He·gi·ra / hiˈjīrə; ˈhejərə/ (also He·ji·ra or Hij·ra / ˈhijrə/ ) • n. Muhammad's departure from Mecca to Medina in ad 622, prompted by the opposition of the merchants of Mecca and marking the consolidation of the first Muslim community. ∎  the Muslim era reckoned from this date: the second century of the Hegira. See also AH. ∎  (hegira) an exodus or migration.

Hegira Muhammad's departure from Mecca to Medina in ad 622, prompted by the opposition of the merchants of Mecca and marking the consolidation of the first Muslim community. The name comes (via medieval Latin) from Arabic hijra ‘departure’, from hajara ‘emigrate’.

The abbreviation AH (from Latin anno Hegirae) means ‘in the year of the Hegira’, and is used in the Muslim calendar for reckoning years from the departure from Mecca.

Hegira (Arab. Hejira, breaking off of relations) Flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in ad 622 in order to escape persecution. The Islamic calendar begins in 622.

hegira, hejira Muslim era. XVI. — medL. hegira — Arab. hijra departure (spec. al-hijra the flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in A.D. 622, from which the Muslim era is reckoned), f. hajara separate, go away.

Hegira (migration of Muḥammad): see HIJRA.