Hijra

Glossaries

Term	Definition
Hijra	The Hijra refers to the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. It marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar and a key turning point in early Islamic history. The term Hijra (Arabic for “migration” or “departure”) refers to the Prophet Muhammad’s emigration from Mecca to the oasis city of Yathrib, later renamed Medina, in 622 CE. This decision followed growing hostility and persecution of the early Muslim community in Mecca. Welcomed in Medina, Muhammad laid the foundations for an organized Muslim society combining religious authority and tribal agreements. The Hijra represents not just a physical journey but also the symbolic birth of the Islamic polity. It marks Year 1 of the Hijri calendar, which remains in use today in many Muslim-majority countries. The Hijra is regarded as a pivotal moment in Islamic history, symbolizing the shift from persecution to establishment.

Term

Definition

The Hijra refers to the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. It marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar and a key turning point in early Islamic history.

The term Hijra (Arabic for “migration” or “departure”) refers to the Prophet Muhammad’s emigration from Mecca to the oasis city of Yathrib, later renamed Medina, in 622 CE. This decision followed growing hostility and persecution of the early Muslim community in Mecca.

Welcomed in Medina, Muhammad laid the foundations for an organized Muslim society combining religious authority and tribal agreements. The Hijra represents not just a physical journey but also the symbolic birth of the Islamic polity. It marks Year 1 of the Hijri calendar, which remains in use today in many Muslim-majority countries.

The Hijra is regarded as a pivotal moment in Islamic history, symbolizing the shift from persecution to establishment.