DailyQuranGuideThe Hijrah — Migration to Madinah
The migration that marks the beginning of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar.
Persecution in Makkah
For thirteen years after receiving prophethood, Muhammad ﷺ and the early Muslims faced escalating persecution in Makkah, including boycotts, torture, and plots against the Prophet's life, as the message of Islam threatened the existing social and religious order.
The Invitation From Madinah
Following pledges of support from residents of Yathrib (later renamed Madinah), the Prophet ﷺ was instructed by Allah to migrate there. He and his close companion Abu Bakr undertook the dangerous journey secretly, while other Muslims migrated ahead of them in smaller groups.
The Cave of Thawr
While being pursued by those seeking to kill him, the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr hid in the Cave of Thawr for three days. When their pursuers stood at the cave's entrance, the Prophet ﷺ reassured Abu Bakr, saying, "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us" (Surah At-Tawbah 9:40).
Arrival in Madinah
Upon reaching Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ was welcomed joyously by its residents. This migration marked a turning point — the establishment of the first Muslim community with its own social and religious structure, including the construction of the first mosque.
Why It Marks the Islamic Calendar
The Hijrah was chosen by the companions, during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, as the starting point of the Islamic lunar calendar — not because it was a military victory, but because it represented the true beginning of an independent Muslim community able to practice and organize its faith freely.