Chapter 11
Hijrah – Emigrate to Madinah
622 AD
Hijrah an Arabic word that means migration of Rasulullah ﷺ from Makkah to Madinah. This took place in the 13th years of his Prophet Hood. As foretold in the earlier chapters that the Quraysh had left Muslims with no other choice but to flee for their lives. When they realized that the Muslim migrated in large numbers to Madinah and were achieving a considerable measure of success, their fury knows no bounds. The chiefs of all the tribes assembled at Darul a Nadwa to decide on the next best course to pursue and unanimously agreed that the assassination was the only thing that could achieve their purpose. But to assassinate in those days meant, as already pointed out, starting a tribal feud. This seemed, at first, a difficulty, whilst Abu Jahal came forward with the plan that not one man should do the business, but threat stalwarts and young men selected from all the clan should do so, and thus remove the causes for tribal bloodshed.
While the Quraysh were maturing their plans, the word of Allah came to Rasulullah ﷺ, telling him not to sleep that night in his bed, while he (Rasulullah ﷺ) himself would escape, and meet Sayidina Abu Bakar RA at an appointed place. Sayidina Ali RA had to be left behind because the Prophet had a trust to discharge towards certain people, and since he was leaving it was for Sayidina Ali RA to undertake the duty. Sayidina Abu Bakar was similarly informed and instructed to make the necessary preparations for flight, after which Rasulullah ﷺ returned to his house. Soon after it was dusk, all the selected youths of the Quraysh laid siege to the house of Rasulullah ﷺ returned to his house. Soon after it was dusk, all the selected youths of Quraysh laid siege to the house of the Rasulullah ﷺ, so that none might come out or go in.
They waited for Rasulullah ﷺ to appear
so that they fall upon him and kill him.
At dead of night, Rasulullah ﷺ left the house, passing through this same
bunch of besiegers who, in their excitement failed to recognize him. All night
they kept peeping through a hole in the door and were quite content to see
somebody sleeping in the bed. Late in the morning when the youth getting
impatient and guessing that something was wrong, rushed into the house, they
found Sayidina Ali RA lying in bed instead of Rasulullah ﷺ. Rasulullah ﷺ
himself after leaving the house, went to the appointed place where he met
Sayidina Abu Bakr, and left with him for Madinah, hiding first in
the cave of Thur, three miles from Makkah. The caves of Thur and Hira are both
important elements in the history of Islam. A significant milestone in the
Prophecy of Rasulullah ﷺ for from one the call is received, and from the other
a new life was infused into the mission of the revelation of the divine
religion – Islam.
When the Quraysh
found Sayidina Ali RA in bed instead of Rasulullah ﷺ they were first
dumbfounded, and then furious so that Sayidina Ali RA did not escape severe
injury. They summoned an emergency meeting and a big reward for the capture of Rasulullah
ﷺ was proclaimed throughout the city. Not content with this they sent out
tracking parties to comb the neighborhood for the fugitive. One of these
parties, actually following the footprints of the pursued, arrived at the
mouth of the cave Thur. Sayidina Abu Bakr RA, hearing them despaired and said
that they were lost being but two and the enemy so many. But, Rasulullah ﷺ
replied:
“We are three, for Allah
is with us and will protect us.”
There is surely no example in history of the world of a man
expressing such faith and displaying such calm and tranquility as did Rasulullah
ﷺ in the face of complete disaster and certain death. The enemy was at the
cave’s mouth, armed to the teeth, eager to kill, fierce with rage, and thirsty
for blood, but Rasulullah ﷺ tells the only companion with him not to despair,
but to take heart because Allah Rabbul Jalalluh was with them. And it was Allah
indeed who saved them from certain death: It was Allah's voice from above that
kept his heart and head steady and told him not to fear. Allah came to him to
save him, for he was serving Allah Rabbul Jalalluh.
The enemy, having
reached the mouth of the cave, lost the trace of their footsteps; a sure sign
to them that the both Rasulullah ﷺ and Sayidina Abu Bakr ra whom they were
pursuing so intensely was somewhere at hand. One of them suggested searching
the cave, and if they had done it they would have succeeded both in killing and
crushing the faith. But Allah Rabbul Jalalluh had decreed otherwise. He had
ordained that His final Prophet must succeed, and, therefore he would not be
killed. Others heard the man advising a search of the cave laughed, told him
that they would not waste their time looking for him in a cave
over the mouth of which a spider’s web remained intact was waving in the
breeze. So they turned away to hunt in other places, little dreaming that by
doing so they had lost all chances of getting him. Rasulullah ﷺ remained three
days in the cave and was secretly supplied with food by the daughter of
Sayidina Abu Bakr RA – Saidatuna Asma, who is still in Makkah. When the work
was over and the coast was clear they came out of the cave, and with Abdullah
bin Uraykit, a nonmuslim, as their guide, they proceeded towards Madinah. Thus
avoiding all frequented and known paths, they went on, resting for the day on
account of the heat, and traveling only in the night.
Renouncing all the intention of murder at the behest of this inner voice, he approached Rasulullah
ﷺ and begged his forgiveness. Rasulullah ﷺ forgave him with a smile and
imparted to him the happy news that one day he would wear the gold bangles of
the rulers of Persia. This is a true Prophecy of an event that happened
twenty-four years later; for these words found fulfillment when the Empire of
Chosroes of Persia fell to the sword of Sayidina Omar Ibn Al Khattab RA and
Suraqa was sent for decorated with bangles.
The steadfastness
and perfect tranquility displayed by Rasulullah ﷺ in every sort of vicissitude
is attributable to the Divine revelations that came to him from time to time.
For example;
From this verse Rasulullah ﷺ gathered that he would one day
return to Makkah in triumph; for he loved the city of his birth dearly, and was
much grieved at leaving it. Even about the plight Rasulullah ﷺ was informed
through revelation long before the actual moment for it came. Therefore the Muslims knew that the success
of Islam would begin from Madinah. It was in the plight that the climax of Rasulullah
ﷺ’s helplessness was reached. Therefore, the Quran says that if the Makkan did
not help him, Allah Rabbul Jalalluh certainly did.
One day when thus journeying to Madinah
they we all hungry, so when they came to a village they approached an old woman
who was sitting at the door and asked her if she could give them anything to
eat. The women replied that she had nothing, not even her goats, whose milk she
could have given, except one, feeble and dried goat, and on permission being
given the goat gave enough milk to supply them all.
We know how Rasulullah
ﷺ had to work in Makkah in the teeth of bitter opposition. At every step
attempts were made to put an end to his teachings by force, bribery, and
cruelty. But Rasulullah ﷺ never for a second wavered from his mission. Rasulullah
ﷺ continued with all his spiritual and moral force; The result being that at
the end of thirteen years he had succeeded in converting about three hundred
people, who never for a single moment by thought, deed, or action hesitated to
lay down their all for him, in whose teachings they had implicit faith.
This no doubt the
greatest achievement of Rasulullah ﷺ, within so short period Makkah had been
rent into two factions which unmindful of the old landmarks of tribe and
family, had arrayed themselves in deadly opposition one against the other. The
believers bore persecution with patient and tolerant spirit, and though it was
their wisdom to do so, the credit of a magnanimous forbearance may be freely
accorded. One hundred men and women, rather than abjure their precious faith,
had abandoned home and sought refuge till the storm shall over past in Abyssinian exile. And now again a large
number, with Rasulullah ﷺ himself
emigrating from their fondly love city with the sacred site- Kaabah, to them the
holiest spot on earth and fleeing to Madinah. There the same marvelous charm
had within two or three years been preparing for them a brotherhood ready to
defend Rasulullah ﷺ and his companions and followers with their blood. To the
Jews in Madinah had long sounded in the ears of the men of Madinah, but it was
not until they heard the spirit-stirring
strains of the Arabian Prophet that they too awoke from slumber and
sprang suddenly into a new and earnest life. The virtues of his people may be described in the words of Rasulullah ﷺ himself..”
After eight days journey Rasulullah ﷺ and Sayidina Abu Bakr ra reached a place called Quba, three miles from Madinah. Rasulullah ﷺ stayed there fourteen days, in which time a mosque was built which is still frequented by Muslim after their pilgrimage to Makkah.
Others that assisted emigration to Madinah- Hijra:
The attacks and conspiracies of the Quraysh infidels against Rasulullah
ﷺ became more intense. They also continue to try to harm Rasulullah ﷺ and his
companions. Rasulullah ﷺ then ordered his companions to secretly migrate to Madinah.
While Rasulullah ﷺ and some of his companions still live in Makkah. Rasulullah ﷺ
waited for the revelation of a verse from Allah to emigrate. Exactly on 26
Shafar 622 AD or exactly 17 June, Rasulullah ﷺ accompanied by Sayidina Abu
Bakr Ash Siddique ra went to Cave Thur. Rasulullah ﷺ told Abu Bakr that he had
to go on migration that night and appointed Abu Bakr to accompany him. The
event is recorded in the Book of Fathul Bari as quoted from the Quran library.
(HR. Bukhari) [No. 4093 Fathul
Bari] Sahih.
Thur Cave is one of the witnesses to the history of the life of
the Prophet. There, Rasulullah used to hide with Abu Bakr to avoid the pursuit
of the Quraish who wanted to kill him. That night, Rasulullah ﷺ managed to
sneak out of his house and managed to seduce the Quraysh who had been waiting
for him outside for a long time.
In the cave, Rasulullah ﷺ stayed for three days until the help that Sayidina Abu Bakr ra had prepared came. Companions participated in the hideout, who are they?
This one friend no longer needs to be explained for his services. He so often helped the struggle of Rasulullah ﷺ. When Rasulullah ﷺ hid in the cave of Thur, he always accompanied and gave a lot of help. Even before Rasulullah ﷺ entered the mouth of the cave; he was the one who ensured the safety of the cave.
Sayidina Abu Bakr ra also made his feet as a place to lean on Rasulullah ﷺ’s head while sleeping, even his feet to be bitten by a snake in order to cover the snake hole so as not to disturb Rasulullah ﷺ. Sayidina Abu Bakr RA also arranged the time and Rasulullah ﷺ’s vehicle when he came out of hiding in the cave of Thur.
In the afternoon he came to the cave of Thur and reported all the information obtained to Rasulullah ﷺ and his father. He remained in the cave until night, so that no one suspected that he was not in Makkah that night.
She was also the daughter of Sayidina Abu Bakr ra. He was on duty to follow Abdullah on his way to the cave of Thur while bringing food for his father and Rasulullah ﷺ. It was this food that made these two nobles survive in the cave for three days.
4. Amir bin Fuhairah
Amir was Sayidina Abu Bakr Ra's slave who herded Sayidina Abu Bakr Ra's goats every day. When Rasulullah ﷺ and Abu Bakr were in the cave of Thur, he took his goats to the cave of Thur. It was the goats that supplied drink to Rasulullah ﷺ and Sayidina Abu Bakr ra.
In the evening, he returned to follow in the footsteps of Abdullah and Sayidatuna Asma ra. Until the footsteps of the goats erased the footprints of Abdullah and Sayidatuna Asma ra, until no one knew.
5. Abdullah bin al-Urayqath
He was in charge of carrying the camel that Sayidina Abu Bakr
Ra's had prepared to bring Rasulullah ﷺ and Sayidina Abu Bakr Ra's out of the
cave. He also led the two nobles to migrate to the city of Yathrib, Madinah. He
was the guide of Rasulullah ﷺ migration to Madinah.
Other stories related to the hiding in Cave Thur, as what reveal in Al Quran: These are contrary to the true facts stated by Allah Rabbul Jalalluh in the Qur'an:
Allah Rabbul Jalalluh mentioned in Al Quran :
Al Quran: At Taubah Ayat 40
This means: "If you do not help him (Muhammad), then Allah has helped him." That is when the disbelievers (Musyrikin of Makkah) expelled him (from Makkah) while he was one of the two when they were both in the cave when he (Rasulullah ﷺ) said to his friend: “Do not grieve, for Allah with us. ” So Allah sent down tranquility to (Muhammad) and helped with an army that you did not see. "
This verse clearly shows that Allah Rabbul Jalalluh gave help to Rasulullah ﷺ with sakinah (tranquility) and with armies that cannot be seen with the naked eye, namely the Angels, not with Spiders making nests, not with two Pigeons and so on. That is why al-Baghawi said in his commentary:
Meaning: "They are the Angels who descended to turn the faces and eyes of the disbelievers away from seeing Sayidina Abu Bakr ra’s
In some hadiths, there are those who reinforce this meaning. Abu Naim narrated from Asma 'bint Sayidina Abu Bakr ra’s he said:
Meaning: “That Sayidina Abu Bakr ra saw a man heading to the cave, then he said:“ O Messenger of Allah! He is looking at us. ”
Rasulullah ﷺ said: "No! Indeed, the Angels are protecting him now with their wings. ” Soon the man sat peeing facing the two of them.
So Rasulullah ﷺ. said: “O Abu Bakr! If he saw, of course, he would not have done this. ”
*** This hadith is Sanadnya Hasan (Good) (Silsilah al-Ahadith ad-Dhoifah wa al-Maudhu’ah 3/261-264, With this evidence, it is clear that the belief that Rasulullah ﷺ protected by a Spider with its nest and two Pigeons nesting at the mouth of Thur's cave is not true. Therefore it is nothing more than a superstition.
