Opposition and Hijrah

The Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj)

Shortly after the Year of Sorrow, Allah gave the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) a miraculous experience known as the Isra and Mi'raj. In the Isra, he was taken from Makkah to Jerusalem (Masjid al-Aqsa) in a single night. In the Mi'raj, he was then taken up through the seven heavens where he met earlier prophets at each level -- including Ibrahim, Musa and Isa (عليهم السلام). At the highest point he received the command to pray 50 times daily. On his way back, Musa (عليه السلام) advised him to ask Allah to reduce the number, which happened several times until it was set at five. This event was a sign of Allah's support for His Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) at the most difficult point of his mission in Makkah.

The Assassination Plot

The Quraysh eventually made a plan to kill the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). They decided that one young man from each tribe would strike him together at the same time, so that the blame would be spread across all tribes and his family could not take revenge on any one group. Allah revealed this plan to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). He asked Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) to sleep in his bed wearing his green cloak so the assassins would think he was still there. While Ali (رضي الله عنه) risked his life as a decoy, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) slipped out of Makkah unnoticed. They hid in the Cave of Thawr for three nights while the Quraysh searched for them, before making the journey north to Madinah.

The Hijrah -- Migration to Madinah (622 CE)

The Hijrah took place in 622 CE and is considered one of the most important events in Islamic history. It was so significant that Umar (رضي الله عنه) later chose it as the starting point of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, making it Year 1 AH. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his companions gave up their homes, businesses and belongings in Makkah for the sake of Allah. The Muslims who made this journey are called the Muhajirun (migrants) and are highly praised in the Qur'an for their sacrifice.

The Welcome in Madinah -- the Ansar

The Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, had already accepted Islam and were waiting eagerly for the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to arrive. They are known as the Ansar, meaning the helpers. Their welcome was warm and generous. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) established a formal bond of brotherhood (Mu'akhat) between the Muhajirun and the Ansar, pairing each migrant with a Madinan Muslim who would share their home, their wealth and their life with them. This bond was so strong that some Ansar even offered to share their inheritance.

Building the First Mosques

One of the first things the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did on arriving near Madinah was build Masjid al-Quba, the first mosque in the history of Islam. He then built Masjid al-Nabawi in the centre of Madinah. These mosques were not just places of prayer -- they were the centre of the whole community. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used the mosque as a court for settling disputes, a school for teaching, a shelter for the poor and a meeting place for community decisions. Building the mosque first showed clearly that the community's foundation was faith in Allah.

The Constitution of Madinah

To organise the new community in Madinah, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) drew up the Constitution of Madinah (Sahifat al-Madinah). This was a written agreement between the Muslims, the Jewish tribes of Madinah and other groups. It set out the rights and responsibilities of everyone living in Madinah, established that all groups would defend the city together if attacked, and confirmed the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) as the final authority in disputes. It is one of the earliest written constitutions in history and shows the Prophet's (صلى الله عليه وسلم) ability to build a just and organised society.

The Four Key Companions

Four companions played particularly important roles during this period. Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) was the Prophet's closest friend and accompanied him on the dangerous journey, staying with him in the Cave of Thawr. Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) risked his life by sleeping in the Prophet's bed as a decoy for the assassins. Uthman ibn Affan (رضي الله عنه) was a wealthy merchant who used his money to support the Muslim community financially. Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) made his own migration openly and without fear, daring anyone to try to stop him. All four would later lead the Muslim community as the Khulafa ar-Rashidun -- the rightly guided caliphs.

The Hadith on Niyyah (Intention)

The Hadith assigned to this topic states: 'Actions are judged by intentions, and every person will get what they intended. Whoever migrated for Allah and His Messenger, his migration was for Allah and His Messenger. Whoever migrated for worldly gain or to marry a woman, his migration was for whatever he migrated for.' This Hadith teaches that the spiritual value of any action, including the Hijrah, depends on why you did it. A person who made the physical journey to Madinah for worldly reasons would get no spiritual reward. This is one of the most important Hadiths in Islam and is often called the Hadith of Intentions.

Aqeedah Note

The Isra and Mi'raj was a real, physical journey -- the body of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was taken, not just his soul in a dream. This is the correct belief of Ahlus Sunnah, based on Qur'an 17:1 which says 'with His servant', referring to a person not just a soul. When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was brought near to Allah during the Mi'raj, this does not mean Allah came down into creation or mixed with His creation. Allah is above His Throne, as He informed us in the Qur'an, and we accept this without asking how.

Exam Focus

For the (c) explain question on why building mosques after the Hijrah was important, give three developed points with explanation: the mosque provided a spiritual home and place of worship for the new community; it served as the centre for education, law and community decisions; and building it first showed that faith was the foundation of the new Islamic society. For the (d) assess question using the Hadith on niyyah, you need to argue both sides on whether the Hijrah was the most significant event in early Islamic history. Use the Hadith to explain why the intention behind the migration matters. Always end with your own clear and reasoned conclusion.