The Hijrah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): A Detailed Guide to the Migration to Madinah

The Hijrah, the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers from Makkah to Madinah, is not merely a historical journey but a pivotal event that marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. It was a divinely guided strategic move that transformed the Muslim community from a persecuted minority into a established society with the potential to flourish. This guide details the meticulous planning, the divine revelations, and the courageous acts that defined this momentous event.

Part 1: The Foundation – Paving the Way for Hijrah

The Hijrah did not happen spontaneously. It was the culmination of years of groundwork laid by the Prophet (PBUH) and the unwavering faith of the early Muslims.

• The First Pledge (Year 11 of Prophethood): During the Hajj season, six men from the Khazraj tribe of Madinah (then known as Yathrib) met the Prophet (PBUH) in the valley of Mina. They recognized the truth of his message and embraced Islam.
• The Second Pledge (Year 12 of Prophethood): The following Hajj, a group of twelve men from Madinah returned. Ten were from Khazraj and two from the Aws tribe. They met the Prophet (PBUH) at Al-‘Aqabah and pledged their allegiance in the First Pledge of Al-‘Aqabah, promising to worship only Allah and to abide by the principles of Islam.
• Sending Mus’ab ibn ‘Umair: Understanding the importance of a strong foundation, the Prophet (PBUH) sent Mus’ab ibn ‘Umair back with them to Madinah. His mission was to teach the people the Qur’an and the precepts of Islam, and to prepare the city to welcome the Prophet (PBUH).
• The Great Pledge (Year 13 of Prophethood): At the next Hajj, a delegation of seventy-three men and two women from Madinah met the Prophet (PBUH) secretly at night. They took the Second Pledge of Al-‘Aqabah, pledging to defend and protect the Prophet (PBUH) as they would their own families. The Prophet (PBUH) selected twelve leaders from among them to represent their tribes. They returned to Madinah to intensify the call to Islam and prepare for the imminent migration.

Part 2: The Permission and the Quraysh’s Panic

After years of brutal torture and persecution in Makkah, the Muslims received permission from the Prophet (PBUH) to perform a general migration to Madinah. The Muslims began leaving in small, discreet groups to avoid the vigilant Quraysh, who feared this move would grant the Muslims a powerful stronghold.

The Prophet (PBUH) himself remained in Makkah, awaiting the command from Allah. It was then that he saw a dream in which he was migrating to a land with abundant date palm trees and surrounded by volcanic rock. He initially thought it might be Hajar or Yamamah, but understood it was, in fact, Yathrib (Madinah).

Notable early migrants included `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA), who made his migration public, openly challenging the Quraysh. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (RA) also prepared to leave, acquiring two camels for the journey. However, the Prophet (PBUH) asked him to wait, saying, “Do not be in a hurry; it may be that Allah will give you a companion.”

The Quraysh, sensing the beginning of their loss of control, held an urgent meeting at Dar An-Nadwah. Abu Jahl proposed a final solution: to gather a young, armed man from every tribe of Quraysh who would collectively strike and kill the Prophet (PBUH). This way, his blood would be on all the tribes, and the Banu Hashim would be unable to seek revenge against all of them.

Part 3: The Escape and the Divine Protection

Allah revealed the Quraysh’s plot to the Prophet (PBUH) through Angel Jibreel and gave him permission to migrate. The Prophet (PBUH) immediately went to Abu Bakr (RA) and informed him that Allah had permitted their Hijrah and that he would be his companion.

They hired a skilled, non-Muslim guide named `Abdullah ibn Urayqit Al-Laythi to lead them on an unconventional route. They arranged to meet him in three days at the Cave of Thawr.

On the night of the assassination attempt, the Quraysh youth surrounded the Prophet’s (PBUH) house. Peering through a hole, they saw a figure (his cousin `Ali ibn Abi Talib) wrapped in the Prophet’s green cloak, asleep in his bed. They decided to wait for him to leave for his usual night prayer at Masjid Al-Haram to ambush him.

Guided by Allah, the Prophet (PBUH) instructed `Ali (RA) to sleep in his bed and return the trusts people had left with him to their owners. As the Prophet (PBUH) left the house, Allah took away the sight of the Quraysh, and they could not see him. He took a handful of dust and sprinkled it over their heads, reciting verses from Surah Ya-Sin.

He then went to Abu Bakr’s (RA) house, and they left from the back door, beginning their journey to the Cave of Thawr.

Part 4: In the Cave of Thawr

When the Quraysh realized the Prophet (PBUH) had escaped, they were enraged. They stormed his house and found `Ali (RA), whom they seized and tortured for information. They then went to Abu Bakr’s house, where his daughter Asma’ (RA) confronted them. When Abu Jahl demanded to know her father’s whereabouts, she defiantly said, “I do not know.” He slapped her so hard her earring flew off.

The Quraysh announced a massive reward of 100 camels for anyone who could capture the Prophet (PBUH) and Abu Bakr (RA), dead or alive. Search parties immediately fanned out in every direction.

Meanwhile, the two companions reached the Cave of Thawr. Abu Bakr (RA) first entered to clean the cave and ensure it was safe, plugging any holes with pieces of his cloth, before allowing the Prophet (PBUH) to enter. They remained hidden there for three nights.

Their support system was crucial:

• `Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr would listen to the plans and conversations of the Quraysh in Makkah by day and bring the news to the cave at night.
• Asma’ bint Abi Bakr (known as Thatun-Nitaqayn – “She of the Two Belts”) would bring them food and supplies. She tore her belt in two to tie the food containers, earning her famous title.
• **Amir ibn Fuhayrah**, Abu Bakr’s servant, would graze his sheep near the cave and bring milk for them. In the mornings, he would then herd his sheep over the tracks ofAbdullah to erase his footprints.

Despite their meticulous planning, a search party did arrive at the mouth of the cave. Abu Bakr (RA), worried, whispered, “O Messenger of Allah, if any of them look down at their feet, they will see us!” The Prophet (PBUH) replied with profound calm and faith, “O Abu Bakr, what do you think of two with whom Allah is the Third?”

Allah protected them. The Quraysh saw a spider’s web that, by the command of Allah, had been spun completely across the cave’s entrance since the Prophet (PBUH) had entered. They also saw a dove’s nest with eggs at the entrance. Convinced that no one could have entered recently, they left. This incident is documented in the Qur’an:

“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.’ And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah – that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Qur’an 9:40)

Part 5: The Journey to Madinah

After three nights, their guide, `Abdullah ibn Urayqit, arrived with the two camels. In a brilliant strategic move, he first led them south—the opposite direction of Madinah—to mislead any pursuers. They then traveled along the Red Sea coast before finally turning north towards Madinah, using paths rarely traveled.

Their journey was filled with remarkable events:

• Umm Ma’bad: They passed by the tent of a woman known as Umm Ma’bad. They asked for food, but she had none except a weak, barren sheep. The Prophet (PBUH) asked for permission to milk it. After making dua, he milked it, providing enough for everyone to drink their fill. He milked it a second time, leaving a container full for Umm Ma’bad. She later gave a famous, eloquent description of the Prophet’s (PBUH) noble character and appearance to her husband.
• The Pursuit of Suraqah ibn Malik: A renowned tracker, Suraqah ibn Malik, joined the chase, tempted by the reward. He eventually caught up to them, but each time he drew near, his horse would stumble and fall. After the third time, he recognized this as a divine sign. He called out, asking for a covenant of safety. The Prophet (PBUH) asked Amir ibn Fuhayrah to write a note of promise for him. The Prophet (PBUH) then told him, *“O Suraqah, how will you feel when you wear the bracelets of Kisra (Chosroes)?”* Astonished, Suraqah asked, “Kisra?” The Prophet (PBUH) confirmed it. Years later, during the caliphate ofUmar (RA) after the Muslim victory at the Battle of Al-Qadisiyyah, Suraqah was brought the treasures of the Persian emperor, including his bracelets, and was given to wear them, fulfilling the prophecy.

As they neared Madinah, their journey turned into a triumph:

• They met Buraidah ibn Al-Husain Al-Aslami with seventy of his men. The Prophet (PBUH) presented Islam to them, they accepted, and Buraidah led the Prophet (PBUH) in praying `Isha.
• In the valley of Rim, they encountered Az-Zubair ibn Al-‘Awwam and a group of Muslims returning from a trade journey in Syria. Zubair gifted the Prophet (PBUH) and Abu Bakr (RA) two white garments.

Part 6: The Arrival in Madinah

The people of Madinah eagerly anticipated the Prophet’s (PBUH) arrival. He entered on Monday, the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal of the first year of the Hijri calendar (September 24, 622 CE).

His first stop was in the village of Quba’, where he stayed for four days among the tribe of Banu ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf. There, he established the first mosque in Islamic history, Masjid Quba’.

On Friday morning, he set out for the center of Madinah. On the way, he led the first Jumu’ah (Friday) prayer in Islam with about 100 men in the valley of Ranuna’, in the dwellings of the Banu Salim ibn ‘Awf.

As he entered the city, the Ansar (Helpers) from every neighborhood came out to greet him, each vying for the honor of hosting him. The Prophet (PBUH) wisely said, “Let her go, for she is under command,” referring to his she-camel, Qaswa.

The camel walked on until she reached an open area owned by two orphan boys and knelt down. The Prophet (PBUH) dismounted and asked who owned the land. When offered the land as a gift, he insisted on paying for it and built his mosque and living quarters there—the site of the present-day Masjid An-Nabawi (The Prophet’s Mosque).

As soon as the camel knelt, Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (RA) quickly grabbed the Prophet’s luggage and took it to his house, earning the immense privilege of hosting him for several months until the mosque and his adjoining rooms were built.

Upon his arrival, the Prophet (PBUH) made a heartfelt dua for the city. Madinah was known for its unhealthy climate, which often made newcomers sick. The Prophet (PBUH) prayed: “O Allah! Make us love Madinah as we love Makkah or even more. O Allah! Bless our measures of food for us, and make it healthy for us, and transfer its fever to Al-Juhfah.” Allah answered his prayer, and Madinah became a beloved and blessed home for the Muslims.

Q&A Section

Q1: Why is the Hijrah considered the start of the Islamic calendar?
A: The Hijrah marks the transition from a period of persecution to the establishment of the first Islamic state in Madinah. It represents the beginning of Muslim self-governance, societal development, and the ability to practice and spread Islam freely, making it the most significant turning point in Islamic history.

Q2: Why did the Prophet (PBUH) choose a non-Muslim as a guide?
A: The guide, `Abdullah ibn Urayqit, was chosen for his professional expertise and knowledge of the desert terrain and unconventional routes. His non-Muslim status was actually a strategic advantage, as the Quraysh would not suspect him of aiding the Muslims. It demonstrates the Islamic principle of dealing with everyone with trust and honesty, regardless of their faith.

Q3: What is the significance of the spider’s web and dove’s nest at the cave?
A: These were natural phenomena that occurred by the command of Allah as a means of protection. They served as a perfect camouflage, making it appear that the cave entrance had been undisturbed for a long time, thus deceiving the Quraysh search party and proving that Allah’s help can come through the most ordinary means.

Q4: What was the wisdom behind the Prophet (PBUH) letting his camel choose the stopping place in Madinah?
A: This prevented any potential conflict or jealousy among the Ansar tribes, who all desperately wanted to host him. By allowing the camel to stop where Allah willed, the decision was taken out of human hands, ensuring it was seen as fair, divinely guided, and free of bias.

Q5: What is the lesson from Suraqah ibn Malik’s story?
A: Suraqah’s story teaches that no human plan can overcome divine decree. It also shows the Prophet’s (PBUH) immense forgiveness and his ability to see future victories through the eyes of faith. A man who came to capture him was not only forgiven but given a promise of a great future reward, which was later fulfilled exactly as predicted.