The Prophet’s
Migration to Medina
Biography of the Final
Messenger of Allah
The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) came to Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) and told him that Allah (Almighty) had given him permission to migrate from Mecca. Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) exclaimed, “Together, O Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) of Allah?”; for he was anxious to keep him company.” Then Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) presented two dromedaries he had been keeping in time for the purpose. ‘Abdallah Ibn Urayqit was hired by Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) to act as a guide.
The Strange Inconsistency
The unbelieving Quraysh of Mecca were bitterly set against the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم). Yet they were absolutely convinced of his truthfulness and trustworthiness, nobility and magnanimity. If anybody in Mecca apprehended loss or misappropriation of his property, he usually deposited it with the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم). The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) had thus a number of things committed to his care. He, therefore, charged ‘Ali to return these to their owners before leaving Mecca.
Of a fact, such a square dealing at this critical moment is a strange commentary on the nobility of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) as well as the callousness thus clarified by Allah (Almighty).
“We know well how their talk grieveth thee, though in truth they deny not thee (Muhammad) but evil-doers flout the revelations of Allah.”[Surat An-Aam:33]
Moral Lesson
Derived From Migration
The migration of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) illustrates the principle that everything howsoever coveted by one, ought to be sacrificed for the sake of one’s faith or ideal. Worldly estate and effects or any other thing that a man is disposed to value can never take the place of his faith nor can the faith be bartered away for the entire world. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his own soul.
Mecca was the birthplace of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم). As the homeland of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) of Allah (Almighty) and his companions, it must have had an attraction for all of them. Then, it had also the house of Allah (Almighty), loved and adored by them like the light of one’s eye but nothing stood in the way of bidding farewell to their hearts and homes, families and kinsmen. This was due to the fact that the pagans of Mecca would not allow them the freedom of conscience and liberty to practice their faith.
The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) loved Mecca but he valued his faith more. One was a natural feeling of affection and the other an insatiable thirst of soul. We find the two tenderest feelings of human nature articulately expressed by the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) while leaving Mecca. “What a nice city thou art and how ardently I love thee.
Had my people not exiled me, I would have never settled anywhere save in the city.” (Tirmidhi, Chap. Fadl Mecca) The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) had, in truth and reality, to leave his homeland in quest of the divine command.
“O my bondmen who believe! Lo! My earth is spacious. Therefore serve Me only.” [Surat: Ankabut:56]
Towards The Cave
of MT.Thawr
The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) and Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) stealthily proceeded to the cave of Mt. Thawr. Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) instructed his son ‘Abdallah to find out the hostile plans and conversations of the Meccans concerning them and then relay these to him. Furthermore, he asked Amir Ibn Fuhayrah, his slave, to feed his flocks of milch ewe by the day and bring food for them in the evening. Asma, his daughter, used to bring food for them at night.
Miracle of Love
The flame of love is the light of Heaven that illuminates the soul. It has been, ever since the creation of this world, the most ardent passion of human heart, advising, directing and guiding man along the right path in moments of danger. It is like the worried expression of one mad about something, for the innermost instinct of such a man is never remiss and is able to perceived even the slightest danger to his greedily desired object.
Such were the feelings of Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) about the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) of Allah during this journey.
It is related that when the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) set out for the cave on Mt. Thawr, Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) sometimes went ahead of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) and then behind him, until the prophet noticed his restlessness and asked, Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), what’s the matter? Often you come behind me and sometimes you go ahead!”
Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) replied, “O Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) of God, when I think of those pursuing you, I come behind you but then I apprehend an ambuscade so that I go in front of you.” (25)
When the two arrived at the cave in Mt. Thawr, Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) requested the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) to wait until he had searched and cleaned up the cave. So, he went in, explored it and came out after cleaning up.
Then he remembered that he had not properly searched one hole. He again asked the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) to wait a bit so he can check it for the second time around. Only then did he allow the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) to enter the cave after he had fully convinced himself that it did not harbor wild beasts or reptiles anymore.
The Celestial Assistance
After the two companions had entered the cave, a spider spinned its web across the mouth of the cave on a bush at the entrance, concealing the Apostle from those who might look into it. Thereafter came two doves which fluttered over the cave for some time and then sat down to lay eggs there,
”Allah’s are host of the heaven and the earth.”
[Surat Al-Fath: Ayah 7]
The Most Critical
Moment of Human History
The most critical moment of the world’s history, when the fate of mankind hanged by a thread, drew near as the Qurayshite horsemen on the look out for the two fugitives galloping over the desert came to the cave where the two had secluded themselves. The world was on a standstill, holding its breath in suspense: would a dark and disastrous future lie ahead for humanity or was it to take the most favorable turn?
The pursuers, who stood debating among themselves at the mouth of the cave, resolved that nobody could be inside it. One may think it is fantastic or miraculous but it was how Allah (Almighty) helped His Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم).
“Then Allah caused His peace of reassurance to descend upon him and supported him with hosts ye cannot see.” [Qur’an 9:40]
Lo! Allah Is With Us
Peeringly, Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) looked over his head. He saw the blood-thirsty warriors of the Quraysh standing at the mouth of the cave. Then he said to his companion with a trembling heart, “O Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) of Allah, they will see us if anybody steps forward.” “What misgivings have you,” replied the Prophet, “about the two with whom the third is Allah?” (Al-Bukhaari, Kitab-ul-Tafsir) It was as if to remind that at this event, the revelation came down from Allah (Almighty):
“When they two were in the cave, when he said to his comrade: Grieve not, Lo! Allah is with us.” [Qur’an 9:40]
Suraqa Follows Up
The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم)
The Quraysh offered a reward of one hundred camels to anyone who brought back the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم), dead or alive. On the other hand, the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) spent three nights in the cave and then guided by ‘Amir Ibn Fuhayrah went along the road by the sea-coast. Suraqa Ibn Malik Ibn Ju’shum heard of the price set by the Quraysh on the head of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) and hurried after him. The reward of hundred camels was too tempting for him that he got up on his mare and went after fugitives tracking their footstep. He let his mare run swiftly until he nearly over-took the fugitives.
But, lo, his mare stumbled abruptly, and hitherto, he was thrown off. He rose up, composed himself, and remounted the mare, and let her go ahead. Once more, the mare stumbled and he was again thrown off, but nevertheless continued the chase until he could see the three men going ahead. Suddenly, his mare stumbled for the third time, its fore-legs sinking up to the knees on the ground, and he was thrown off once again. He also saw dust rising from the ground like a sandstorm.
Suraqa was now convinced that the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) was protected against him and he would not in any case triumph over the latter. He called out saying that he was Suraqa Ibn Ju’shum and that he would not inflict any harm to them. The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) ordered Abu Bakr (radiallahu ‘anhu) to ask him what he wants from them. Suraqa replied, “Write for me a warrant of security.”
Thereupon the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) ordered ‘Amir Ibn Fuhayrah to write the warrant which he wrote on a piece of tanned leather or bone. Suraqa preserved the document forever long as a memento of sorts. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, pp. 489-90; Al-Bukhari, Chap. Hijratun Nabi)
A Prediction
The Prophet of God (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) had been driven out of his homeland and the enemy pursuing him was after his blood, but his mind’s eye was envisioning the day when his followers would be trampling upon the realms of Ceasars and Chosroes. In those adverse circumstances, in the darkest hour of his life, he made a prediction of the bright times ahead. To Suraqa he said, “Suraqa, how would you feel when you would put on Chosroes’ bracelets?” Allah (Almighty) has indeed promised succor, victory and prosperity to His Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) and the triumphant ascendancy of His Religion of Truth.
“He it is who hath sent His messenger with the guidance and the Religion of Truth, that He may cause it to prevail over all religions, however much the disbelievers may averse.” [Qur’an 9:33]
Those who cannot see beyond the material agency of causes and effects would shrug their shoulders at this prediction: the Quraysh discarded the forebodings of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) as incredulous and inconceivable, but the foreseeing Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) was peeping into the future:
“Lo! Allah faileth not to keep the tryst.” [Qur’an 13:31]
And the events took shape exactly in the same way as the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) had foretold Suraqa. When Persia was conquered and the tiara, robe and the bracelets of Chosroes were brought to ‘Umar, he sent for Suraqa and asked him to put on the royal dress. (Al-Isti’ah, Vol. II, p. 597)
Suraqa took the warrant of security for he was by then convinced of the victory of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم). He offered some provisions and utensils, but the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) accepted nothifrom him. He simply said to Suraqa, “Keep our whereabouts secret.”
The Blessed Host
Abu Bakr (radiallahu ‘anhu) and the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) passed by the tent of Umm M’abad, a woman of Khuza’a, who had milk ewe but its udder had dried up owing to drought.
Allah’s Messenger (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) wiped its udder with his hand and mentioning the name of Allah the most High, he prayed that Umm M’abad might have a blessing in her ewe. It then gave a flow of milk. He first gave Umm M’abad and others a drink until all of them were fully satisfied, then he drank knowing everyone was thru. He milked it the second time around and when the vessel was full, left it with her.
When Abu M’abad came back and his wife told him about the prodigious happening and the angelic stranger, he replied, “By God, he appears to be the same man of the Quraysh whom they are prowling after.”
They continued their journey with the guide until they reached Quba in the vicinity of Madinah. This was Monday, the 12th day of Rabi ul-Awwal. (24th September, 622 A.D.) A new era was indeed commencing, because it was from the start of this year that the Islamic calendar of Hijrah took its humble beginnings!
Jabal Thawr – جبل ثور
Jabal Thawr (Mount Bull) is the name of a mountain in Saudi Arabia, located in the lower part of Mecca to the south of the district of Misfalah. Height of the mountain is 1,405 m (4,610 ft).
Cave
The Mountain is notable for housing a cave known as Ghar al-Thawr ( Cave of the Bull), in which the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and his companion Abu Bakr hid from their persecuters, the Quraish, during the migration to Medina. For the hadith, see Abu Bakr Migration to Medina. The cave is still visited by a very small number of the pilgrims while observing the Hajj—the small number is due to its distance from Mecca.[citation needed]
Story of Prophet
Muhammad and Abu Bakr
During the Hijrah, Muhammad and Abu Bakr took refuge in this cave, with the help of Abu Bakr’s family and slave. When the Quraish came to look for them, Abu Bakr worriedly told Muhammad that they were only two people, but Muhammad assured him that Allah was the third in the cave. When the Quraish reached the cave, they thought that nobody could go to a cave with a spider web spread across the mouth and birds nesting near it.
Jabal Thawr
Jabal Thawr is the mountain that contains the cave in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) sought refuge for three days and nights from the Quraysh, as they left Makkah and emigrated to Madinah.
When the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived at the cave on Mount Thawr, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) entered first to clear away anything that might injure the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He found a few holes and stuffed them with pieces of cloth.
The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) then entered and went to sleep on Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) lap.
Suddenly, something stung Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) foot, but he did not twitch, fearing he would wake the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The pain was so intense that tears began to run down his cheeks and onto the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) face. The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) woke up and saw that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was in pain. He applied his spittle on the injury and the pain disappeared.
For three consecutive nights the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) remained hidden in the cave. During this period, Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) son, Abdullah, would pass his nights nearby. The young man would return to Makkah very early in the morning so that the Quraysh had no idea that he had slept elsewhere. Each day in Makkah he collected information about the activities of the Quraysh, and each night went back to Jabl Thawr to inform the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and his father Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).
Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) slave, Amir bin Fuhayra (may Allah be pleased with him), would graze Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) goats near the cave so that both men could drink fresh milk. Early the next morning Amir would drive the goats back to Makkah along the same route that Abu Bakr’s (may Allah be pleased with him) son took, to obscure his footprints.
When they were inside Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) sent a spider to spin a web from a bush across the entrance to the cave. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) also commanded two doves to fly down between the spider and the tree, make a nest and lay eggs. Meanwhile the Quraysh search party scoured the area south of Makkah where the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) where hiding. They came upon the mouth of the cave, and had they looked down while standing at the edge of the cave, they would have surely found the men they were hunting.
With the Quraysh so close to discovering their hiding place, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) became very tense about the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) safety. The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) reassured him, “How can you be apprehensive about two with whom is a third, especially when the third one is Allah?”
On seeing the spider’s web and dove nest, the Quraysh concluded that no one could have entered the cave and left.
Describing this scene the Quran mentions in Surah Taubah:
“If ye help not (your leader), (it is no matter): for Allah did indeed help him, when the Unbelievers drove him out: he had no more than one companion; they two were in the cave, and he said to his companion, “Have no fear, for Allah is with us”: then Allah sent down His peace upon him, and strengthened him with forces which ye saw not, and humbled to the depths the word of the Unbelievers. But the word of Allah is exalted to the heights: for Allah is Exalted in might, Wise.“[9:40]
After three days when they learnt that the search by the Quraysh had petered out they left the cave and headed towards Yathrib (Madinah). Asma (may Allah be pleased with her), the daughter of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) came to them bringing food for the journey.
When they were about to start she could find nothing to tie it to their saddles and so she undid her waistband, tore it in two, wore half and tied the food with the other half. This ready solution won her praise from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) who also named her ‘She of the two waistband’. And after that the Muslims knew her by that name.
References: When the Moon Split – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, The Life of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
8 Famous Mountains & Caves Referenced in Islamic History
As a kid growing up in Saudi Arabia, I have had my fair share of adventures climbing mountains and hills of all kinds. Fortunately, I’ve also had the opportunity to climb and see some of these mountains known for being mentioned in Islamic history in one place or another. I started to think of all the famous mountains or caves that I have come across either while reading or simply because they are known for their significance due to being attributed to someone or something special. Here are 8 famous ones that I could think of:
Mountain of Noor (Cave of Hira)
Mount Hira
Jabal al-Noor (Mountain of Noor), located in Makkah is perhaps one of the most famous and well known mountains in the Muslim world. At the top of the mountain is the famous cave of Hira where Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) used to go worship primarily before the declaration of his Prophethood. At the age of 40, it was in this cave where the first revelation was revealed to him by the angel Jibraeel.
Cave of Thawr
The cave of Thawr is on top of a mountain located on the outskirts of Makkah. This is the cave where the Prophet (pbuh) hid in during the migration with Abu Bakr, as the enemies tried to track him down in order to kill him. However, once inside the cave, through the miracle of Allah (swt), a spider made a web on the entrance of the cave and a bird laid eggs outside of it. This caused the enemies, who were being led by one of the best trackers of the time to ignore the cave as they assumed that no one could have entered it without disturbing the nest and breaking the web.
Mountain of Abu Qubais
The mountain of Abu Qubais is also located in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Today it is better recognized by the large tunnels carved through it, but this mountain is considered to be the very first mountain on earth. Furthermore, it was also on this mountain that the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) performed the miracle of the splitting of the moon. It was also on this mountain that Abdul Muttalib (ra) went to when Abraha was coming to attack the Ka’ba.
Cave of As’haab al-Kahf
The story of the Companions of the Cave is well documented in the Qur’an (in Surah Kahf). These few men escaped their homeland and on the way entered into a cave where they fell asleep. By the will of Allah (swt) they ended up sleeping for a few centuries and woke up not even realizing initially that they had slept this long. While the location of the cave itself is disputed, alleged cave locations can still be visited today in Jordan, Syria and even in China!
Cave of Prophet Ibrahim
During the time of Nimrod, he was informed that there would be a boy who would bring destruction to his kingdom. Nimrod ordered the women and men to be separated; however the mother of Ibrahim (as) conceived him on the same night (and showed no signs of pregnancy by the miracle of Allah [swt]).
Nearing the birth, she left the house and went to a cave where she gave birth to Prophet Ibrahim (as). She left him in this cave, and closed the mouth of the cave with a boulder. It was in this cave where Prophet Ibrahim (as) initially grew up. Allah (swt) caused milk to flow from his thumb. It is said that Ibrahim (as) grew at a much faster pace than a normal child. In a day he would grow up as much as what a normal child would grow up in a month (or some say a week).
Mount Sinai
The mountain of Sinai (referenced in Surah Teen) is a mountain located in Egypt. It was on this mountain where Prophet Musa (as) conversed with Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and received divine commandments. Today the mountain is visited by Jews, Christians and Muslim tourists alike.
Mount Judi
The mountain where the ark of Nuh (as) came to rest; it has also been mentioned by name in the Qur’an. Allamah Majlisi records in his Hayat al Qulub the following:
From authentic traditions it is quoted from Imam Musa Ibn Ja‘far that when Nuh boarded the ship and started sailing by the order of Allah, Allah revealed to the mountains, “I want to make my servant, Nuh stay on one of you.”
Hearing this all the mountains raised their heads except for Mount Judi in Mosul. It remained humble and modest and said, “I am not worthy enough that Nuh’s Ark may berth upon me.” Allah appreciated the humility and designated the ship to halt on Mount Judi. Hence, when the ship touched, Mount Judi trembled, The people thought the ship might wreak and sink. Nuh looked out from a small window of the ship and said, “My Lord! Steady the boat!” And in some traditions it has come that he said, “O Sustainer do us a favor!”
Mountain of Arafat
Also known as Jabal al-Rahmah (Mountain of Mercy); it is one of the most important areas that the Hajj pilgrims go to. It is also the location where the Prophet (pbuh) delivered one of his last farewell sermons. It was here that Prophet Adam (as) and his wife Hawa met after being separated for many years and their repentance was accepted by Allah (سبحانه و تعالى).
Some other prominent mountains that are also well known include Mount Safa and Marwah, between which the pilgrims and those performing Umrah do the act of Sa’ee. The mountain of Uhad is another famous one; this is where the Muslim archers were placed during the battle of Uhad.
Source: Iqraonline.net
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