LECTURE 16 Migration to Madinah...

Caves?  Our religion started from a cave—Hira  Our calendar starts from a journey in which the Prophet (saw) and his companions hide from Quraysh in another cave for 3 days—Hira! Why?

All companions have already migrated to Madinah. The only ones left were the Prophet (saws), Abu-Bakr (raa) and their families.

Quraysh has to move fast... Quraysh realized that this Hijrah would lead to establishing a strong nation, which consequently would destroy Quraysh’s position. Therefore, a crucial meeting was held at Dar-al-Nadwa and was attended by all the leaders of Quraysh, such as Abu-Jahl and Abu-Sufyan.

Plan to assassinate... the Prophet (saws)-- sought to reach a plot. 1. The first suggestion was to expel him (saws) from their land. However, Abu-Jahl objected, stating that doing so would still allow him (saws) to establish a nation somewhere else. 2. The second was to chain him (SAWS) on a metal; however, Abu- Jahl once again objected, saying that he (saws) will be unchained. 3. The third was to find the sharpest swords and the strongest young men to kill him (saws) with one strong collective stab—so his blood is divided among all the tribes so not one is held accountable. They all agreed on that.

Young men gathered outside Where the Prophet (saws) was staying, waiting for him (saws) to come out in order to kill him (saws).

Jibril (as) comes to tell the Prophet (saw)  Before that, the angel Jibril (as) “Gabriel” descended and warned the Prophet (saws) not to stay the night because Quraysh had a murderous plot against him (saws).  Therefore, the Prophet (saws) went out in the afternoon, which is a rare time for him (saws) to go out in. He (saws) headed to Abu-Bakr (raa) and told him that Allah (SWT) had ordered him to make the Hijrah. Abu-Bakr (RA) cried with so much happiness to accompany the Prophet (saws) in this journey [Aisha (raa) tells us of Abu Bakr’s tears]

Abu Bakr wants to pay for everything... But Prophet (saw) refuses and insists on paying for the sake of receiving the rewards for that great day in our history...

Ali ibn Abu Taleb [23 yrs old] was to  sleep in the Prophet’s bed so that if Quraysh peeked in, they would think he (saws) was still inside.  Before that, the Prophet (saws) pointed to Ali Ibn- Abu-Taleb (raa) at some belongings he was entrusted with and who they belonged to so that he would return them.

Miracle...  The Prophet (saws) threw some soil reading the ayah where Allah says s, “And We have made before them (Literally: between their hands) a barrier and behind them a barrier, then We enveloped them, so they do not behold (the Truth)” (36:9).  The soil covered their heads and they dusted it off after the Prophet (saws) had left. They did not see a thing. He (saws) was finally able to leave with Abu-Bakr (raa).

Did not head to Al Madinah usual way... They both did not go North of Makkah to Madinah. Instead, they went South—because Quraysh would definitely anticipate they would and follow them...

They climbed up to the cave of Thawr  It takes about 2 hours and a half to reach it—300 ft high. He was fifty-three years old and Abu-Bakr (raa) was fifty-one.  The rocks now have been straightened to help people go up, but previously they were not. There is no path here but this one. Allah (SWT) prepared it for the Prophet (saws). It is truly an amazing place.

Hid there for 3 days...  The Prophet (saws) hid in the cavern of Thawr for three days.  Imagine him looking back at his homeland Makkah. It brings tears to his eyes as he (SAWS) expresses how Makkah is the most beloved to him. He said with tears in his hand, “Allah knows that you are the most beloved of lands to my heart [the mother of cities] and if it was not for your people driving me away, I would never have left.”

Prophet (saw) longed for Makkah... Surat Al-Qisas was revealed to him right here. Allah says, “And a man speedily came along from the remotest part of the city. He said, “O M ‍ ûsa, (Moses) surely the chiefs are conspiring to kill you. So go out (of the city). Surely I am one of the (sincere) advisers to you. So he went out of it, frightened and on the watch. He said, “Lord! Safely deliver me from the unjust people” (28:20-21). This continues until ayah 26, “…So when he came to him (i.e., to Shuaayb) and had narrated to him the narration, he said, “Do not fear (anything): you have (been) delivered from the unjust people” (28:26).

Promise to him... O, Prophet! you will return and win.  Meanwhile, Quraysh was surrounding the Prophet’s home and began to worry. They saw soil on their heads and wondered why the Prophet (saws) did not leave yet. Someone passing by mentioned that he saw the Prophet (saws) leave. They did not believe it, as they saw the Prophet (SAWS) was still in bed, as was planned.  Imagine how Ali (RA) would have felt. He (RA) was once asked how he (raa) slept that night. His answer was that it was the calmest night he (raa) ever spent.

They find Ali... When Quraysh awoke up, they found someone sleeping inside and saw that it was Ali (raa). They asked him where the Prophet (saw) was; he (raa) told them he did not know. So they thought that the only one who would know where the Prophet (saw) went would be Asmaa, Abu-Bakr’s daughter.

Asma Bin Abu Bakr... She was a great woman in Islam, who kept the secret. The Prophet (saws) and her father (raa) had faith in her, and this was an honor. No one would even be suspicious of her. Do you know why? Asmaa was seven-months pregnant. She went up to the cavern two times each day of those three days to bring them food. This is amazing for a woman who is in her condition. Hers was the first baby born in Madinah was Abd-Allah Ibnul-Zubair, whose mother was Asmaa, and he became a Caliph.

Quraysh heads to house of Abu Bakr His daughter Asmaa opened the door; they asked her where her father was. She would not tell them no matter how they disturbed her. They assumed that he must have headed North to Madinah.

Why is this particular day (the day of Hijrah considered the beginning of the Islamic calendar, while it does not start, for example, on the Prophet’s birthday or on the day of the Conquest of Makkah? The answer is that the greatest day of triumph is the day of hardship, when one was committed to the Message of Islam. It is a true proof of triumph and commitment. THE DAY OF THE START OF A NATION

The verse revealed in the cave It says what can be translated as, “ In case ever you do not vindicate him, (The prophet) yet Allah readily vindicated him, as the ones who disbelieved drove him out the second of two, as the two were in the cavern, as he said to his companion, “Grieve not; surely Allah is with us” (9:40).

Prophet’s plan for the journey Ali Ibn-Abu-Taleb (raa) sleeps on the Prophet’s bed to pretend he is the Prophet (saw). 2. The Prophet (saw) goes to Abu-Bakr’s house disguised, at a time he (saw) rarely goes out in. 3. He (saw) is careful to have no one hear him, so he (saw) tells Abu-Bakr (raa) that everyone in the house should leave them alone. Asmaa is in the house and Abu-Bakr (raa) said she is trustworthy. 4. He (saw) leaves from the back-door of the house, not from the front-door. 5. He (saw) does not head North to Madinah, but instead goes South.

6. Abdullah Ibn-Abu-Bakr is assigned to hunt for the news and inform them with it. 7. Asmaa is in charge of providing them with food in the cavern and no one will ever be suspicious of her, as she is seven-months pregnant. 8. Amer Ibn-Fehr is assigned to wipe out the footprints. 9. Ali Ibn-Abu-Taleb (raa), who do not know where they hide, gives back people’s belongings and distracts Quraysh’s attention away from the Prophet (saws). 10. Abu-Bakr (raa), in his turn, prepares two riding camels for the journey. 11. The Prophet (saw) hides in the cavern with his companion for three days till everything settles down and Quraysh gets tired of their failing attempts to chase after them along the Northern road.

Structure of the cave

Video of Thawr

Quraysh comes to the cave of Thawr Quraysh actually reached the cavern after three hours of exhausting climb and here they were standing right before the cavern opening (access), but they did not take the effort to have a look inside.

Abu Bakr started to get worried... “O Abu-Bakr, what do you think of two men protected by Allah?”. Allah (SWT) says, “In case ever you do not vindicate him, (The prophet) yet Allah readily vindicated him, as the ones who disbelieved drove him out the second of two, as the two were in the cavern, as he said to his companion, “Grieve not” …” (9:40).

Love and devotion of Abu Bakr...  Abu-Bakr (raa) insisted to be the first to get into that desolated cavern before the Prophet (saws) in order to ensure that the Prophet (saws) would not get stung by a snake, and he was keen on blocking any crack in the walls with his fingers to save the Prophet (saws) from snakes or scorpions bite [while prophet slept with his head in Abu Bakr’s lap—and Umar’s wish]  Another example, one day while they were heading to Madinah through the desert, it was terribly hot and the Prophet (saws) got thirsty, so Abu- Bakr (raa) hurried to get him little milk to drink though he was equally thirsty himself; he (raa) later on commented on this incident by saying “the Prophet kept drinking till my own thirst quenched

Quraysh gives up hope...  After Quraysh gave up hope in identifying the shelter of the Prophet (saw) and his companion (raa), they turned back down the mountain, and after three days the Prophet (saws) and Abu-Bakr (raa) left the cavern and set out to the North towards Madinah.  The Prophet (saw) was keen on avoiding the caravans road, so he (SAWS) chose another one away from it; yet, he (SAWS) will inevitably be crossing the caravans road in certain areas. However, the Prophet (SAWS) passed these areas fast, with his face covered in order not to leave anything for chance.

Identified by some...  At one of such crossing points, a group of men from Quraysh, who were on their way back to Makkah, happened to see the Prophet (saw). When they reached Makkah, they went to inform Quraysh, which had previously offered 100 camels for anyone who can find Muhammad (saw).  Among this group of men was Surakkah Ibn-Malk, who wanted to have the 100 camels all for himself; so, he deceived the others by saying that the passers-by whom they saw were his own relatives, not Muhammad (saw) and his companion (raa).

 Then, he secretly rode his horse, armed with his sword, and went off to get the Prophet (SAWS). At that time, the Prophet (saw) was reading Qur'an and Abu-Bakr (raa) was watching over him as usual. Abu-Bakr (raa) suddenly saw Surakkah coming, so he (raa) warned the Prophet (saw), who said this wonderful supplication : “O my Lord, save me his harm however you wish and by whatever means you wish, You have the Power over what you will” [where did we hear this ?]

Surakkah...  A knight fell off his horse; he tried to re-ride over and over in vain, until he finally realized that the Prophet (saws) was really protected by a divine power.  Surakkah went to the Prophet (saws) and asked the Prophet (saws) to offer him something. The Prophet (saws) promised to grant him the bracelets of Khosrau one day;  surprisingly enough, the man believed the Prophet (saws) and asked him to put this promise into writing. The Prophet's promise proved to be true twenty years later, when the Muslims conquered the Persian land under Omar Ibnul-khattab’s Caliphate.

Building of first masjed...  Before reaching Madinah, the Prophet (saws) went to Qiba', ten kilometers away from Madinah, where he stayed for four days.  Upon his arrival, he built the first Masjid (mosque) in Islam. He built it by himself with Abu Bakr, Ali, and the people of Qiba', to gain thawab (rewarded) from Allah (SWT).

 The Prophet (SAWS) said, " He who performs ablution at his house and goes to Qiba' mosque to pray, is rewarded by Allah with the credit of performing Umrah."[2]  In this mosque, the Revelation came to the Prophet with an Ayah s, "Indeed a mosque that was founded on piety from the first day is worthier for you to rise up therein; in it are men who love to purify themselves" (108:9).

Back in Makkah... Back in Makkah, Ali Ibn-Abu-Taleb was worried about the Prophet. Therefore, after returning the entrusted deposits to the people of Quraysh, he left for Qiba’; running for nearly 500 km in order to join the Prophet (saw). His feet were bleeding and he was so worn out that the Prophet felt mercy towards him

Al-Zoubayr Ibn-Al-Awaam  was at Madinah, but he went out to Qiba’ to receive the Prophet (saw).  He bought two new white garments for the Prophet (saw) and Abu-Bakr (raa); for he wanted them to appear in the best form when they first enter Madinah.

Al Madinah is waiting... The people of Madinah were eagerly expecting the Prophet’s arrival. However, they did not know the exact time of his arrival or the direction he would come from...

They received him with a Nasheed.. When the Prophet (saws) first entered Madinah, they were so happy and one of them composed a nasheed at this moment to welcome the Prophet (saw), then all the people started to sing with him. They said: What a loss for Makkah ! What a loss!

Translation... The moon has shone over us, From the valley of Wadaa.’ And we owe it to show gratefulness, Where the call is to Allah. O Messenger of Allah! You came to us with a message that we will obey, You have brought to the city nobleness, welcome O best caller to Allah‘s way. [It was composed on the spot]