بَيْعَتَا الْعَقَبَةِ وَالْهِجْرَةُ

The people of Yathrib Every year, during the pilgrimage, the Prophet ﷺ went to the tribes that had come to Makkah to present Islam to them. Men from Yathrib (the future Madinah), from the tribes of Aws and Khazraj, listened to him. They had heard their Jewish neighbours speak of an awaited prophet, and their town was worn out by years of war between the two tribes [À VÉRIFIER : référence].

The two pledges of Al-'Aqaba • The first pledge, around the twelfth year of prophethood: twelve men of Yathrib pledged to associate nothing with Allah, not to steal, not to commit fornication, not to kill their children, not to slander and not to disobey in what is good (Bukhari 18, Muslim 1709) [À VÉRIFIER : les savants discutent si ce hadith de 'Oubâda décrit ce premier serment ou un serment plus tardif]. The Prophet ﷺ sent Muṣ'ab ibn 'Umayr with them to teach them the Qur'an. • The second pledge, the following year: seventy-three men and two women pledged to protect the Prophet ﷺ as they protected their own families if he came to them [À VÉRIFIER : nombres]. The Prophet ﷺ then allowed the believers to emigrate to Yathrib. They left in small groups, often in secret, sometimes leaving their property behind. Ṣuhayb ar-Ruumi gave up his whole fortune to Quraysh so that he could leave [À VÉRIFIER : référence].

The plot Quraysh met at Daar an-Nadwa and decided to kill the Prophet ﷺ: a young man from each clan would strike at the same time, so that the responsibility would be shared. Allah informed His Messenger (meaning of verse 8:30). That night 'Ali slept in his bed, wrapped in his cloak, and then stayed behind to return to the people of Makkah the deposits they had entrusted to the Prophet ﷺ: even his enemies entrusted their property to him (Ibn Hishaam).

The Hijra 'Aa'isha relates that the Prophet ﷺ came to Abu Bakr's house at midday, at an unusual hour, and announced the departure. Abu Bakr asked: "Companionship, O Messenger of Allah?" "Companionship," he replied, and Abu Bakr wept for joy [À VÉRIFIER : détail]. They hid for three nights in the cave of Thawr, to the south of Makkah, although Madinah lies to the north. 'Abdullah, Abu Bakr's son, brought them news; his daughter Asmaa' brought them food; a shepherd wiped out their tracks; a non-Muslim guide, 'Abdullah ibn Urayqiṭ, led them by little-used paths (Bukhari 3905). The pursuers reached the entrance of the cave. Abu Bakr said: "If one of them looked at his feet, he would see us!" The Prophet ﷺ replied: "What do you think of two whose third is Allah?" (Bukhari 3653, Muslim 2381; verse 9:40 below). Quraysh promised a hundred camels to whoever brought them back. Suraaqa ibn Maalik caught up with them on horseback, but his horse's legs sank into the sand several times; he understood, asked for safety, and went back, turning the other pursuers away (Bukhari 3906).

The arrival They arrived in Qubaa', near Yathrib, in the month of Rabii' al-Awwal, in the year 622 CE [À VÉRIFIER : jour]. The Prophet ﷺ founded the first mosque there, then entered the town, welcomed with great joy. Yathrib took the name Madiinat an-Nabi, "the city of the Prophet", Madinah. Later, under the caliphate of 'Umar, the companions made the Muslim calendar begin with the year of the Hijra.

Exercise: the Hijra required a precise plan (timing, hiding place, guide, food) and complete trust in Allah. Think of an important project of yours: write down what you are preparing in practice, and what you entrust to Allah.

The text: Surah At-Tawba (9), verse 40 إِلَّا تَنْصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٤٠﴾

Meaning: "If you do not help him, Allah has already helped him, when those who disbelieved drove him out, the second of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion: 'Do not grieve, Allah is with us.' Then Allah sent down His tranquillity upon him, supported him with forces you did not see, made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, and the word of Allah is the highest." The "companion" is Abu Bakr.

Arabic text: Tanzil Quran Text (Simple, version 1.0.2), © 2008-2010 Tanzil.net, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence, reproduced without any change (http://tanzil.net). Each verse is on its own line, followed by its number; the basmala, which the Tanzil file places at the start of the first verse, is written on its own line.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation The Hijra is not an escape: it is the move from a town that refuses to a town that welcomes, in order to build a community. It unites two things that scholars often stress: human preparation and trust in Allah (at-tawakkul). The Prophet ﷺ chose the hour, the companion, the guide, the hiding place, and even the opposite direction to mislead the pursuers. Then, when every means had been exhausted at the mouth of the cave, he said: "Allah is with us." The Hijra also shows the role of each person: Abu Bakr and his wealth, 'Ali risking his life, Asmaa' and 'Abdullah, a shepherd, and even a trustworthy non-Muslim guide. A great work is made of small tasks done well. Finally, the account of 'Ali returning the deposits is remarkable: those who wanted to kill the Prophet ﷺ entrusted their money to him, and he gave it back to them. Honesty does not depend on how others treat us.

Lessons to draw from it • Prepare one's projects carefully, then rely on Allah. • Know how to leave a place or a habit that prevents one from practising one's religion. • Return what is entrusted, even to those who harm us. • Value the role of each person, including the young and women. • Say in fear: "Allah is with us."

Key points to remember • The two pledges of Al-'Aqaba (Bukhari 18, Muslim 1709). • The plot; 'Ali in the Prophet's ﷺ bed. • Cave of Thawr: "two whose third is Allah" (Bukhari 3653, Muslim 2381; 9:40). • Suraaqa (Bukhari 3906); arrival in Qubaa', 622. • The Hijri calendar begins with the Hijra.

The main message The Hijra unites planning and trust: do everything in your power, then say with certainty: "Allah is with us."