The Command to Emigrate

muhammad discovered that the quraysh had plotted to kill him rather than to allow him to emigrate to madinah where he might entrench the forces of islam for a resolute stand against makkah and from where he might cut off its trade with al sham. no one doubted that muhammad would hence-forth seize any opportunity to carry out his plan for emigration. but no one knew of any plans he might have had; not even abu bakr, who had been commanded to keep two beasts alert and ready ever since he asked the prophet for permission to emigrate and the prophet advised him to wait. muhammad remained in makkah until he learned of the quraysh's plot to assassinate him, and until none but the fewest muslims were still left there with him. he waited for the command of his lord for emigration. when, finally, that command did come, he went to the house of abu bakr and informed him of the permission god had granted. he asked abu bakr to accompany him on the trip.

here begins one of the greatest adventures history has known in the cause of truth and religious conviction. it is one of the noblest and most beautiful. abu bakr had chosen his two beasts and given them to 'abdullah ibn urayqit to graze until the time when they would be needed. when the two men planned to leave makkah they were absolutely certain that quraysh would follow them in their trail in order to seize them and bring them back. hence, muhammad decided to surprise his enemies by leaving under circumstances and at a time hardly conceivable to them. the young men whom the quraysh had prepared for performing the assassination had blockaded his house during the night in fear that he might run away. on the night of the hijrah, muhammad confided his plan to 'ali ibn abu talib and asked him to cover himself with the prophet's green mantle from hadramawt and to sleep in the prophet's bed. he further asked him to tarry in makkah until he had returned all things left with muhammad to their rightful owners. the quraysh men waiting to kill the prophet felt reassured whenever, looking through a hole in the door, they saw somebody sleeping in the prophet's bed. just before dawn, muhammad left without being noticed, picked up abu bakr at the latter's house and from there they proceeded through a back door southward toward the cave of thawr. the southerly direction of their flight was inconceivable to everyone.

nobody knew of their hiding place in the cave except 'abdullah, son of abu bakr, his two sisters, 'a'ishah and asma', and their servant 'amir ibn fuhayrah. 'abdullah spent his day in makkah listening to what the quraysh said and plotted about muhammad and then reported it to the pair at their hideout under cover of night. 'amir grazed the sheep of abu bakr and passed by the cave in the evening in order to give them some milk and meat. upon 'abdullah's return from the cave, 'amir would follow him with all his sheep and then conceal any trace of his steps. for three long days, the pair remained in the cave and the quraysh persistently looked for them without avail. for the quraysh it was absolutely necessary to find muhammad and to prevent his emigration to yathrib. meanwhile, muhammad spent most of his time praying to god and invoking his blessings, and abu bakr continually sought to find out whether they were being discovered and to look after their security.

the young men of quraysh who were chosen to kill muhammad continued their search and came close to the cave fully armed and ready for the kill. when they found a shepherd in the vicinity, they asked him about muhammad and abu bakr. he answered, "perhaps they are within the cave, although i have not seen anyone go in or out." when he heard the shepherd's answer, abu bakr trembled with fear and expected the quraysh to break into the cave any moment. he withdrew into a corner and, trusting in god, remained motionless. some members of the quraysh party climbed up to the cave, and the foremost among them turned round as soon as he saw the cave entrance. his companions asked him, "why have you not gone into the cave? he answered, "its entrance is covered with cobwebs, and there is a pair of wild pigeons on the threshold. obviously, no one could have gone in without disturbing the pigeons and destroying the cobwebs." at that moment, muhammad prayed while abu bakr continued to shake with fear. to abu bakr, who pressed ever closer to muhammad, the latter whispered, "do not grieve; god is with us." according to some hadith books, it is reported that when the quraysh party arrived at the cave entrance, abu bakr exclaimed: "if any one of them looks at his feet he will find us," and that the prophet had answered, "o abu bakr, how can you fear for two men whose constant companion is god himself?" the quraysh men were further convinced that the cave was empty when they saw the entrance to the cave covered indeed blocked with branches growing from a tree nearby. they then agreed to leave and called one another for their return to makkah. only then did the two refugees within the cave feel reassured. abu bakr's faith in god and his prophet became stronger, and muhammad prayed: "praise be to god! god is greater than all!"