The SeerahJourney

The Hijra to Madinah

الهجرة إلى المدينة

The Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr left Makkah, hid in the cave, and reached Madinah.

QuranSee it in the Atlas
When
Left Makkah 27 Safar; reached Quba on Monday 8 Rabi al-Awwal (September 622 CE)
Date
The sources give different dates; the views are below.

The event

The Quran recalls the two in the cave, when the Prophet ﷺ told his companion not to grieve, for Allah was with them (9:40). He and Abu Bakr left Makkah and hid three nights in the cave before setting out for Madinah.

islamweb's fatwa gives the dates al-Mubarakfuri worked out following Ibn Ishaq: leaving Makkah on the night of Friday 27 Safar, setting out from the cave on 1 Rabi al-Awwal, reaching Quba on Monday 8 Rabi al-Awwal (23 September 622 CE), and entering Madinah on the 12th. Counting the years differently, some place it in the thirteenth year of the mission and others in the fourteenth. The Hijri calendar is counted from this year.

Evidence

QuranAt-Tawba (The Repentance)Quran 9:40

إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ٤٠

If you do not aid him [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ)] - Allāh has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two,[476] when they were in the cave and he [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allāh is with us." And Allāh sent down His tranquility upon him and supported him with soldiers [i.e., angels] you did not see and made the word[477] of those who disbelieved the lowest,[478] while the word of Allāh[479] - that is the highest. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.

Translator's notes

[476] The second was his companion, Abū Bakr. [477] i.e., their claims and slogans. [478] i.e., degraded and dishonored. [479] "Lā ilāha ill-Allāh" ("There is no deity except Allāh").

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

40. If you help him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) not (it does not matter), for Allâh did indeed help him when the disbelievers drove him out, the second of the two; when they (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه) were in the cave, he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to his companion (Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه): "Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allâh is with us." Then Allâh sent down His Sakînah (calmness, tranquillity, peace) upon him, and strengthened him with forces (angels) which you saw not, and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowermost, while the Word of Allâh that became the uppermost; and Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

Read in context on Quran.com
Report an error on this page

Tell us what looks wrong: a reference, a translation, the Arabic, or anything else. Scholars and editors read every report. Please don’t include personal details.

Text size

Appearance