The correct answer is the 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal of the 14th year of Nabawat.While the migration of the companions had been happening in small, secret groups for months, the Prophet’s (SAW) own departure and his arrival in the outskirts of Madinah... Read More
The correct answer is the 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal of the 14th year of Nabawat.While the migration of the companions had been happening in small, secret groups for months, the Prophet’s (SAW) own departure and his arrival in the outskirts of Madinah (then known as Yathrib) marked the official culmination of this era. This date is recorded as the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal in the 14th year since the beginning of the Prophethood (Nabawat), which corresponds to September 622 CE.
To understand why the Hijrah happened at this specific time, one must look at the atmosphere in Makkah during the 13th year of Prophethood. Following the death of Abu Talib and Hazrat Khadija (RA), the protection the Prophet (SAW) once enjoyed had vanished. The Quraysh had reached a point of desperation and held a meeting at Dar-an-Nadwa, where they plotted to assassinate the Prophet (SAW) to end his mission once and for all.
It was at this critical juncture that Divine permission for migration was granted. The Prophet (SAW) did not leave Makkah out of fear, but as part of a strategic plan to establish a society where the message of Islam could flourish without the constant threat of violence.
The Hijrah began secretly. On the night the assassins surrounded his house, the Prophet (SAW) left Hazrat Ali (RA) in his bed to return the trusts (Amanat) of the Makkans—a testament to his integrity even toward his enemies. He then met Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), and they traveled to the Cave of Thawr. They stayed in this cave for three days while the Quraysh searched the desert fruitlessly.
The journey was approximately 320 kilometers (200 miles) through harsh, untracked desert terrain to avoid the main caravan routes where bounty hunters like Suraqa bin Malik were waiting. This journey was not merely a relocation; it was a test of faith and endurance for the small group of believers who left behind their homes, wealth, and families for the sake of their convictions.
By the time the Prophet (SAW) reached the settlement of Quba on the outskirts of Madinah, it was the 14th year of his mission. His arrival in Quba is significant because it was here that he built the first mosque in Islamic history, Masjid al-Quba. He stayed there for several days before finally entering the heart of Madinah on a Friday.
The date of 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal is etched in history because it changed the status of Muslims from a persecuted minority to a self-governing community. In Madinah, the Prophet (SAW) drafted the Charter of Madinah, established the brotherhood (Muwakhat) between the Ansar and the Muhajireen, and laid the foundations of a state based on justice and equity.
Decades later, during the caliphate of Hazrat Umar (RA), the Hijrah was chosen as the starting point for the Islamic calendar (Hijri calendar). It was selected over the Prophet's birth date or the date of the first revelation because the Hijrah represented the triumph of truth over falsehood and the practical implementation of Islamic values in a societal structure. Understanding this date is essential for anyone studying how a small group of believers transformed into a global civilization within a single generation.
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