Muhammad completes the Hijrah. On September 24, 622, the Prophet Muhammad escaped death by completing the Hijrah, or “flight” from Mecca to Medina. Mecca is the birthplace of the great prophet and the sacred heart of Islam. In 610, in a cave on Mount Hira, north of the city, Muhammad had a vision in which God commanded him to become a prophet of the “true religion.” His following in the city was larger, and the authorities, concerned about his rise, plotted to kill him. Having escaped the plot, Muhammad reached Medina on September 24. There he founded and organized the Islamic community. In 630, he returned to Mecca as a conqueror. The Hijrah subsequently marked the beginning (year 1) of the Muslim calendar.
