Period 9 of 18
The Pledges of al-Aqabah and the Hijrah
Islam reached the people of Yathrib through two pledges at al-Aqabah, and the Prophet ﷺ then migrated to the city that became known as al-Madinah.
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The first pledge of al-Aqabah
The sirah books record that, at the pilgrimage seasons, the Prophet ﷺ presented Islam to the Arab tribes, and in about 620 CE six men of the Khazraj of Yathrib accepted it, followed the next year by twelve men who pledged themselves to him at al-Aqabah near Mina. Ubadah ibn as-Samit رضي الله عنه, one of those leaders, reported the pledge: not to associate anything with Allah, not to steal, commit adultery or kill their children, not to slander, and not to disobey in what is right. He said that those who kept it would have their reward with Allah.
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Mus'ab ibn Umayr and the second pledge
The Prophet ﷺ sent Mus'ab ibn Umayr رضي الله عنه to Yathrib to teach the Quran and Islam, and al-Bara' ibn Azib رضي الله عنه said that he and Ibn Umm Maktum were the first of the companions to reach them. In the following pilgrimage season, about 622 CE, the sirah books record that about seventy-three men and two women of Yathrib pledged to protect him as they protected their own families. Ka'b ibn Malik رضي الله عنه was among them and said he would not exchange his presence at al-Aqabah for presence at Badr, though Badr is more celebrated.
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The command to migrate
The Prophet ﷺ told the Muslims: “I have seen the land of your migration, a land of date palms between two lava tracts,” and the Muslims began to leave for Madinah. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه prepared to go, but the Prophet ﷺ said: “Wait, I hope to be given permission.” When Quraysh met to plot against him, Allah informed him of it: “And when those who disbelieved plotted against you to confine you, or kill you, or expel you...” (8:30). The sirah books record that Ali رضي الله عنه slept in his bed that night.
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The cave of Thawr
Aisha رضي الله عنها reported that the Prophet ﷺ came to Abu Bakr's house at midday, and they left together and hid in the cave of Thawr for three nights, while Abu Bakr's son Abdullah brought them news and his servant Amir ibn Fuhayrah brought milk. A guide they had hired, though still on the religion of Quraysh, was trusted to meet them with the camels. Abu Bakr said: “If one of them looked beneath his feet he would see us.” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “What do you think of two, when Allah is their third?” Allah says: “Do not grieve; Allah is with us” (9:40).
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Arrival in Madinah and the start of the Hijri calendar
On the way, Suraqah ibn Malik pursued them, but his horse sank into the ground until he asked the Prophet ﷺ for help and was freed. The Prophet ﷺ reached Quba on the outskirts of Madinah in Rabi' al-Awwal of the first year (about September 622 CE), where, as Anas رضي الله عنه said, he stayed fourteen nights among Banu Amr ibn Awf before entering the city; scholars differ over the exact days, and the sirah books give 12 Rabi' al-Awwal as the day he entered Madinah. Sahl ibn Sa'd رضي الله عنه said that the Muslims did not count the years from his mission or death but from his arrival in Madinah; historians say this was formalised under Umar.
How the sources are used
Sources are chosen in this order: the Quran first, then the hadith collections of al-Bukhari and Muslim, and then other collections such as al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Malik. The sirah books, mainly Ibn Ishaq as transmitted by Ibn Hisham, are used only for details not found in the hadith, and these are marked as “recorded in the sirah books.” Dates in the Christian era are approximate, and hadith numbers follow the hadith library of this website.
Hadith numbers follow the hadith library on this site, and each source opens its hadith there. Details that are not in the hadith collections are marked as coming from the sirah books.
General information for learning, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.