Hegira

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Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see Hijrah (disambiguation).
Islamic Hegira
The outline of history - being a plain history of life and mankind (1920)
(14580517757).jpg
Muhammad and Abu Bakr flee Mecca, as depicted in The Outline of History
Date Thursday, 17 June � Friday, 2 July 622 Julian calendar[1]
Location Hijaz, Arabian Peninsula[2][3][4]
Also known as The Migration of Muhammad;[5] The Migration; Hijrah; Hijrath
Participants Muhammad and his followers
Outcome Renaming Yathrib as "the City (of the Prophet)" (Medina);
Enmity between the Aus tribe and Khazraj tribes ended;
Muhammad made political leader and united the new Muslims
The Hegira (medieval Latin transliteration, also Arabic: ????????, Hijra) is the
migration or journey of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca
to Yathrib, later renamed by him to Medina, in the year 622.[1][6] In June 622,
after being warned of a plot to assassinate him, Muhammad secretly left his home in
Mecca to emigrate to Yathrib, 320 km (200 mi) north of Mecca, along with his
companion Abu Bakr.[7] Yathrib was soon renamed Madinat an-Nabi
(Arabic: ?????? ???????, literally "City of the Prophet"), but an-Nabi was soon
dropped, so its name is "Medina", meaning "the city".[8]

The Hijrah is also often identified with the start of the Islamic calendar, which
was set to 19 April 622 in the Julian calendar.

Contents
1 First Hegira
2 Muhammad's hijra
2.1 Context
2.2 The Migration
3 Dates of events
4 Aftermath
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
First Hegira
Main article: Migration to Abyssinia
The first Hijrah is dated to 615[9][10] or Rajab (September�October) 613[11] when a
group of Muslims counseled by Muhammad to escape persecution in Mecca arrived at
the court of the Christian monarch (Negus) of the Ethiopian Empire, Ashama ibn-
Abjar. Muhammad himself did not join this emigration. In that year, his followers
fled Mecca's leading tribe, the Quraysh, who sent emissaries to Ethiopia to bring
them back to the Arabian Peninsula. However, the Negus refused to send them back.
[12]

Muhammad's hijra
Context
In Mecca, at the pilgrimage season of 620, Muhammad met six men of the Banu Khazraj
from Medina, propounded to them the doctrines of Islam, and recited portions of the
Quran.[13][14] Impressed by this, the six embraced Islam,[15] and at the Pilgrimage
of 621, five of them brought seven others with them. These twelve informed Muhammad
of the beginning of gradual development of Islam in Medina, and took a formal
pledge of allegiance at Muhammad's hand, promising to accept him as a prophet, to
worship none but one God, and to renounce certain sins such as theft, adultery, and
murder. This is known as the "First Pledge of al-Aqaba".[16][17][18] At their
request, Muhammad sent with them Mus�ab ibn 'Umair to teach them the instructions
of Islam. Biographers have recorded the considerable success of Mus`ab ibn `Umair
in preaching the message of Islam and bringing people under the umbrella of Islam
in Medina.

The next year, at the pilgrimage of 622, a delegation of around 75 Muslims of the
Banu Aws and Khazraj from Medina came, and in addition to restating the formal
promises, they also assured Muhammad of their full support and protection if the
latter would migrate to their land. They invited him to come to Medina as an
arbitrator to reconcile among the hostile tribes.[19] This is known as the "second
pledge at al-Aqabah",[20][21] and was a 'politico-religious' success that paved the
way for his and his followers' immigration to Medina.[22] Following the pledges,
Muhammad encouraged his followers to migrate to Medina, and in a span of two
months, nearly all the Muslims of Mecca migrated to Medina.

During the early seventh century, Medina was inhabited by two types of population:
Jewish and pagan Arabs. The Jews there had three principal clans � Banu Qaynuqa,
Banu Nadir, and Banu Qurayza. The Arab pagans had two tribes � the Banu Aws and
Khazraj. At that time, the Jews there had the upper hand with their large
settlement and huge property.[15] Before the encounter between Muhammad and the six
men from Medina in 620, there ensued a terrible battle between Aws and Khazraj,
known as the Battle of Buath, in which many leading personalities of both the sides
died and left Yathrib in a disordered state.[23] Traditional rules for maintaining
law and order became dysfunctional, and, without a neutral man with considerable
authority over things, stability seemed unlikely.[24] As the pagan Arabs of Medina
lived in close proximity to the Jews, they had gained some knowledge about their
scriptures, and had heard the Jews awaiting the arrival of a future prophet. It is
because of this knowledge, taken together with their need for an adjudicator, that
the six men who met Muhammad at the pilgrimage season of 620 readily accepted his
message, lest the Jews should steal a march over them.[15][20]

The Migration
According to Muslim tradition, after receiving divine direction to depart Mecca,
Muhammad began taking preparation and informed Abu Bakr of his plan. On the night
of his departure, Muhammad's house was besieged by men of the Quraysh who planned
to kill him in the morning. At the time, Muhammad possessed various properties of
the Quraysh given to him in trust; so he handed them over to 'Ali and directed him
to return them to their owners, and asked him to lie down on his bed assuring him
of God's protection. It is said that when Muhammad emerged from his house, he
recited the ninth verse of surah Ya Sin of the Quran and threw a handful of dust at
the direction of the besiegers, rendering the besiegers unable to see him.[25][26]
Soon, Muhammad joined Abu Bakr, left the city, and the two took shelter in a cave
outside the city. Next morning, the besiegers were frustrated to find Ali on
Muhammad's bed. Fooled and thwarted by Muhammad's plan, they rummaged the city in
search for him,[27] and some of them eventually reached the threshold of the cave,
but success eluded them. When the Quraysh came to know of Muhammad's escape, they
announced heavy reward for bringing Muhammad back to them, alive or dead. Unable to
resist this temptation, pursuers scattered in all directions. After staying for
three days, Muhammad and Abu Bakr resumed their journey and were pursued by Suraqa
bin Malik. But each time he neared Muhammad's party, his horse stumbled and he
finally abandoned his desire of capturing Muhammad.[28] After eight days' journey,
Muhammad entered the outskirts of Medina around June 622,[1] but did not enter the
city directly. He stopped at a place called Quba', a place some miles from the main
city, and established a mosque there. After a four-day stay at Quba', Muhammad
along with Abu Bakr continued their migration to Medina, participated in their
first Friday prayer on the way, and upon reaching the city, were greeted cordially
by its people.

Dates of events
The Muslim year during which the Hijrah occurred was designated the first year of
the Islamic calendar by Umar in 638 or 17 AH (anno hegirae = "in the year of the
Hijrah").[8] The following table lists the dates of various events of Muhammad's
Hijrah as mentioned by Fazlur Rehman Shaikh and F.A. Shamsi in their works. Fazlur
Rehman has listed other dates for the arrival of Muhammad in Quba' in his work, as
proposed by modern scholars, ranging from 31 May 622 to 22 November 622.

Day Julian and Islamic dates

by F. A. Shamsi[8] Julian and Islamic dates
by Fazlur Rehman Shaikh[1] Events
Day 1
Thursday 9 September 622
26 Safar AH 1 17 June 622
1 Rabi' al-Awwal AH 1 conference of the Quraysh leaders and Muhammad's departure
from Mecca
Day 5
Monday 13 September
1 Rabi' al-Awwal 21 June
5 Rabi' al-Awwal departure from the Cave of Thawr
Day 12
Monday 20 September
8 Rabi' al-Awwal 28 June
12 Rabi' al-Awwal arrival in Quba'
Day 16
Friday 24 September
12 Rabi' al-Awwal 2 July
16 Rabi' al-Awwal entry into Yathrib (Medina)
Day 26
Monday 4 October
22 Rabi' al-Awwal finally settles in Medina
These dates are discussed by Al-Biruni, Alvi, Ibn Sa'd, Abu Ja'far and Ibn Hisham.
[29] The hypothetical dates in the retro-calculated Islamic calendar extended back
in time differ from the actual dates as they were on the Julian calendar. Annual
celebration of the Hijrah has long been assigned to 1 Muharram, the first day of
the Muslim year, causing many writers to confuse the first day of the year of the
Hijrah with the Hijrah itself, erroneously stating that the Hijrah occurred on 1
Muharram AH 1[8] (which would be 19 April 622 in Fazlur Rehman Shaikh's system) or
even the hypothetical Gregorian date from retro-calculating 26 Rabi' I in AH 1 to
16 July 622 (not to be confused with Julian 16 July 622, the retro-calculated start
date for of the regular Hijri calendar system) even though the first visit to
Medina for Friday prayers actually occurred on 16 Rabi' I (i.e., 2 July 622).

Thus it is important to remember that whenever the tabular Islamic calendar

invented by Muslim astronomers is extended back in time it changes all these dates
by about 88 days or three lunar months as the first day of the year during which
the Hijrah occurred, 1 Muharram AH 1, would be mistaken from Monday 19 April 622 to
Friday 16 July 622. The Muslim dates of the Hijrah are those recorded in an
original lunisolar Arabic calendar that were never converted into the purely lunar
calendar to account for the three intercalary months inserted during the next nine
years until intercalary months were prohibited during the year of Muhammad's last
Hajj (AH 10).

Aftermath
Muhammad's followers suffered from poverty after fleeing persecution in Mecca and
migrating with Muhammad to Medina. Their Meccan persecutors seized their wealth and
belongings left behind in Mecca.[30]

Beginning in January 623, some of the Muslims resorted to the tradition of raiding
the Meccan caravans that traveled along the eastern coast of the Red Sea from Mecca
to Syria.[citation needed] Communal life was essential for survival in desert
conditions, as people needed support against the harsh environment and lifestyle.
The tribal grouping was thus encouraged by the need to act as a unit. This unity
was based on the bond of kinship by blood.[clarification needed][31] People of
Arabia were either nomadic or sedentary, the former constantly traveling from one
place to another seeking water and pasture for their flocks, while the latter
settled and focused on trade and agriculture. The survival of nomads was also
partially dependent on raiding caravans or oases, thus they saw this as no crime.
[30][32]

See also
Battle of Badr
List of Islamic terms in Arabic
Prophetic biography
List of expeditions of Muhammad
References
Shaikh, Fazlur Rehman (2001). Chronology of Prophetic Events. London: Ta-Ha
Publishers Ltd. pp. 51�52.
Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad (1955). Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah � The Life of Muhammad.
Translated by Alfred Guillaume. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 88�89. ISBN
978-0196360331.
Karen Armstrong (2002). Islam: A Short History. p. 11. ISBN 081296618X.
Haykal, Husayn (1976), The Life of Muhammad, Islamic Book Trust, pp. 217�18, ISBN
978-9839154177
"Dates of Epoch-Making Events", The Nuttall Encyclop�dia. (Gutenberg version)
Marom, Roy (Fall 2017). "Approaches to the Research of Early Islam: The Hijrah in
Western Historiography". Jama'a. 23: vii.
Moojan Momen (1985), An Introduction to Shi'i Islam: History and Doctrines of
Twelver Shi'ism, Yale University Press, New edition 1987, p. 5.
F.A. Shamsi, "The Date of Hijrah", Islamic Studies 23 (1984): 189�224, 289�323
(JSTOR link 1 + JSTOR link 2).
Dale F. Eickelman (1990). Muslim Travellers: Pilgrimage, Migration and the
Religious Imagination. University of California Press. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-520-07252-
7.
Elaine Padilla, Peter C. Phan (editors) (2014). Theology of Migration in the
Abrahamic Religions. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-137-00104-7.
Fazlur Rehman Shaikh (2001). Chronology of Prophetic Events. London: Ta-Ha
Publishers Ltd. pp. 91
Ian Richard Netton (2011). Islam, Christianity and the Mystic Journey: A
Comparative Exploration. Edinburgh University Press. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-7486-4082-9.
Sell, Edward (1913). The Life of Muhammad (PDF). Madras: The Christian Literary
Society for India. p. 70. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
Holt, P. M.; Lambton, Ann K. S.; Lewis, Bernard (2000). The Cambridge History of
Islam. Cambridge University Press. p. 39. ISBN 978-0521219464.
Shibli Nomani. Sirat-un-Nabi. Vol 1. Lahore.
Khan (1980), p. 70.
Holt, Lambton, and Lewis (2000), p. 40.
Sell (1913), p. 71.
Hitti, Philip Khuri (1946). History of the Arabs. London: Macmillan and Co. p.
116.
Holt, et al (2000), p. 40.
Khan (1980), p. 73.
Sell (1913), p. 76.
Holt, et al (2000), p. 39.
Holt, et al (2000), pp. 39�40.
Ibn Kathir (2001). Stories of the Prophet: From Adam to Muhammad. Mansoura, Egypt:
Dar Al-Manarah. p. 389. ISBN 9776005179.
"Ya-Seen Ninth Verse". Retrieved 4 February 2014. , Quran Surah Yaseen (Verse 9)
Muir (1861), vol. 2, pp. 258�59
 Al Mubarakpuri, Safi ur Rahman (2002). "On the Road to Madina". Ar-Raheeq Al-
Makhtum � The Sealed Nectar: Biography of the Noble Prophet. Darussalam. ISBN
9960899551. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
Caussin de Perceval writing in 1847 as reported in 1901 by Sherrard Beaumont
Burnaby, Elements of the Jewish and Muhammadan calendars (London: 1901) 374�75.
John Esposito, Islam, Expanded edition, Oxford University Press, pp. 4�5.
Watt (1953), pp. 16�18.
Rue, Loyal D. (2005). Religion is Not about God: How Spiritual Traditions Nurture
Our Biological Nature and what to Expect when They Fail. Rutgers University Press.
ISBN 978-0813535111. p. 224.
External links
Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article
Hejira.
Incident of the cave
IslamiCity.com article on the Hijrah
Articles, audios on the Hijrah
Authority control Edit this at Wikidata
BNF: cb131668986 (data) GND: 4252024-1 LCCN: sh85088282 SUDOC: 035098589
Categories: HegiraShia days of remembrance622Muhammad in MedinaIslamic terminology
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