hijra: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialist / Historical / Academic / Religious
Quick answer
What does “hijra” mean?
The migration of the Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The migration of the Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
In broader historical and religious contexts, it can refer to a similar migration or exodus of a Muslim community for religious reasons. The term is also the root for "Hegira," the Latinized version often used in historical texts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical, though British texts may more commonly retain the original Arabic transliteration "hijra," while older American historical texts sometimes prefer the Latinized "Hegira."
Connotations
Connotes foundational Islamic history. No negative or positive charge outside this context.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general English; appears almost exclusively in texts about Islamic history or world history.
Grammar
How to Use “hijra” in a Sentence
The Hijra [occurred/took place] in 622 CE.The calendar begins with the Hijra.They made their hijra to [place].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hijra” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The early community would hijra to safer lands.
American English
- They planned to make hijra to escape persecution.
adjective
British English
- The Hijra year is shorter than the Gregorian year.
American English
- The Hegira calendar is central to Islamic dating.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, religious studies, and Middle Eastern studies contexts.
Everyday
Extremely rare outside of specific religious or historical discussion.
Technical
Used as a precise historical marker (AH - Anno Hegirae).
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hijra”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hijra”
- Pronouncing it as 'hi-jeer-ah' (common misreading).
- Confusing it with the unrelated South Asian term.
- Using it as a general synonym for any migration.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Hijra' is typically /ˈhɪdʒrə/, while 'Hegira' is often /hɪˈdʒaɪrə/ or /ˈhɛdʒɪrə/. They refer to the same event.
No. In English, it is strongly associated with the specific Islamic event. Using it for other migrations would be atypical and potentially confusing.
'Hijra' is a direct transliteration from Arabic. 'Hegira' is a Latinized version that entered English through medieval Latin and French, common in older Western historical writing.
No, they are homographs (same spelling) but have completely different etymologies and meanings. They are distinct words that happen to be spelled the same in the Roman alphabet.
The migration of the Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
Hijra is usually specialist / historical / academic / religious in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Year of the Hijra”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HIStory begins with his Journey: The Prophet's HI-JRa (Hijra) to Medina.'
Conceptual Metaphor
A JOURNEY is a new beginning; A FOUNDATIONAL MOMENT is a point of origin.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'Hijra' in an English historical context?