P1-SIR-14 The life and importance of the Prophet ﷺ Paper 1, Question 3
The Hijra: the events of the migration to Madina
The Hijra was a carefully planned migration under danger, not a simple journey. A high-quality account needs the Quraysh plot, ‘Ali’s role, the cave of Thawr, support network, route and arrival.
622 CE / 1 AH Narrative and significance Paper 1 · Question 3
Syllabus connection
- P1.T3.b3 The main events of his activities in Madina, his leadership of the community there and his conflicts with the Makkans and others
Learn the material
Learning objectives
Key vocabulary
- Hijra
- Migration from Makka to Yathrib for faith and security.
- Thawr
- The cave south of Makka where the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr hid.
- Muhajirun
- The Emigrants who left Makka.
- Ansar
- The Helpers of Madina.
- Quba
- Settlement near Madina where the Prophet ﷺ first arrived.
- suraqa
- Suraqa ibn Malik, who pursued the travellers and later withdrew.
Before you start
Answer from memory before opening the answers.
- Who accompanied the Prophet ﷺ?
- Who slept in his bed?
- Where did they hide?
- How long were they there?
Check your answers
- Abu Bakr.
- ‘Ali.
- Cave of Thawr.
- Three nights according to the standard account.
The lesson
Background and setting
After the Second Pledge, Muslims migrated gradually. Quraysh leaders feared that Muhammad ﷺ would gain a secure base and planned a coordinated killing by men from several clans.
Main events in sequence
- Allah permitted the Prophet ﷺ to leave, and he informed Abu Bakr.
- ‘Ali slept in the Prophet’s bed and remained to return trusts left with Muhammad ﷺ.
- The Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr left southwards, opposite the direct route to Yathrib, and hid in the cave of Thawr.
- Asma brought food, ‘Abd Allah ibn Abu Bakr brought intelligence and ‘Amir ibn Fuhayra helped obscure tracks with the flock.
- A skilled non-Muslim guide, ‘Abd Allah ibn Urayqit, was employed for the less expected coastal route.
- Searchers came close to the cave, but the Prophet ﷺ reassured Abu Bakr that Allah was with them.
- After three nights they set out; Suraqa pursued them but withdrew after his horse repeatedly stumbled in traditional reports.
- They reached Quba, where a mosque was established, and then entered Yathrib to a joyful welcome.
- The city became known as Madinat al-Nabi, and the Hijra later became the starting point of the Muslim calendar.
Outcome and consequences
The migration preserved the Messenger and transformed Muslims from a persecuted minority into a community able to organise worship, law and public life.
Examination focus
The best response selects relevant detail, keeps a clear sequence and links each paragraph to the wording of the question.
| Feature | Accurate detail | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Quraysh plot | Multi-clan assassination plan. | Explain why migration became urgent. |
| ‘Ali | Slept in the bed and returned trusts. | Shows courage and continuing honesty. |
| Cave | Thawr, south of Makka, for three nights. | Do not confuse with Hira. |
| Support network | Asma, ‘Abd Allah, ‘Amir and the guide. | Show planning and shared responsibility. |
| Arrival | Quba then Yathrib/Madina. | Complete the route and consequence. |
Accuracy and interpretation
Do not reduce tawakkul to lack of planning. The Hijra joined trust in Allah with intelligence, secrecy, expertise and assigned roles. Popular details about a spider web or pigeons should not replace the better-attested core account.
Context and chronology
| Date or phase | Event | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Before departure | Most Muslims migrated in groups. | Reduced immediate vulnerability. |
| Night of departure, 622 | ‘Ali remained; Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr left. | Quraysh plot was avoided. |
| Three nights | Concealment in cave of Thawr. | Intelligence and supplies sustained them. |
| Journey north-west | Coastal route with expert guide. | Strategic avoidance of pursuit. |
| Arrival | Quba then Madina. | Beginning of the Madinan community. |
Chronology control
Use dates to anchor the sequence, but do not turn the answer into a list of dates. The event, turning point and consequence must remain clear.
People, places and events
| Person, group or place | Role in this lesson |
|---|---|
| Abu Bakr | Companion in the cave and journey. |
| ‘Ali | Risked his safety and returned trusts. |
| Asma bint Abu Bakr | Carried provisions. |
| ‘Abd Allah ibn Abu Bakr | Gathered and delivered intelligence. |
| ‘Amir ibn Fuhayra | Supported the journey with livestock. |
| ‘Abd Allah ibn Urayqit | Trusted expert guide who was not yet Muslim. |
Qur'an and Hadith evidence
Use Qur’an and Hadith evidence briefly and purposefully. The evidence should illuminate the event or character point rather than replace historical knowledge.
إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا
When they were in the cave, he said to his companion: do not grieve; Allah is with us.
The verse joins danger, companionship and trust in Allah.
وَمَن يُهَاجِرْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يَجِدْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُرَاغَمًا كَثِيرًا وَسَعَةً
Whoever migrates in Allah’s way will find many places of refuge and abundance.
Migration can open a new field for faithful life.
Short, accurate references are enough. Do not invent a quotation when you are uncertain of the wording.
Significance
- The Hijra marks the transition from private survival to public community.
- ‘Ali’s return of trusts shows that enemy hostility did not cancel moral obligation.
- The support network highlights the contributions of women, young people, freed people and a non-Muslim expert.
- The cave verse teaches trust in Allah under immediate danger.
- The event became the epoch of the Islamic calendar because it marks community transformation rather than simply birth or victory.
Significance in practice
Build AO2 through example → principle → present-day application.
| Prophetic example | Principle | Present-day application |
|---|---|---|
| Trust with planning | Tawakkul uses lawful means rather than ignoring risk. | A project should combine prayer with expertise, contingency planning and assigned roles. |
| Honesty towards opponents | Trusts must be returned even during persecution. | Conflict does not permit theft or betrayal of private property. |
| Value diverse contributors | Major change depends on many roles. | Leaders should recognise logistics, intelligence and care work, not only public speakers. |
| Migration and dignity | Leaving danger can be faithful, not shameful. | Refugees should be welcomed as agents with skills, not treated only as burdens. |
Connections with other topics
| Connected topic | How the connection helps |
|---|---|
| P1-SIR-13 Second Pledge | Host protection made the Hijra possible. |
| P1-SIR-15 building Madina | The migration immediately leads to mosque and brotherhood. |
| P1-COM Muhajirun and Ansar | The two groups become central to the first community. |
| P2-FAI tawakkul | The journey is a model of trust joined to action. |
Common misconceptions
Students often think The cave used in the Hijra was Hira.
In fact The cave was Thawr; Hira was the place of first revelation.
Students often think Trust in Allah meant no practical planning.
In fact The journey involved concealment, intelligence, supplies and an expert guide.
Students often think Only Abu Bakr contributed.
In fact A network including ‘Ali, Asma, ‘Abd Allah, ‘Amir and the guide played essential roles.
Students often think The Hijra was a defeated retreat with no larger result.
In fact It enabled the organised Madinan community and changed Islamic history.
What the examiner wants
AO1: what you must know
For a high-level AO1 response, select detailed material that answers the precise focus and organise it coherently.
- Know the brief background before the main event.
- Allah permitted the Prophet ﷺ to leave, and he informed Abu Bakr.
- ‘Ali slept in the Prophet’s bed and remained to return trusts left with Muhammad ﷺ.
- The Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr left southwards, opposite the direct route to Yathrib, and hid in the cave of Thawr.
- Asma brought food, ‘Abd Allah ibn Abu Bakr brought intelligence and ‘Amir ibn Fuhayra helped obscure tracks with the flock.
- A skilled non-Muslim guide, ‘Abd Allah ibn Urayqit, was employed for the less expected coastal route.
- Searchers came close to the cave, but the Prophet ﷺ reassured Abu Bakr that Allah was with them.
- After three nights they set out; Suraqa pursued them but withdrew after his horse repeatedly stumbled in traditional reports.
- They reached Quba, where a mosque was established, and then entered Yathrib to a joyful welcome.
- The city became known as Madinat al-Nabi, and the Hijra later became the starting point of the Muslim calendar.
- The migration preserved the Messenger and transformed Muslims from a persecuted minority into a community able to organise worship, law and public life.
- Keep names, sequence and consequences accurate.
The narrative answer
Examiners reward brief background, then balanced coverage, then a clear link back to what the question actually asked.
- Brief background
- One or two sentences of context. Brief — this is not the answer. Quraysh plotted after the Second Pledge.
- Sequence
- The main events in order, each with detail. Departure, Thawr, support network, route, Quba, Madina.
- Balance
- If the question names several things, give each comparable treatment. Cover both planning and trust in Allah.
- Link back
- Connect each part to the exact focus of the question. Explain how migration transformed the community.
AO1 control
Do not narrate everything you know about the Prophet’s life. Select the events that directly answer the question and develop them accurately.
AO2: what you must understand
AO2 must move beyond praise. Identify a principle, explain how the example establishes it, and show its effect on a Muslim or community today.
- The Hijra marks the transition from private survival to public community.
- ‘Ali’s return of trusts shows that enemy hostility did not cancel moral obligation.
- The support network highlights the contributions of women, young people, freed people and a non-Muslim expert.
- The cave verse teaches trust in Allah under immediate danger.
- The event became the epoch of the Islamic calendar because it marks community transformation rather than simply birth or victory.
AO2 control
A present-day example earns value only when the mechanism is explained: what Muslims learn, why it matters and how it changes conduct.
Worked examination example
Weaker response
This event was important because the Prophet ﷺ showed good character and Muslims should copy him.
The point is generic, unsupported and could be attached to almost any event.
Stronger response
The Hijra shows that trust in Allah is not passive. The Prophet ﷺ chose timing, secrecy, a safe temporary direction, reliable helpers and an expert guide, while his confidence rested in Allah. Muslims should therefore pray and rely on Allah while also assessing risk, consulting specialists and carrying out responsibilities carefully.
The response identifies a precise example, derives a principle and explains its practical effect.
Practise
Guided practice
- Write a one-sentence background for The Hijra: the events of the migration to Madina.
- Select four events or features and arrange them in the most logical order.
- Add one sentence explaining the consequence or significance of each selected point.
Before you write, answer these
- Brief background
- Event or feature 1
- Event or feature 2
- Turning point
- Outcome and significance
The examination gives roughly a third of a page for a 4-mark answer. Aim for a short, dense paragraph — no introduction needed. Your work saves automatically in this browser.
Independent practice
- Write a balanced 10-mark account without notes.
- Write one developed 4-mark significance paragraph using example → principle → effect.
- Check every name, date and causal link against the lesson.
The examination gives roughly a third of a page for a 4-mark answer. Aim for a short, dense paragraph — no introduction needed. Your work saves automatically in this browser.
Check your understanding
Answer each question, then check it. Every option is explained — including the ones that are wrong — so read the feedback even when you were right.
Write a full answer
Exam-style practice question
This is original examination-style practice based on the syllabus topic and current assessment structure.
Exam-style practice question
(a) Give a detailed account of the Prophet’s ﷺ Hijra from the Quraysh plot to his arrival in Madina. [10] AO1
(b) What does the planning of the Hijra teach Muslims about tawakkul? [4] AO2
Written by this course to match the style and demand of the examination. It is not a Cambridge question.
Plan your answer
Before you write, answer these
- What brief context is needed?
- Which four to six points provide the strongest coverage?
- Where is the turning point or contrast?
- What consequence closes part (a)?
- Which specific example will drive each AO2 paragraph?
Out of scope here: Plan from the exact question. A memorised life story or general character paragraph will not automatically answer the focus set.
The examination gives roughly a third of a page for a 4-mark answer. Aim for a short, dense paragraph — no introduction needed. Your work saves automatically in this browser.
Indicative answer
Show an indicative answer Write yours first — you will learn more
Part (a)
Quraysh planned a multi-clan assassination, but the Prophet ﷺ was permitted to leave. ‘Ali slept in his bed and later returned people’s trusts. Muhammad ﷺ and Abu Bakr travelled south to the cave of Thawr and remained three nights. Asma supplied food, ‘Abd Allah brought intelligence and ‘Amir ibn Fuhayra assisted with the flock. They then followed a less expected route with the guide ‘Abd Allah ibn Urayqit. After incidents including Suraqa’s pursuit, they reached Quba and then Madina.
Part (b)
The Hijra shows that trust in Allah is not passive. The Prophet ﷺ chose timing, secrecy, a safe temporary direction, reliable helpers and an expert guide, while his confidence rested in Allah. Muslims should therefore pray and rely on Allah while also assessing risk, consulting specialists and carrying out responsibilities carefully.
Other answers are equally valid
- Marks are awarded for what is correct. Nothing is deducted for errors or omissions.
- Credit is given for valid answers that go beyond the syllabus and the mark scheme.
- It is entirely possible to reach the highest level using different information or a different argument from the one shown here.
- Answers are judged against the levels of response, not against a checklist of required points.
Marking guidance reference
What the strongest answers do here: Read the response as a whole. Balance, accuracy, development and direct relevance determine the level.
| Level | Marks | What the examiner is looking for |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 8–10 |
|
| 3 | 5–7 |
|
| 2 | 3–4 |
|
| 1 | 1–2 |
|
| 0 | 0 |
|
What moves an answer up: The clearest difference between Level 3 and Level 4 is comprehensiveness, development, and quotation. Level 3 "may quote"; Level 4 is "likely to quote".
| Level | Marks | What the examiner is looking for |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3–4 |
|
| 1 | 1–2 |
|
| 0 | 0 |
|
What moves an answer up: The whole AO2 distinction is discussion versus description. A factually excellent but purely descriptive paragraph cannot reach Level 2.
Note that AO2 has two levels, not four. Some older textbooks and revision guides still show a four-level scale for part (b); that scale is out of date.
Self-assessment checklist reference
Judge your answer as a whole against the levels above, not by counting points. An answer can reach the top band using different material from the indicative answer.
Consolidate
Lesson summary
- After the Second Pledge, Muslims migrated gradually. Quraysh leaders feared that Muhammad ﷺ would gain a secure base and planned a coordinated killing by men from several clans.
- Allah permitted the Prophet ﷺ to leave, and he informed Abu Bakr.
- ‘Ali slept in the Prophet’s bed and remained to return trusts left with Muhammad ﷺ.
- The Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr left southwards, opposite the direct route to Yathrib, and hid in the cave of Thawr.
- The migration preserved the Messenger and transformed Muslims from a persecuted minority into a community able to organise worship, law and public life.
- The Hijra marks the transition from private survival to public community.
Retrieval flashcards
Further revision task reference
- Create a five-point timeline from memory.
- Make a two-column grid: event/action and significance.
- Answer the lesson’s 4-mark question again using a different present-day example.
Before you write, answer these
- Five-point timeline
- Three precise details
- Two significance links
- One misconception to avoid
The examination gives roughly a third of a page for a 4-mark answer. Aim for a short, dense paragraph — no introduction needed. Your work saves automatically in this browser.
Your progress is saved in this browser only. Use My progress to export it if you change device.
Why this would reach the top band
The answer is indicative, not a script to memorise. Equivalent accurate detail and well-reasoned applications may also be credited.