Migration to Madinah (Hijrah)

After 13 years of preaching in Makkah, the persecution by Quraish became unbearable. The Muslims were tortured, and the Prophet's ﷺ life was in danger. Migration was not an act of fleeing, but a divine command to save the faith.

The tribes of Aws and Khazraj from Yathrib (Madinah) embraced Islam. Through the First and Second Pledges of Aqabah, they promised to protect the Prophet ﷺ. This paved the way for the migration.

The leaders of Quraish met at Dar al-Nadwa. Abu Jahl suggested that one man from every tribe should strike Muhammad ﷺ simultaneously so that his blood would be spread among all tribes. However, Allah informed His Prophet ﷺ of this plot.

On the night of the plot, the Prophet ﷺ asked his cousin, Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA), to sleep in his bed and cover himself with his green mantle to deceive the plotters. The Prophet ﷺ recited Surah Yasin, threw dust at the besiegers, and walked past them unnoticed by the grace of Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ and his companion Abu Bakr (RA) hid in the Cave of Thawr for three days. The Quraish reached the mouth of the cave, but Allah protected them (tradition mentions a spider web and pigeon nest). Abu Bakr (RA) was afraid, but the Prophet ﷺ reassured him:

They hired a guide named Abdullah bin Uraiqit. During the journey, a bounty hunter named Suraqa bin Malik spotted them, but every time he approached, his horse's legs sank into the sand. He realized this was a divine sign and asked for pardon.

Before entering the city, the Prophet ﷺ stayed at Quba. Here, he laid the foundation of the first Mosque in Islam (Masjid Quba).

The people of Madinah (Ansar) waited daily for his arrival. When he arrived, the city erupted in joy. Children sang poems of welcome. Everyone wanted the Prophet ﷺ to stay with them, but he said, "Let the camel decide, for she is commanded by Allah." She stopped at the house of Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (RA).

In Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ took three major steps:

• Construction of Masjid an-Nabawi.
• Establishment of Muwakhat (Brotherhood) between Muhajirun and Ansar.
• The Charter of Madinah (Constitution) to ensure peace and rights for all tribes and religions.

The Hijrah teaches us Tawakkul (Trust in Allah), the spirit of sacrifice, strategic planning, and the importance of brotherhood in Islam.