الهجرة إلى المدينة
The Hijrah — Migration to Madinah
Rabi' al-Awwal, 1 AH (622 CE)
From Makkah to Cave Thawr to Quba to Madinah
The Prophet ﷺ departed Makkah with Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, heading south to the Cave of Thawr to evade the Qurayshi pursuit. They hid there for three nights while search parties came dangerously close — at which point Abu Bakr expressed fear, and the Prophet ﷺ said 'Do not grieve, indeed Allah is with us.' A spider spun a web and pigeons nested at the cave's entrance. After three nights, they continued to Madinah via an unusual coastal route, guided by Abdullah ibn Urayqit. They arrived in Quba on Monday, 8th or 12th Rabi' al-Awwal.
Why this matters
The Hijrah is so pivotal that it marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. It represents the transition from persecution to establishment, from a persecuted minority to a community with sovereignty. The journey itself was filled with miracles and demonstrations of complete trust in Allah (tawakkul). The Muslims of Madinah (the Ansar) received the Prophet ﷺ with joy and singing.
Quran references
إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍۢ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
Surah At-Tawbah, 40
If you do not aid the Prophet - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us." And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah - that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Hadith references
Sahih al-Bukhari, #3905
Narrated by: Aisha
Grading: Sahih
“Abu Bakr said: 'O Messenger of Allah, if one of them were to look down at his feet, he would see us!' The Prophet ﷺ said: 'O Abu Bakr, what do you think about two when Allah is the third?'”