The Hijra, or withdrawal, is the emigration of Muhammad and his followers to the city of Medina in 622 AD. Alternate spellings of this Arabic word in the Latin alphabet are Hijrah, or Hegira in Latin.

Muhammad, preaching the doctrines of one God (called Allah) and the threat of the Day of Judgment, did not at first have much success in the city of Mecca. His tribe, the Quraysh, which was in charge of the Kaaba (a shrine to Arabic pagan gods), persecuted and harassed him continuously.

He and his followers emigrated to the city of Medina within the Yathrib region, 320 km to the north of Mecca, in September 622 CE (Common Era). The Muslim year during which this event occurred was designated the first year of the Islamic calendar by Umar ibn al-Khattab in 639 CE, 17 AH (anno hegirae, or "in the year of the hijra").

Shamsi determined this chronology for the Hijra:

• Day 1: Thursday 26 Safar AH 1, 9 September 622 CE
  • Left home in Mecca. Stayed three days in Cave of Thawr near Mecca.
• Day 5: Monday 1 Rabi' I AH 1, 13 September 622 CE
  • Left the environs of Mecca. Traveled to the Yathrib region.
• Day 12: Monday 8 Rabi' I AH 1, 20 September 622 CE
  • Arrived at Quba' near Medina within the Yathrib region.
• Day 16: Friday 12 Rabi' I AH 1, 24 September 622 CE
  • First visit to Medina for Friday prayers.
• Day 26: Monday 22 Rabi' I AH 1, 4 October 622 CE
  • Moved from Quba' to Medina.

See also: sira, list of Islamic terms in Arabic

Written reference:

• http://islamicity.com/mosque/ihame/Sec2.htm