The Prophet in Medina

The Hijra (622 CE)

The Hijra (هِجرَة — emigration) is the defining moment of Islamic historiography: so defining that the Muslim calendar (al-taqwim al-hijri) begins from it, not from the Prophet’s birth or the first revelation.

The night of the Hijra: The Quraysh assembled at the Prophet’s house to assassinate him. Mawlana ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib slept in the Prophet’s bed — in the Prophet’s green cloak — to delay discovery. The Prophet and Abu Bakr slipped out and hid in the Cave of Thawr for three days before beginning the journey north to Yathrib (Medina).

The significance of ‘Ali’s sacrifice: In the Ismaili tradition, ‘Ali sleeping in the Prophet’s place (laylat al-mabeet) is one of the three great proofs of his walayah — his willingness to offer his life for the Prophet demonstrated that he was the only one who could be trusted as the Prophet’s successor.

The journey: The Prophet and Abu Bakr traveled by a secondary route (avoiding the main road) with a Qurayshi guide. The famous narration of Abu Bakr saying “I am afraid that our enemy may see us” and the Prophet responding “What do you think of two whose third is Allah?” is cited in the Quran (9:40).

The Founding of the Medinan Community

The Prophet’s mosque (al-Masjid al-Nabawi): On arrival in Medina, the Prophet’s she-camel stopped at a spot (then used for drying dates) and the Prophet purchased it to build his mosque. The mosque was built by the companions and the Prophet himself, who carried bricks alongside them. It contained simple rooms (hujurat) for the Prophet’s wives along its eastern wall.

The Compact of Medina (Sahifat al-Madina): The Prophet drafted a multi-party agreement between:

The Muhajirun (Meccan emigrants)
The Ansar (Medinan helpers — Aws and Khazraj tribes)
The Jewish tribes of Medina (Banu Qaynuqa’, Banu Nadir, Banu Qurayza)

This is considered one of the earliest political constitutions in world history: establishing shared defense, dispute resolution procedures, and collective identity as a umma — while preserving the religious autonomy of Jewish tribes.

The brotherhood (mu’akhat): The Prophet paired each Muhajir with an Ansar companion in a bond of brotherhood — so complete that early Ansar offered to share their property (and even offer a second wife) with their Muhajir brothers.

The Military Campaigns (Ghazawat)

The Medinan period saw approximately 27 ghazawat (campaigns the Prophet personally led) and over 50 saraya (expeditions sent under other commanders):

Badr (2 AH / 624 CE): The first major battle. 313 Muslims against a Qurayshi force of 1,000. The Muslim victory was so decisive — Qurayshi leaders (including Abu Jahl) were killed, 70 prisoners taken — that it is called Yawm al-Furqan (the Day of Distinction) and has an entire Quran chapter (8: al-Anfal) dedicated to it.

Uhud (3 AH / 625 CE): Near-defeat. The Prophet was wounded; the rumor spread that he was dead. The lesson: the archers abandoned their positions for spoils, costing the Muslims a likely complete victory. Seventy companions were martyred including Hamza, the Prophet’s uncle. Quran 3:140-175 reflects deeply on the trial.

The Trench / Khandaq (5 AH / 627 CE): The confederate army (Ahzab) of 10,000 besieged Medina. Salman al-Farisi suggested the Persian tactic of digging a trench (khandaq) along the exposed northern flank. The siege lasted 27 days; the confederates withdrew without engaging. Quran chapter 33 (al-Ahzab) covers this.

The Conquest of Mecca (8 AH / 630 CE): After the Quraysh violated the Treaty of Hudaybiyya, the Prophet marched on Mecca with 10,000 men. The city surrendered with minimal bloodshed. The Prophet stood at the Ka’ba and declared: “There is no god but Allah, alone, no partner — He has fulfilled His promise, given victory to His servant, and defeated the confederates alone.” He then offered a general amnesty, saying: “Go — you are free.”

The Prophet’s Wives and Household in Medina

The Medinan period saw the Prophet’s marriages multiply — from one wife (Khadija) in Mecca to eleven in Medina (with a maximum of nine surviving at his death). These marriages were predominantly political alliances, diplomatic gestures, and acts of care for widows — very few were the marriages of a young man seeking companionship.

The ahl al-bayt revelation (33:33) was received in Medina, formally establishing the supreme spiritual status of the Prophet’s household.

The Farewell Hajj and Ghadir Khumm

In 10 AH (632 CE), the Prophet performed his only Hajj — the Hajjat al-Wida’ (Farewell Pilgrimage). At Arafat, he delivered his Farewell Sermon. On the return journey, at a watering hole called Ghadir Khumm, he stopped the enormous caravan and delivered a declaration that would define Islamic history:

“Whoever I am their mawla, ‘Ali is their mawla. O Allah, be the ally of those who are his ally, and the enemy of those who are his enemy.” — multiple sources including Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Hakim

The Quran verse 5:67 (“O Messenger, convey what has been revealed to you”) was revealed commanding this declaration; verse 5:3 (“Today I have completed your religion”) was revealed immediately after.

In the Ismaili tradition, Ghadir Khumm is the supreme moment of the seerah — the culminating act of the Prophet’s mission was not a battle, a law, or a doctrinal statement; it was the designation of the Imam.

The Prophet’s Death and Succession

The Prophet died in 11 AH (June 632 CE) in ‘A’isha’s apartment, with his head resting in her lap. He was buried in that same room — which is now within al-Masjid al-Nabawi.

His death triggered the succession crisis that would permanently divide the Muslim community. While Mawlana ‘Ali and the Banu Hashim were preparing the Prophet’s body for burial, a gathering at Saqifa Banu Sa’ida selected Abu Bakr as the first Caliph. In the Ismaili tradition, this was the first great violation of the Prophet’s explicit designation at Ghadir Khumm.

The Prophet in Medina — The Medinan Period of the Seerah