Hijra of Medina

The Hijra of Medina was the migration of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and a group of Muslims who left Mecca and settled in the city of Yathrib, which later became known as Medina. This event took place in 622 CE. The term 'hijra' is an Arabic word meaning migration or departure from a place.

The Hijra is considered a pivotal historical turning point, as it marked the moment when Muslims transformed from a persecuted minority into a community with organized governance and established agreements. The year of the Hijra was also chosen as the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

Conditions before the Hijra

Before the Hijra, Muslims in Mecca faced opposition and persecution from the Quraysh tribes who controlled the city. The pre-Islamic religious system in Mecca was centered on the Kaaba and idol worship, which was economically and politically important to some of the city's leaders. Islam's message of monotheism created conflict. Some early Muslims had previously migrated to Abyssinia.

The agreements of Yathrib

Before the migration, delegations from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who inhabited Yathrib, met the Prophet at a place called Aqaba. They agreed to accept Islam and welcome the Prophet to their city. Yathrib at that time was riven by tribal conflicts of long standing, which made it possible for an outside mediator to be accepted.

The journey

Prophet Muhammad left Mecca with Abu Bakr. According to Islamic historical accounts, they spent some time in the Cave of Thawr in the mountains, then took an unusual route to avoid those pursuing them. Ali ibn Abi Talib remained in Mecca for a time to return entrusted goods. When the Prophet reached Medina, mosques were built and a written agreement was established that defined relations between the Muhajirun (those who migrated from Mecca), the Ansar (the people of Medina), and the Jewish communities in the city.

The Islamic calendar

The year of the Hijra was set as the first year of the Islamic calendar. This calendar is lunar-based and has 12 months, with a year of approximately 354 days, which means the months rotate through the seasons of the solar year. The decision to begin dating from the Hijra is reported to have been made later, during the reign of the second caliph.