldly material. Its place is in paradise. No man can pay that price to any one, and paradise is granted to mankind by Allah alone. Man's struggles for Allah cannot be bought with anything else.

When the Quraysh recognized this great power of faith, they plotted to destroy the foundation of belief. Imam Ali was a witness to this plot, and his descendents were martyrs of the plots of other rulers in the continuation of the confrontation of truth versus the so-called Islamic rulers imposed upon the Muslims.

Imam Ali and the rest of the Imams from the members of the family of our beloved prophet have been martyred, and the process of martyrdom will continue until this recognition comes to the Muslims Umma so that to prevent them from this unjust act of assassination.

The process of "Hijrah" means:

1. Recognition of the plot;
2. Migration from the plot;
3. Leaving witnesses for the plot so that the future generations can learn of and recognize the conspiracy against the faith.

"And the (unbelievers) plotted and planned, and Allah too planned, and the best of planners is Allah." Quran , Sura3, Aya 53.

When the messenger of Allah migrated from Mecca, Ali Ibn Abu Talib remained in the place of our beloved prophet . Ali himself was the victim of that plot finally in Kufa. Not only Ali but his sons, Imam Hassan and Imam Husain, the grandsons of the Prophet, and every one of the Imams were martyrs by the plot. So-called Islamic rulers have murdered the true Imams throughout history until in our own time Sayyed Qutb and Hassan Al Banna were martyred.

After Imam Ali Ibn Abu Talib, every Imam of his family was either imprisoned or killed, not by the non-Muslims and mushrekin of Quraysh, but martyred by the so-called Muslim rulers who were Muslim by name and enemies of Islam by action. Those Muslim rulers that are not ruling according to the law of Allah in the Quran are called disbelievers, wrongdoers, and transgressors. (Sura Al Maidah, Aya 47, 48 and 50). The whole Sura Al Munafiqun is named after these people.

"And whoever did not rule by what Allah revealed those are they that are the unbelievers."Sura 5, Aya 44.

"And whoever did not rule by what Allah revealed those are they that are the transgressors."Sura 5, Aya 45.

"If any do fail to judge by (Quran) what Allah has revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel (transgressors).Sura Maidah, Aya 50.

From these facts one can realize that if he is following the Quran and the Sunnah, commanding the good and rejecting the evil, he will be confronted by the evil forces with various plots. If in the fulfillment of Islamic duties you are not confronted and harassed as the Prophet was then there is a probability that you are not truly conveying the real message of Islam.

The division of the Muslims started after the battle of Siffien between Imam Ali and Ma'aviah and his appointees. There were Muslims who were the followers of Ma'aviah, and Muslims who were the followers Sunnah and Imam Ali. It is not correct to say that Imam Ali was right and Ma'aviah was right too. Either Imam Ali, who was the cousin of the Prophet, a member of the family in Quran (Ahlul-Bait), and the witness of the conspiracy in Islam was right, or Ma'aviah, son of Abu Sofyan whose appointee was his son Yazid, the murderer of the grandson of our beloved Prophet, Imam Husain. The followers of Imam Ali followed the path of Imam Husain who was martyred by Yazid, son of Ma'aviah and the followers of Ma'aviah followed Yazid, the corrupt ruler of Muslims.

That situation continued for many years. Today when the Muslims regardless of who they were following, became aware and, united together, are against the tyrants of our time and the imposed rulers in our life it is proper to say: watch out for evil so we won't be divided again.

Oh Allah, what I do not know of mistakes, forgive me. My intention is for Your pleasure and my aim is Islam, If my words do not explain my feelings, bless us with understanding.