The Background: 13 Years of Persecution
For 13 years in Mecca (610-622 CE), the early Muslim community faced sustained persecution: torture of slaves (Bilal’s ordeal), economic boycott (the 3-year Sha’b of Abu Talib siege where the Muslims were starved), social ostracism, and murder of weaker Companions.
The earlier emigrations — the two Hijras to Abyssinia (Habasha) in 615-616 CE — showed the pattern: when persecution became unbearable, Allah permitted emigration to a place of safety. The Prophet (SAW) had sent nearly 100 Companions to Abyssinia under the protection of the Negus (Ashama ibn Abjar), a just Christian king.
The Year of Sorrow (619 CE): Two years before the Hijra, both Khadijah (RA) (see [[khadijah]]) and Abu Talib (the Prophet’s uncle who provided tribal protection despite not accepting Islam) died within weeks of each other. Without Abu Talib’s protection, the Prophet (SAW) was physically vulnerable in Mecca for the first time.
The Aqaba Pledges — Preparing the Way
The Hijra was not impulsive. It was prepared over two years through the Aqaba pledges (so named because they were made at Mina near Aqaba during Hajj season):
First Aqaba Pledge (621 CE): 12 men from Yathrib pledged to the Prophet (SAW) to worship Allah alone, not steal, not fornicate, not kill their children (the pre-Islamic practice of burying daughters alive), not slander, and not disobey the Prophet in any righteous matter. The Prophet sent Mus’ab ibn ‘Umayr with them to teach Islam.
Second Aqaba Pledge (622 CE): 73 men and 2 women from Yathrib came. They pledged to protect the Prophet (SAW) as they would protect their own families. The Prophet (SAW)‘s uncle al-‘Abbas (not yet Muslim) attended as witness; he interrogated the Yathribis vigorously to ensure they understood the commitment.
After this pledge, the Prophet (SAW) gave permission for the Companions in Mecca to emigrate to Medina. They left gradually in small groups to avoid attention.
The Assassination Plot
When the Quraysh realized what was happening, they convened an emergency council at Dar al-Nadwa. The plan agreed upon: each tribe would send one warrior; together they would kill the Prophet (SAW) simultaneously, so blood-guilt would be divided across all tribes and the Banu Hashim (the Prophet’s clan) could not seek qisas (equal retaliation) against any single tribe.
Allah informed the Prophet (SAW) of the plot via revelation. He asked ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib to sleep in his bed — wearing the Prophet’s green cloak — to delay discovery. ‘Ali agreed; his courage in this moment is one of the stories of his bravery.
The Qurayshi warriors surrounded the Prophet’s house at night. The Prophet (SAW) walked out among them reciting Surah Ya-Sin’s opening verse: “And We have put before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and covered them, so they do not see.” (36:9) — They did not see him.
The Cave of Thawr
The Prophet (SAW) went to Abu Bakr’s house. They left together, traveling south (away from Medina, to mislead pursuit) to the Cave of Thawr — a small cave on a mountain outside Mecca.
They hid there for 3 nights. Abu Bakr’s son ‘Abdullah reported Qurayshi movements nightly; his daughter Asma’ brought food daily. Asma’ bint Abi Bakr used the bands of her waist-garment to tie the food sack — earning her the title Dhat al-Nitaqayn (She of the Two Belts).
The Qurayshi search party: They came to the cave entrance. Abu Bakr whispered to the Prophet (SAW): “If one of them were to look at his feet, he would see us.” The Prophet (SAW) replied: “What do you think of two when Allah is their third?” (This verse was later revealed: 9:40)
A spider had spun its web across the cave entrance; a dove had nested at the opening — making it appear undisturbed and unvisited. Whether miraculous or providential, the search party turned away without entering.
“If you do not aid him — Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Mecca] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.’” (9:40)
The Journey to Medina
After 3 nights, a hired guide (Abdullah ibn Urayqit, a trusted non-Muslim) brought camels. They took an unusual desert route to the Red Sea coast, then north along the coast — completely different from the normal Mecca-Medina road — to avoid the Qurayshi search parties.
The Suraqah Episode: The Quraysh offered 100 camels to whoever captured the Prophet (SAW). Suraqah ibn Malik, a skilled tracker, identified their trail and rode hard to catch them. Three times his horse stumbled and sank in the sand as he approached — divine intervention. He called out, asked for forgiveness, and turned back. The Prophet (SAW) told him: “O Suraqah, how will you be when you wear the bracelets of Chosroes [the Persian Emperor]?” — Years later, when Persia was conquered in ‘Umar’s caliphate, the Persian royal treasury’s bracelets were placed on Suraqah’s wrists. The prophecy was fulfilled.
Arrival in Quba’ and Medina
The Prophet (SAW) arrived in Quba’ (the outskirts of Medina) on 12 Rabi’ al-Awwal (approximately September 622 CE). He stayed there 4 days and built the Mosque of Quba’ — the first mosque built in Islam. “A mosque founded on righteousness from the first day is more worthy for you to stand in.” (9:108) Prayer of 2 rak’as in Quba’ mosque equals the reward of Umrah (Tirmidhi).
He then entered Medina proper. The Ansar (the Medinan helpers) came out singing and welcoming: “Tala’a al-Badru ‘Alayna” — “The full moon has risen upon us from the valley of Wada” — the famous nasheeda of Islamic history.
His camel was let loose to go where it wished; it stopped at a plot belonging to two orphan boys of Banu Najjar. The Prophet (SAW) purchased the land and built the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid al-Nabawi) — the second mosque and the center of Islamic civilization.
The Islamic Calendar
In 17 AH, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) convened the Companions to establish a dating system. They debated: should the calendar begin from the birth of the Prophet? The first revelation? The death of the Prophet?
They chose the Hijra — because it marks the point where the Islamic community became a polity, not just a faith movement. The Hijra was the foundation of the Ummah as a political, social, and legal community. The Islamic Hijri calendar begins from Muharram 1, 1 AH — the month in which the first Aqaba pledges of protection were made.
See also: Seerah Mecca, Seerah Medina, Prophet Muhammad, Khadijah, Seerah Companions, Kaaba Ibrahim, Umar Ibn Khattab