Dating Early Narratives of the Hijra
Keywords:
early Islamic, history of Hejaz, Muhammad , Hijra, Sīra, hadith, digital humanitiesAbstract
This study examines the progressive development of early Hijra narratives within the Islamic tradition. Using a novel method for dating semantic units within hadiths or motifs, it demonstrates that Hijra narratives were constructed over several decades, shaped by diverse transmitters and evolving historical contexts. An SQL (Structured Query Language) database was programmed to collect and trace these motifs, allowing for precise tracking of their transmission. The analysis identifies three key stages in the construction of the narrative: the early layers of narratives circulating at the end of the 1st/7th century, the addition of various anecdotes of persecution and divine protection during the first half of the 2nd/8th century, and a distinctive interpretation of the “Constitution” of Medina (ṣaḥīfat al-Madīna) by Ibn Isḥāq in the Sīra. The findings underscore the role of political factors, particularly the rise of the Abbasid state, in shaping a canonical version of the Hijra story to present a unified Muslim community. This approach offers a dynamic, multi-layered analysis of the evolution of Islamic historiography, challenging static interpretations and illustrating how these narratives were adapted to serve political purposes across centuries.
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