ISLAM SPREADS TO YATHRIB (MADINAH)
The Prophet used to convey the message of Islam to the people coming from outside Makkah. In the eleventh year of prophethood six men from the tribe of Khazraj of Yathrib (later came to be known as Madinatun-Nabi, Prophet’s city) accepted Islam during their pilgrimage to Makkah in 620.
The following year twelve more men from Yathrib accepted Islam. This time they took an oath pledging allegiance to the Prophet. This oath is known as the First Pledge of Aqabah, named after the Aqabah pass, at Mina, near Makkah, where they had been sworn. They requested the Prophet to send Musab bin Umayr, a companion of the Prophet, to Yathrib to convey the message of Islam to the inhabitants. There the divine message was immediately well received, and within a year, a number of people converted to Islam as a result of the preaching of Musab ibn Umayr.
In the thirteenth year of Prophethood, seventy two Muslims from Yathrib came for the Hajj. On behalf of their people they invited the Prophet to make Yathrib his home. During the pilgrimage they also took the oath, known as the second pledge of Aqabah. These men from Yathrib, of the tribes of Aws and Khazraj, pledged to protect the Prophet from his enemies. For all this sacrifice on their part they wanted only one assurance from the Prophet: that when the Prophet had gained power, he should not leave them and return to Makkah. The Prophet replied:
“You have that assurance. I am yours and you are mine.”
Now the Muslims began to emigrate to Yathrib in large numbers to escape persecution at the hands of the Quraysh. Only the Prophet, Abu Bakr and a few Muslims were left in Makkah.
This infuriated the Quraysh for Islam was now strengthening its root in Yathrib. They were greatly alarmed that their enemies were gaining a firm foothold. There was nothing more dangerous than that. So they resolved to remove the danger once and for all. They said:
“Kill Muhammad and Islam will die with him.”
As the Makkans plotted against his life, God sent His command to the Prophet to leave for Yathrib. First of all he called Ali and gave him the deposits of the people and asked him to return it to the depositors. The young men with whom the Quraysh had planned to carry out the assassination collected on that fateful night to put their plan to action. But God had another plan. And who can overrule the plan of God? Accordingly, the Prophet made Ali lie in his bed while he himself left the house at midnight.
The Prophet had already informed Abu Bakr, his closest friend, of the plan to emigrate, to be conducted in total secrecy. They left Makkah before dawn, riding on two camels, which Abu Bakr had kept ready to carry them across the desert. About five miles from the city they took shelter in a cave called Thawr.
When the Makkans learnt of the Prophet’s escape, they were mad with rage. They offered a prize of one hundred camels to anyone who captured Muhammad. A number of horsemen raced out into the desert. One of them even managed to reach the very mouth of the cave of Thawr. Abu Bakr was stricken with fear lest they harm the Prophet. But the Prophet reassured him, saying:
“Fear not. We are not two only in this cave. There is a third—God.” (Bukhari)
The Prophet and Abu Bakr lay hidden in this cave for three days and three nights. On the fourth day they came out and continued the journey along with Abdullah ibn Urayqit, their guide, and Amir bin Fuhaira, Abu Bakr’s servant.
Suraqah bin Malik was one of those horsemen who, wanting to earn the reward of a hundred camels, went in hot pursuit of the Prophet.
After a continuous ride of a day and a night the Prophet and Abu Bakr stopped to rest. It was then that Suraqah, who had sighted them on the road to Madinah, managed to come close to them. But when he spurred on his horse, it stumbled and fell bringing Suraqa down also. He made two more attempts to go near the Prophet but the same happened each time. Now Suraqa was frightened. He realised that none can harm the Prophet, for he was under divine protection. He begged for mercy. The Prophet forgave him.
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