Hijrah, (Arabic: "Migration" or "Emigration") the Prophet Muhammad's migration (622 CE) from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina) upon invitation in order to escape persecution.

Uthman Dan Fodio's appeal to justice and morality rallied the outcasts of Hausa society. He found his followers among the Fulbe and Fulani. The Fulbe and Fulani were primarily cattle pastoralists. These pastoralist communities were led by the clerics living in rural communities who were Fulfude speakers and closely connected to the pastoralists. The Fulani would later hold the most important offices of the new states. Hausa peasants, runaway slaves, itinerant preachers, and others also responded to Uthman's preaching. His jihad served to integrate a number of peoples into a single religio-political movement.

They were both inspired by Allah.