Lesson: The Journey to Madinah (Hijrah)

Allah tells the Muslims to move

In Makkah, some people were very unkind to the Muslims because they believed in Allah alone. Life was becoming hard and unsafe. So Allah gave the Prophet ﷺ permission to move to a city far away, where the Muslims could be safe and worship Allah freely. That city was called Madinah (in those days people also called it Yathrib). Little by little, the Muslims of Makkah began to leave their homes and travel to Madinah. Leaving home was very hard, but they trusted Allah. This move is called the Hijrah.

The Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr in the cave

The Prophet ﷺ set off on the long journey with his loyal friend Abu Bakr. Some people in Makkah did not want the Prophet ﷺ to reach Madinah safely, and they went out looking for him. So the two friends hid inside a cave to stay safe. When the search party came very close, Abu Bakr felt worried. But the Prophet ﷺ said gently, “Do not be sad. Allah is with us.” Allah tells us about this in the Qur'an, and how Allah sent down calm and peace upon the Prophet ﷺ. Allah kept them both completely safe, and after a while they carried on with their journey. This teaches us that when we trust Allah, we do not need to be afraid.

A joyful welcome in Madinah

The people of Madinah had been waiting for the Prophet ﷺ, and they were so excited! When at last he arrived, the whole city was filled with joy. Grown-ups and children came out to greet him, singing happily and welcoming him with love. It was one of the happiest days Madinah had ever seen. After the hard journey, the Prophet ﷺ was safe among people who loved him and believed in Allah with him.

The first masjid and the brotherhood

In Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ built the first masjid — a special house for the Muslims to pray to Allah together. It was simple, but it was full of love and prayer. Then something beautiful happened. The Muslims who had come from Makkah were called the Muhajirun, “the ones who moved.” The Muslims already living in Madinah were called the Ansar, “the helpers.” The Prophet ﷺ joined them together as brothers. The Ansar shared everything they had with their new brothers — their food, their homes, and their money — and they loved them dearly, even when they had little for themselves. One kind Ansari even offered to share half of everything he owned with his Muhajir brother. What a wonderful example of kindness, friendship, and sharing!