Hijrah Search Optimizer: A Spiritual Migration-Inspired Metaheuristic Algorithm for Solving Engineering Design Problems

This study develops the Hijrah Search Optimizer (HSO), a novel metaheuristic algorithm inspired by the Islamic concept of hijrah , the spiritual migration from unfavorable conditions (Makkah) toward a better state (Madinah). The simulation of migration behavior includes strategies such as moving openly, moving covertly (following a guide and taking an unusual route), and opportunity control mechanisms that switch between these movements, culminating in convergence upon arrival at a better state. HSO is evaluated using a comprehensive set of mathematical benchmark functions and applied to a series of engineering design problems. These benchmark functions are used to validate HSO’s performance, which is compared with several well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The results demonstrate that HSO outperforms existing algorithms in solving mathematical benchmark functions including thirty standard functions and CEC-2020 test suite. Additionally, HSO is successfully applied to engineering design problems, including welded beam and truss structure designs, where it not only achieves superior performance but also requires fewer objective function evaluations. These findings indicate that HSO is a promising metaheuristic algorithm for solving complex optimization problems.