Hijra (Arabic: هجرة; romanised hijrah, hejira, hegira) literally means "migration" or "emigration." The word derives from a Semitic root conveying departure or leaving one place for another and is cognate with related terms in other languages. In Islamic history the most prominent reference is the Prophet Muhammad’s move from Mecca to Yathrib (later Medina) in 622 CE; that event is conventionally called the Hijra and provides the epoch for the Islamic (Hijri) lunar calendar. For notes on etymology and comparative usage see etymological references.

Major migrations described as Hijra

Early Muslim sources speak of several migrations (hijrāt) undertaken by the first community to escape persecution or to establish a new communal base. Key episodes include:

  • Migration to Abyssinia (circa 615 CE): A group of early converts sought refuge under the Christian kingdom of Aksum; this move is often described as the first emigration and illustrates early transregional ties.
  • Local movements during the Meccan boycott (c. 617–619): Social and economic sanctions against Muhammad’s clan prompted hardship and temporary relocations among followers.
  • The Hijra to Medina (622 CE): The migration from Mecca to Yathrib established a new political and religious community; because the Hijra marks year 1 in the Hijri calendar, it has continued chronological and symbolic importance.

Significance and the Hijri calendar

The Hijra to Medina is significant for several reasons: it transformed the social and political structure of the early Muslim community, enabled the establishment of new institutions, and became the reference point for the Islamic lunar calendar. The Hijri calendar is used to regulate religious observances such as Ramadan and the Hajj; because it is lunar, the Hijri year is shorter than a solar year and therefore cycles through the seasons.

Hijra as a social identity in South Asia

In South Asia the term "Hijra" denotes a culturally distinct category often described in English as a "third gender." Prominent in parts of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, hijra communities historically include transgender women, intersex people and others who do not conform to a male–female binary. Members have served social and ritual roles—such as performing at births and weddings—and traditionally form kinship-like households with recognised elders and internal norms. Contemporary legal recognition, social status and access to rights vary by country; in some states governments and courts have moved to recognise third-gender or transgender identities and to address discrimination. For discussion of social and legal aspects see studies of hijra communities.

Spelling variants and cultural uses

English spellings such as hejira and hegira have been used in literary and artistic contexts to evoke migration, exile or spiritual journey. "Hejira" is known as the title of a 1976 album by Joni Mitchell and its title song; "hegira" appears in speculative fiction as a term for large-scale exodus or departure, for example in novels and series that imagine humanity’s migration beyond Earth. The word also appears in gaming and popular culture as a motif of diaspora or escape. See examples in music and fiction listed resources.

Distinctions and careful use

Although these meanings share a common linguistic root, they refer to distinct phenomena: a foundational historical event and chronological era within Islam; an ongoing social and gender identity in South Asia; and metaphorical or thematic uses in literature, music and popular culture. Context is essential: in religious and historical writing hijra most often evokes the early Muslim emigrations and the Hijri era, while in social and anthropological contexts it denotes communities and identities in South Asia.

Further notes and reading

Scholars treat the historical Hijra as both an event and a symbol, examining its political consequences, ritual commemoration and place in Muslim legal and chronological systems. Anthropologists and gender studies scholars investigate hijra communities’ history, ritual roles, kinship structures and contemporary legal struggles. For introductory overviews, etymological discussions and cultural references follow cross-disciplinary studies and accessible summaries at reliable reference sites and specialist works (etymology), (social studies) and (cultural listings).

  1. Core senses: migration/emigration, calendrical epoch, South Asian social identity, and cultural metaphor.
  2. Related terms: muḥājirūn (emigrants), hijrī (relating to the Hijra).
  3. Fields of study: Islamic history, calendar studies, gender and sexuality studies, and literary/cultural criticism.