Hijrah
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Hijra (هِجْرَة), or withdrawal, is the word that is used for the movement of Muhammad and most of his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622. The Hijra marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Alternate spellings of this Arabic word in the Latin alphabet are Hijrah, or Hegira in Latin.
Chronology of the Hijra
- Day 1: Thursday 26 Safar AH 1, 9 September 622
- Left home in Mecca. Stayed three days in the Cave of Thawr near Mecca.
- Day 5: Monday 1 Rabi' I AH 1, 13 September 622
- Left the environs of Mecca. Traveled to the region of Yathrib.
- Day 12: Monday 8 Rabi' I AH 1, 20 September 622
- Arrived at Quba' near Medina.
- Day 16: Friday 12 Rabi' I AH 1, 24 September 622
- First visit to Medina for Friday prayers.
- Day 26: Monday 22 Rabi' I AH 1, 4 October 622
- Moved from Quba' to Medina.
The Muslim dates are in the Islamic calendar extended back in time. The Western dates are in the Julian calendar. The Hijra is celebrated annually on 8 Rabi' I, about 66 days after 1 Muharram, the first day of the Muslim year. Many writers confuse the first day of the year of the Hijra with the Hijra itself, erroneously stating that the Hijra occurred on 1 Muharram AH 1 or 16 July 622.