Understanding the Hijras: An Islamic Historical Event and Third-Gender Group in South Asia

Tell me who the 'hijras' are?

Final answer:

The term 'hijras' refers to an important Islamic historical event and also a third-gender group in South Asia. The hijra in Islamic history marks Muhammad's emigration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, beginning the Islamic calendar. Separately, the hijras in South Asia are individuals with a gender identity that is neither exclusively male nor female.

Explanation:

The term 'hijras' can refer to two different contexts. Firstly, it is an Arabic term meaning "emigration" that describes a defining moment in early Islamic history, when Muhammad and his community fled Mecca for Medina in 622 CE. This event is known as the hijra or emigration and represents a watershed moment, transforming Islam from a small religion into a larger community united by Muhammad. It holds such importance that the Islamic lunar calendar starts from this date, denoted as 622 AH (After the Hijra).

Secondly, used in a different context, hijras are members of a third-gender group predominantly known in South Asian countries like India. They are usually individuals who were assigned male at birth but later adopt feminine gender identity. Hijras have a long history in the region and are recognized in some parts of South Asia as a third gender, having their own unique societal roles. Kira Hall's study focuses on how Hindi-speaking hijras in India navigate gender identities through language, and how they have developed their own secret language to communicate and signal their identity to each other.