The Hijra & Establishing Madinah

The Pledge of Aqabah

A group of people from Yathrib (later named Madinah) accepted Islam during the annual pilgrimage season. They pledged their loyalty to the Prophet ﷺ and invited him to their city. This was the breakthrough that made the Hijra possible — an invitation from a city that would become the heart of the emerging Islamic state.

The Migration (Hijra)

In 622 CE, with the Quraysh plotting to assassinate him, Muhammad ﷺ slipped out of Makkah with Abu Bakr, hiding in Cave Thawr for three days while Quraysh search parties looked for them. They then made the journey north to Madinah — an event so significant that the Islamic calendar (Hijri) begins from this year. His arrival in Madinah was celebrated with joy; the Ansar (helpers) of Madinah competed to host him and his companions.

Building the Prophet's Mosque

Upon arriving in Madinah, the first act was to build Masjid al-Nabawi — the Prophet's Mosque — where he also established his residence. The mosque became not just a place of worship but the centre of governance, education, community gathering, and welfare distribution. This integrated model of a mosque-centred community is still the ideal in Islamic urban planning.

The Charter of Madinah

The Prophet ﷺ established the Constitution of Madinah — one of the world's earliest written constitutional documents — defining the rights and duties of all citizens, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and establishing mutual defence against external threats. This pluralistic governance model guaranteed religious freedom for the Jewish tribes of Madinah alongside the Muslim community.