Hijrah

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What is Hijrah?

Hijrah comes from the Arabic root h-j-r, meaning to migrate, leave, or separate oneself from something. While the term can describe any act of departure, in Islamic history it refers specifically to the migration of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his early companions from Makkah to Yathrib, later renamed Madinah, in 622 CE, after years of persecution against the young Muslim community.

Theologically, the Hijrah is regarded as an act of profound sacrifice and trust in Allah. The emigrants, known as the Muhajirun, left behind their homes, wealth, and extended families purely for the sake of preserving their faith and establishing a community where Islam could be practiced openly. Their willingness to endure hardship for the sake of religious conviction is held up as a model of sincerity and commitment.

Historically, the Hijrah reshaped the trajectory of Islam entirely. In Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ built the first mosque, drafted a constitution that governed relations between Muslims and other communities in the city, and established the framework for a functioning society governed by Islamic principles. This period of consolidation set the stage for the eventual peaceful return to Makkah years later. The significance of this migration was so widely recognized that the second Caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab, later chose it as the starting point of the Islamic lunar calendar.

Spiritually, Hijrah carries a meaning that extends far beyond the historical journey itself. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that a true Hijrah is one in which a person migrates away from whatever Allah has prohibited, making the term applicable to anyone striving to leave behind sin, bad habits, or an unhealthy environment for the sake of spiritual growth.

In contemporary practice, Muslims often reflect on the Hijrah around the Islamic New Year, using it as an occasion to consider personal renewal, resilience in the face of adversity, and the importance of community-building, much as the early Muslims did upon their arrival in Madinah.

Examples of Hijrah

• The migration to Madinah: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions left Makkah in 622 CE to escape persecution and establish a new community.
• Marking the Islamic calendar: The Hijri calendar begins its count from the year of the Hijrah, distinguishing it from solar calendar systems.
• Leaving behind wrongdoing: A person who gives up a sinful habit for the sake of Allah is described as making a spiritual Hijrah.
• Building community in Madinah: The Ansar, the local residents of Madinah, welcomed and supported the Muhajirun, forming a model of brotherhood after the Hijrah.

References in Qur'an & Hadith

"If you do not aid the Prophet — Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, 'Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.'" — Surah At-Tawbah 9:40

"And those who emigrated for the cause of Allah after they had been wronged - We will surely settle them in this world in a good place." — Surah An-Nahl 16:41

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Actions are judged by intentions, so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration (Hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger." — Sahih al-Bukhari 1