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Glite Dictionary
Hejira

Hejira

9.9
The journey of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 that starts the Islamic calendar
  • noun
  • /hɪˈdʒɪrə/
: Hejira
  • During the Hejira, Muhammad and his followers faced many challenges as they journeyed to Medina.

That is to say, the Islamic calendar starts with the hejira.

Examples

  • The Islamic calendar begins with the Hejira, which symbolizes the start of a new era for the Muslim community.

  • When pondering the urge to flee: Joni Mitchell, Hejira.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Joni Mitchell, "Hejira," 1976

    Academic text (2014)

  • The Hejira marked a significant point in Islamic history as Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD.

Synonyms

hijra
vsHejira
1 9.7

The journey of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina that marks the start of the Islamic calendar

has identical meaning but is an alternative spelling form
Hegira
vsHejira
1 9.9

A journey by Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 that marks the start of the Muslim calendar

has identical meaning but is an older variant spelling

Surface Forms

Hejira singular
Hejiras plural

Etymology

Hejira comes from the Arabic word hijra, which means 'migration' or 'departure'. It names Muhammad's move from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD, so the term is used for that great journey and marks the start of the Islamic calendar.