Hejira

/hɪˈdʒɪrə/ noun

Definition

A journey or exodus, especially one undertaken to escape danger or persecution, or specifically Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE.

Etymology

From Arabic hijra (هجرة), meaning 'emigration' or 'flight,' referring originally to the Prophet Muhammad's departure from Mecca, which became the starting point of the Islamic calendar and a symbol of spiritual renewal through difficult journeys.

Kelly Says

The Hijra was so important historically that Muslims literally reset their calendar to year zero when it happened—it's like if we changed history's timeline because Muhammad moved cities, which shows how pivotal this one journey was.

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