The story of hijrah of prophet Muhammad ﷺ is one of the most important events in Islamic history. It tells how the Prophet left Makkah to find safety and support in Madinah. This journey was full of danger, but also full of trust in Allah and hope for a better future.
Read on to discover how the story of hijrah of prophet muhammad marked the beginning of the Islamic state.
The Harsh Persecution in Makkah: Why Muslims Were Forced to Leave?
After Allah commanded Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to openly call his people to worship Allah, Persecution in Makkah began.
Quraysh started torturing every Muslim they found, whether they were free or slaves. Some of them were even killed, like the parents of Ammar ibn Yasir.
The Prophet himself was not safe. The torture became worse after the death of his uncle Abu Talib. Quraysh even planned to kill the Prophet, but Allah told him to migrate to Madinah.
The prophet Muhammed dream of Migration
After the torture Muslims faced in Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ told his companions to migrate to Madinah. He had seen the place of migration in a dream from Allah:
“وَعَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: ” رَأَيْتُ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أُهَاجِرُ مِنْ مَكَّةَ إِلَى أَرْضٍ بِهَا نَخْلٌ فَذَهَبَ وَهْلِي إِلَى أَنَّهَا الْيَمَامَةُ أَوْ هَجَرُ فَإِذَا هِيَ الْمَدِينَةُ يَثْرِبُ “
Abu Musa reported the Prophet as saying: “I saw in a dream that I was emigrating from Mecca to a land containing palm-trees and I conjectured that it was to al-Yamama or to Hajar, but it was the city of Yathrib”
(Bukhari and Muslim.) Mishkat al-Masabih 4618
After the prophet Muhammed dream, he told his companions to migrate secretly to Yathrib (now Madinah) so Quraysh wouldn’t stop them.
When Abu Bakr asked to migrate, the Prophet told him to wait, hoping that Allah would give him a companion. He also told Ali ibn Abi Talib to stay in Makkah for now.
Background and Context
After many Muslims migrated to Madinah, Quraysh felt threatened because Madinah was on the trade route to the Levant.
So the disbelievers gathered at Dar An-Nadwah and agreed on a plan to kill the Prophet ﷺ in a way that would prevent Banu Hashim from seeking revenge—they would be forced to accept blood money instead.
They decided that each tribe would choose one strong man, and together they would strike the Prophet ﷺ at the same time, so his blood would be shared among all the tribes. That way, Banu Hashim wouldn’t be able to fight all the tribes and would have no choice but to accept the compensation.
Allah mentioned their evil plan in the Qur’an:
“وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلْمَـٰكِرِينَ ٣٠”
“And ˹remember, O Prophet,˺ when the disbelievers conspired to capture, kill, or exile you. They planned, but Allah also planned. And Allah is the best of planners.” (Al-Anfal 8:30)
And after covering the background and context, we now move on to how the Prophet ﷺ prepared for the Hijrah and the different stages he went through during the migration journey.
Step by Step Preparation for Hijrah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
After Quraysh planned to kill the Prophetﷺ, Allah commanded him to migrate to Madinah. So the Prophet ﷺ began his Preparation for Hijrah with the following steps:
- He went secretly to the house of Abu Bakr at midday—something he normally didn’t do—to tell him that Allah had ordered him to migrate, and that Abu Bakr would be his companion. He also told Ali ibn Abi Talib to sleep in his bed so he could return the trusts to their owners.
- Abu Bakr had already prepared two camels and hired Abdullah ibn Uraiqit, a non-Muslim, as their guide. They agreed to meet in the cave of Thawr after three days.
- Aisha Bint Abu Bakr and her sister Asma prepared food for the journey. Asma tore her waistband into two pieces to carry water and food, so she was called the one with two waistbands (thatt alnitaqyn).
This was the beginning of the story of hijrah of prophet muhammad.
The Prophet’s Secret Escape from Makkah
The story of Hijrah of Prophet Muhammad takes a dramatic turn during the Escape from Makkah. Quraysh had no idea that Allah had already commanded His Prophet ﷺ to make Hijrah, so they went ahead with their plan to kill him.
They waited outside his house, ready to attack as soon as he stepped out. But Allah told the Prophet ﷺ to leave right through the middle of the disbelievers—and that they wouldn’t be able to see him.
So the Prophet ﷺ walked out while reciting:
“وَجَعَلْنَا مِنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّۭا وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّۭا فَأَغْشَيْنَـٰهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ “
and have placed a barrier before them and a barrier behind them and covered them ˹all˺ up, so they fail to see ˹the truth˺. (Ya Sin 36:9)
And not only that—he even took a handful of dust and sprinkled some of it on the heads of each of the men outside, just to show that he had been right inside and walked past them without being noticed.
The Prophet ﷺ and his companion Abu Bakr successfully made their Escape from Makkah.
Quraysh didn’t realize he was gone until the next morning when a man walked by and saw dust on their heads.
He said, “What are you waiting for?” They replied, “Muhammad.” He said, “May you be doomed—he already slipped past you!”
They rushed into the house and found Ali Ibn Abi Talib sleeping in the Prophet’s bed. They were furious and asked where the Prophet ﷺ was, but Ali didn’t answer.
Then they hurried to Abu Bakr’s house since they knew he was the Prophet’s close friend—but they didn’t find him either. Abu Jahl even questioned Asma, Abu Bakr’s daughter, but when she refused to tell him anything, he slapped her so hard that her earring fell off.
The Migration Journey: Key Stops and Divine Support Along the Way
The story of hijrah of prophet Muhammad began the moment he left Makkah, and The Migration Journey had many exciting stops, including:
1. Quraysh chasing the Prophet
As soon as Quraysh found out that the Prophet ﷺ had left Makkah, they launched a manhunt They offered a huge reward for anyone who could bring him back — dead or alive. They checked every exit and sent expert trackers to search for him.
2. The Prophet’s smart plan
The Prophet ﷺ didn’t go directly to Medina as Quraysh expected. Instead, he went south to Mount Thawr. At the top of the mountain, there was a cave that was hard to reach. The Prophet stayed there for three nights until Quraysh calmed down.
3. The Prophet’s Trust in Allah
Quraysh reached the cave, looking for the Prophet and his companion. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) heard their voices and became worried. But the Prophet reassured him, as mentioned in the hadith
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ الصّديق رَضِي الله عَنهُ قا ل: نظرتُ إِلى أقدامِ المشركينَ على رؤوسنا وَنَحْنُ فِي الْغَارِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ نَظَرَ إِلَى قَدَمِهِ أَبْصَرَنَا فَقَالَ: «يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا ظَنُّكَ بِاثْنَيْنِ اللَّهُ ثالثهما» مُتَّفق عَلَيْهِ
Anas b. Malik told that Abu Bakr as-Siddiq said: I looked at the feet of the polytheists above our heads when we were in the cave and said, “Messenger of God, if one of them were to look at his foot he would see us.” He replied, “Abd Bakr, what do you think of two people along with whom God makes a third?” Mishkat al-Masabih 5868
When Quraysh saw the spiderwebs covering the entrance of the cave, they were sure that no one could be inside, so they left disappointed.
4. Support in the cave
The Prophet ﷺ stayed in the cave for three nights. Every day, Amir ibn Fuhayrah would bring them milk, and Abdullah ibn Abu Bakr would update them on Quraysh’s news. After the third night, Abdullah ibn Uraiqit arrived with the two camels, and the journey to Medina began.
5. The Journey to Medina
The Prophet ﷺ set out with his companion Abu Bakr al Siddiq and their guide, Abdullah ibn Uraiqit, heading toward Medina.
They took the coastal route and walked all day. Out of fear for the Prophet’s safety, Abu Bakr kept changing his position—sometimes walking in front of the Prophet, sometimes behind, to his right, or to his left.
They stopped to rest beside a large rock for shade. While they were there, a shepherd came looking for the same shade. Abu Bakr asked him, “To whom do you belong, boy?” He replied, “To a man from Mecca.” Abu Bakr then asked, “Do your sheep have any milk?” The boy said yes, so he milked one of the sheep for the Prophet, who drank until he was satisfied.
6. Suraqah ibn Malik Sees the Prophet
At this point, the story of hijrah of prophet muhammad took a new turn. While the Prophet and his companion were resting, a man from the disbelievers saw them and rushed to tell Suraqah ibn Malik, saying, “I saw some people on the coast. I think it’s Muhammad and his companion.” Suraqah realized it was likely them, but he told the man otherwise so he could try to claim the reward himself.
Suraqah waited with his group for a while so as not to draw attention, then quietly left, mounted his horse, and rode quickly toward the Prophet.
When he got close, his horse’s legs sank into the sand. Suraqah then knew that the Prophet was under divine protection. He asked the Prophet for safety and promised to keep their secret. The Prophet granted him safety and promised him the bracelets of the Persian emperor (Kisra).
Suraqah kept his promise. He didn’t tell anyone where the Prophet was and even turned people away who were searching for him, telling them not to go that way until the Prophet reached Medina safely.
7. The Prophet Passes by the Tent of Umm Ma‘bad
One of the memorable moments in the story of hijrah of prophet muhammad was when he passed by the tent of Umm Ma‘bad on the way to Medina.
He asked her if she had any food. She apologized, saying she had nothing except a weak sheep that didn’t produce any milk.
The Prophet ﷺ touched the sheep’s udder and prayed for Allah’s blessing. Then he asked for a container and milked the sheep. Everyone drank from the milk. This miracle led Umm Ma‘bad and her husband to embrace Islam. It was yet another memorable moment in the story of hijrah of Prophet Muhammad, showing how the journey touched people’s hearts along the way.
Arrival in Madinah: A New Beginning for the Muslim Ummah
Ever since the Muslims in Madinah heard the news of the Prophet’s migration, they would go out every day to the city’s outskirts, waiting eagerly for his arrival. But when the heat of the day became too much, they would return to their homes.
On the day of the Prophet’s Arrival in Madinah, they waited as usual until the sun became intense, so they went back home. Then, a Jewish man happened to see the Prophet approaching and called out to the people. They rushed out and welcomed the Prophet (peace be upon him) with overwhelming joy.
The Companion Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib, who witnessed the event, said:
“I have never seen the people of Madinah rejoice more than they did when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) arrived.”
With the Prophet’s arrival in Madinah, the story of hijrah of prophet muhammad came to an end, and the journey of building the Islamic state began.
What is the importance of hijrah for Islam?
The importance of hijrah for islam is huge. For several reasons, including
- It gave Muslims strength and protection, allowing them to achieve major goals.
As Allah says:
“وَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ فِى ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا۟ لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ ۖ وَلَأَجْرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ ٤١”
“As for those who emigrated in the cause of Allah after being persecuted, We will surely bless them with a good home in this world. But the reward of the Hereafter is far better, if only they knew.” (An-Nahl 16:41)
- It helped believers escape poverty and fear and strengthened their ability to defend themselves.
” وَمَن يُهَاجِرْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يَجِدْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُرَٰغَمًۭا كَثِيرًۭا وَسَعَةًۭ ۚ “
“Whoever emigrates in the cause of Allah will find many safe havens and bountiful resources throughout the earth.” (An-Nisa 4:100)
- The Hijrah was also the beginning of the Islamic state, bringing Muslims together in one place, uniting their efforts, and allowing the Islamic message to spread from a stable and strong base.
Conclusion
The story of hijrah of prophet muhammad ﷺ is a powerful reminder of patience, trust in Allah, and the beginning of a new chapter for Muslims. This historic journey changed the course of Islam and united believers in a strong, supportive community.
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