Question

1. Why did Muhammad move from Mecca to Medina?
2. When did Muhammad move from Mecca to Medina?

3. Why did Muhammad return to Mecca?

4. What made Medina an important city to followers of Islam?

Answer 1

1. Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina (then known as Yathrib) primarily to escape persecution and hostility he faced in Mecca from the Quraysh tribe. Following his message of monotheism, he gained followers but also encountered significant opposition. The migration, known as the Hijra, offered him a safer environment where he could practice his faith freely and build a supportive community.

2. Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina in the year 622 CE. This event marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar, known as the Hijri calendar.

3. Muhammad returned to Mecca in 630 CE after having established a strong community of followers in Medina and after a series of conflicts and negotiations with the Quraysh. His return was largely peaceful, culminating in the conquest of Mecca, where he effectively took control of the city and established Islam as the dominant religion there.

4. Medina became an important city to followers of Islam because it served as the first Islamic state and community, where Muhammad established a social and political order based on Islamic principles. The city was where the Muslim community was formed and thrived, and it served as a base for spreading Islam. Additionally, it is home to significant historical sites, including the Prophet's Mosque (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi), which is the second holiest site in Islam after the Kaaba in Mecca.