MIGRATION TO MADINATUL MUNAWWARAH

 

HIJRAT (MIGRATION) TO MADINAH : When the Muslims were given refuge in Madinah, the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) commanded the Muslims to migrate from Makkah to Madinah. The first person to make Hijrat was Hazrat Abu Salma (radi Allahu anhu). Most of the Muslims had made Hijrat to Madinah after Hazrat Abu Salma’s (radi Allahu anhu) successful journey. The Muslims who remained with the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) were either those in the prisons of the Kufaar, or who had no means to make Hijrat. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was still in Makkah as he had not yet received permission from the Court of Allah to make Hijrat. He also kept Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique and Hazrat Ali (radi Allahu anhum) with him.

 

CONFERENCE OF THE KUFAAR : When the kufaar realised that many of Sahaba (ridwaanullahi ta aala alaihim ajmaeen) had migrated to Madinah, they became alarmed. They felt that soon the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) may also migrate and may return with a powerful army to capture Makkah. In order to close the door to this frightening matter, the Kufaar of Makkah called a huge conference, of all the people of Makkah. In this conference, even shaitaan came dressed as a Sheikh. He was asked his name and genealogy and he replied by saying that he was the “Sheikh-e-Najdi”. This conference was held in their conference centre, called “Darul Nadwa.” When the issue of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was tabled for discussion, Bakhtari said that the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) should be imprisoned with his hands and feet chained, and he should be given food and water from a hole. Abul Aswad Rabia bin Amr Aamiri said that the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) should be banished from Makkah so that he may live somewhere else and we may be left in peace from his teachings. Sheikh-e-Najdi listened to all their opinions and countered them by saying that none of them were productive. Abu Jahl said, “O People! I have one opinion, concerning which none of you have even spoken as yet.” When he said this, he caught the attention of all those present. He then said, “One Brave person from each tribe should take his sword and stand up. They should all attack Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) at once and kill him. In this way the killing would have been committed by all tribes and not by one, and the Banu Hashim will not have the strength to do battle with all of us together, so I am sure that they will settle for blood money. When this happens, we shall all get together and easily get the blood money that needs to be paid.” When Sheikh-e-Najdi (shaitaan) heard this, he began to jump up and down with joy and said that Abu Jahl's idea was the best.  At the end of the conference, all agreed that the method of Abu Jahl would be used and the conference was closed.

 

Speaking of this incident, the Holy Quran says, “And (O Beloved)! Remember when the infidels were conspiring against you, to imprison you, to martyr you or to drive you forth. And they were conspiring their own and Allah was devising His Own and The Plan of Allah is the Best.” [Surah Al Anfal verse 30]

 

THE MIGRATION: When the kufaar had finished planning their conspiracy, and had returned to their houses, Hazrat Jibraeel (alaihis salaam) descended and informed the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) that Allah has commanded him not to sleep in his bed that night and that he should make hijrat. At midday, the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) went to the home of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) and asked him to clear the house as he wished to discuss something of great importance. Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) said, “Ya Rasoolallah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), May my parents be sacrificed at your feet. With the exception of your blessed wife Bibi Aisha (radi Allahu anha), there is no one else in the house.” Huzoor (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had already made Nikah with Bibi Aisha (radi Allahu anha) at this time. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said, "O Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu)! Almighty Allah has granted me permission to make hijrat.” Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) requested permission to make Hijrat with the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) agreed. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) offered one of two camels which he had prepared for the time when he would make hijrat to Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said that he would accept it only if the payment for it was taken. Hazrat Abu Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) had no option but to accept this. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) then employed a kaafir by the name Abdullah bin Uraiqt who was a master guide on travelling as a servant and asked him to take their belongings and the two camels with him and meet them at the Cave of Thaur after three days. After making all these arrangements, the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) went to his blessed home. [Bukhari Shareef vol.1 pg.553]

 

The kufaar surrounded the house of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and waited for the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) to fall asleep, so they could martyr him. During this time, only Hazrat Ali (radi Allahu anhu) was present with the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Even though the Kufaar were the enemy of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), they still trusted him as the most trustworthy person and thus left their valuables in his (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) care. Thus, even now, there were various belongings of the Kufaar in the care of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said to Hazrat Ali (radi Allahu anhu), “You should sleep in my bed and cover yourself with my green shawl. When morning comes, you should return all the belongings of the Quraish and then come to Madinah.”  The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) left the “Soul of Wilaayat” to rest on the Blessed Bed of Nabuiwat. He then took some sand in his blessed hand and reading the initial verses of Surah Yaseen, he emerged from his home and put sand on the heads of those who had surrounded his home, and passed by them. Neither did any of them see him, nor did they hear him leave. Another person who was not with the Quraish said to them that the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had already left and that he had dropped sand on their heads as he left. When they put their hands on their heads, then they found that verily there was sand and dust on each of their heads. [Madarijun Nabuiwat vol.2 pg.57]

 

The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) emerged from his blessed home and then stood facing the Kaaba Shareef and said, “O City of Makkah! You are most beloved to me than the entire world. If the nation had not caused me to leave, then I would have not stayed anywhere else but with you.” When Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) met Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), he saw that the blessed feet of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) were injured. He carried the beloved Rasool (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) on his shoulders and walked through thorn brushes and over sharp jagged rocks carrying the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) until the reached the Cave of Thaur. [Madarijun Nabuiwat vol.2 pg.58]

       

REWARD OF A HUNDRED CAMELS : The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) reached the Cave of Thaur. In the mean time, the kufaar realised that the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had passed by them and they had no knowledge of it. They entered the home of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and found Hazrat Ali (radi Allahu anhu) on the Blessed bed of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). They questioned Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu) for a short while, and they left in search of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). They searched every where until they reached the Cave of Thaur. Here, through the Will of Almighty Allah, a spider had spun its web over the mouth of the cave, and a pigeon had laid her eggs on the edge of the cave. On seeing this, the kufaar said, “If there was anyone inside the cave, then the spider would not have spread its web over the mouth of the cave and the pigeon would not have laid its eggs.” On hearing the voices of the kufaar, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) became alarmed. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Do not fear. Allah is with us.” When the Quraish did not find the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) they returned to Makkah and announced that there shall be a reward of one hundred camels for anyone who captures Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Once this announcement was made, huge groups of kufaar went out in search of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Their greed took many of them to great distances, but in vain.

 

The next day, the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) passed by the home of Umm-e-Mu’bid. She was a very old woman who used to spend most of her time sitting in  the yard of her house, distributing food and water to passing travellers. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) asked to purchase some food from her. However, at that time, she had nothing to sell. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) then looked towards her goat which was very weak and asked if the goat gave milk. She answered in the negative. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) then asked if he could try to milk the goat and she consented. The moment the blessed hands of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) touched the goat, its belly became full of milk. The Prophet  (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) milked the goat and distributed it. All those present drank a full stomach of milk, and Umm-e-Mu’bid filled all her utensils with milk. On seeing this Mu'jiza (miracle) of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), she and her husband both accepted Islam. This goat of Umm-e-Mu’bid remained alive until 81 Hijri and continued to give milk in all this time. Even during the great drought in the time of Hazrat Umar (radi Allahu anhu), when all the bellies of the animals were empty, this goat gave milk morning and evening without fail. [Zirkani vol.1 pg.346]

 

THE HORSE OF SURAQA : After leaving the home of Umm-e-Mu'bid (radi Allahu anha) the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) saw that a famous Arab rider,  by the name of Suraqa bin Maalik bin Jausham was following them with great swiftness. He caught up to the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu) and started to place an offensive. As he rode towards them to attack, his horse tripped and he fell off his horse. The greed of one hundred camels was locked in his sight, and he got back onto his horse and intended to attack again. Through the dua of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), the legs of Suraqa's horse sunk knee deep into rocky ground. When Suraqa saw this, he began to call out for refuge in fear. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) made Dua and the ground released the horse from its grip. Suraqa then asked the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) to write a Letter of refuge in his name. On the command of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Aamir bin Fuheera (radi Allahu anhu)  wrote the letter of refuge in Suraqa's name. He then returned to Makkah, and sent back whomever he met on the way saying that the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was nowhere to be seen. Suraqa did not accept Islam then, but after the Victory of Makkah, Taaif and Hunain, he met the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) in a place called Ju'raana. He brought with him the letter of refuge and accepted Islam with a huge group of his counterparts. [Dalaa'ilun Nabuiwat vol.2  pg. 115 - Madarijun Nabuiwat vol.2  pg.62]

 

THE PROPHET (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) IN MADINATUL MUNAWWARAH: The people of Madinah were now aware that the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was to arrive in Madinah and they would come out daily to the boundaries of the city waiting to see the arrival of Nabi-e-Akram (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). When the sun would reach its peak and they would not see any one coming towards Madinah, they would return to their homes very sad. One day, as they did everyday, they went out to await the coming of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and found that he was not coming. They returned as usual to their homes with great sadness. After a while, a Jew was seated in the tower of his mansion when he saw the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and some sahaba arriving close to Madinah. He began to call out to the people of Madinah in a loud voice by saying, “O People of Madinah! He whom you have been waiting for has arrived. That blessed group has arrived.” When the Ansaar heard this, then they adorned themselves in their armour and shields and went out to the gates of Madinah. They welcomed the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) with great love and honor. The streets echoed with the Takbeer and the name of the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) [Madarijun Nabuiwat vol.2 pg. 63]

 

The one for whom they were waiting, The Beloved Prophet of Allah, The Mercy unto the worlds, The Beloved Rasool (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had arrived amongst them.  The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) arrived and stopped at Quba, which is three miles away from the city of Madina and where the Masjid-e-Quba stands today. He arrived there on the 12^th of Rabi-ul-Awwal. He stayed there, at the home of Hazrat Kulthoom bin Hadm (radi Allahu anhu) who was from the family of Amr bin Auf. All the other sahaba who had migrated earlier were also at the gate waiting for the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).

 

Meanwhile in Makkah, Hazrat Ali (radi Allahu anhu), returned the belongings of the kufaar and departed from Makkah after three days. He too came and stayed at the house of Hazrat Kulthoom bin Hadm (radi Allahu anhu). Hazrat Kulthoom bin Hadm and all the family members spent day and night serving the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and those who came from Makkah Muazzamah.