A. Decade of Persecution

1. The nearest of kin:

Three years passed after the first Revelation, and the Prophet was again addressed in these Divine words:

"And warn your nearest clan." (Al-Shu'ara'-214)

"And lower your wing (deal gently with) to those who follow you from among the believers." (Al Shu'ara'-215)

The Prophet began by proclaiming his message to his nearest of kin, the sons of `Abdul Muttalib, saying, "O sons of `Abdul Muttalib, I know of no Arab who has come to his people with a nobler message than mine. I have brought the best of this world and the next. Allah has ordered me to call you to Him. So which of you will help me in the matter?" The first one to accept the call was Ali.

2. Quraysh:

a) Persecution:

When the Prophet began to proclaim the message to Quraysh, and to ask them to renounce their gods, some of their leaders went to Abu Talib. They complained to him that the Prophet insulted their religion, and that Abu Talib should stop his nephew from preaching the new religion. After hearing these words, Abu Talib sent for his nephew and told him what the leaders of Quraysh had said, "Spare me and yourself," Abu Talib said, "Do not put on me a burden greater than I can bear." At this, the Prophet thought that his uncle would fail him; but the Prophet's answer came out with an unflinching ¹ resolution, ² "O my uncle, by Allah, if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left on condition that I abandon this Command, until Allah has made it victorious, or I perish therein, I would not abandon it."

Persecution began against the Prophet and the people who accepted his religion. The Prophet's person was the object of insult; he was called a poet, a sorcerer ³ a diviner, ⁴ and a mad man. One day the leaders of Quraysh were in the House when the Prophet entered and kissed the Black Stone, and began to perform the seven rounds of Tough (circumambulation). They kept insulting him, and this was repeated the following day. This time the heads of Quraysh had decided on a course of action. They jumped on him as one man and encircled him, saying, "Are you the one who insulted our gods and our religion?" The Prophet answered, "Yes, I am the one who said that." Then one of them seized him by the top of his dress, and was about to strike him. Here Abu Bark came to the rescue saying.

"Would you kill a man for saying Allah is my Lord." [These are the same words spoken by the believer in defence of musa (moses)]

At this they left the Prophet and turned upon Abu Bark and dragged ⁵ him along by the beard and head.

b) The New Muslims: (Hamzah and Umar)

One of the new Muslims was Hamzah, the young uncle of the Prophet, and a man of tall stature, ⁶ and of high standing among Quraysh. On one occasion the Prophet was sitting outside the Mosque near Al Safe, when Abu Jahl passed by him. As Abu Jahl was one of the most hostile leaders of Quraysh to the Prophet and the new religion, he accosted ⁷ the Prophet and insulted him. The Prophet kept silent. But soon Hamzah, the Prophet's uncle arrived, with his bow hanging from his shoulder, returning from hunting. When he was told of what Abu Jahl had done, he went straight to Abu Jahl; and, standing over him, he raised his bow and brought it down with all his force on his back.

"Will you insult him," Hamzah said, "Now that I am of his religion, and say what he says? Hit me back if you can!" Some of the clan of Abu Jahl rose to his help, but he said, "Let Abu `Umarah (Hamzah) alone, for, by Allah, I insulted his nephew most violently." With Hamzah becoming a Muslim, Quraysh became less insulting to the Prophet, but nevertheless, more hostile to the religion and poorer Muslims than before.

Another man of high standing in Quraysh was Umar. He was unrelenting ⁸ in his enmity to the Prophet and Muslims. He was the nephew of Abu Jahl, and years after Hamzah had become a Muslim, Umar saw that Makkah had become a divided city. The rift ⁹ that had been brought about by the new religion had to be remedied, ¹⁰ and this could be done by getting rid of one man, the Prophet himself. So Umar went out of his house one day determined to kill the Prophet. On his way he met Nu'aym, one of his tribe, who had entered Islam.

Nu'aym: "Where are you going, Umar?"

Umar: "I have been trying to enjoy good company; but I have been unlucky."

Nu'aym: "The days of enjoyment are past."

Umar: "This is what Muhammad says. He has caused dissension among our people."

Nu'aym: "Blessed are his words, and his actions."

Umar: "Are you then one of his followers?"

Nu'aym: "Yes!"

Umar (striking Nu'aym on the face): "Woe to you! (Pointing to his sword) By Allah, I am going to kill him with this sword!"

Nu'aym: "You are getting too naughty, Umar!. Do you think that the Prophet's clan would leave you treading on the earth after you kill Muhammad? Why do you not go back home and set your people aright?" ¹¹

Umar: "What people of my house?"

Nu'aym: "Your brother-in-law Sa'id and your sister Fatimah." (Umar hurries back home).

(In Fatimah's house: she is seated with her husband Sa'id, and Khabbab is reciting some verses of Al-Qur'an).

Khabbab: (reading from a page the Chapter entitled: Thai):

"Thaa" (1)

"We have not sent down the Qur'an upon you that you should feel distress." (2)

"Except as a Reminder to him who is apprehensive." (3)

"A sending down from Him Who created the earth and the high heavens." (4)

Sa'id (looking at the door): Wait Khabbab! I think I've heard Umar's voice outside.

Khabbab: (standing up in terror) I fear he might have heard my recitation.

Fatimah: Give me the page, and hide elsewhere now. (She takes the page, and Khabbab leaves the room).

Umar (entering): "What was that gibberish ¹² that I heard?"

Said: "Nothing!"

Mar: "Hear it I did! And I am told that you both have become followers of Mohammed." (He grapples ¹³ with his brother-in-law).

Faith (going to the defence of her husband): "Stop it!"

Umar: "And you too, have followed Muhammad!" (He strikes his sister and wounds her).

Fatimah and Sa'id (taking courage); "Yes, indeed! We have become Muslims, and we believe in Allah and His Messenger. So do whatever you like!"

Umar (seeing blood on his sister's head, and feeling sorry for her): "Have you then become Muslims?"

Fatimah: "Yes, we have!"

Umar: "Give me that page that I may see what Muhammad has brought."

Fatimah: We fear to trust you with it."

Umar: "Fear not! Surely I will give it back to you."

Fatimah: "You are not pure in your idolatry, and only the pure may touch it. Go and wash yourself."

Umar (goes home and then comes back purified): "Give me the page, then."

Fatimah: "Now that you are pure, you can take it." (Umar takes the page and starts reading).

Umar (finishes reading): "How beautiful and how noble are these words!"

Khabbab: (coming out of his hiding-place): "Umar! I have hope that Allah has chosen you through the prayer of His Prophet, for I heard him pray yesterday, `O Allah, strengthen Islam with Abul Hakam the son of Hisham or with Umar the son of Khattab!"

Umar (to Khabbab): "Where will Muhammad now be, that I may go to him and enter Islam."

No sooner had Umar said this than he went to the Prophet and accepted Islam.

These two new converts have come to be landmarks in the history of Islam through their devotion to the new faith. Hamzah came to be a constant companion and a devout ¹⁴ follower of the Prophet until he was killed during the Battle of Uhud, and the Prophet called him the noblest of martyrs.

Umar came to be second to none, excepting Abu Bakr, in the establishing of the first Muslim city in the modern era. As the second Caliph and ruler of that Imperial ¹⁵ city, he came to be another Caliph and also a noble martyr.

c) Persecution Unabated:

It is true that with the Islam of Umar, Islam was gaining more new converts, and Muslims began to pray in public; but Quraysh was still determined to uproot ¹⁶ the new religion. Many of the followers of the Prophet were attacked, imprisoned and beaten, and were allowed no food or drink.

1. Bilal, who was afterwards freed by Abu Bakr, was born a slave. He was converted to Islam, and became a faithful Muslim. His master used to take him in the intense heat of the desert, and throw him on his back, placing a big rock on his chest. Then he would say to him, "You will stay here till you die or disbelieve in Muhammad, and worship Al-Lat and Al-'Uzza." Bilal had no answer but to say, "One! One! (Allah is One)." One day Abu Bakr passed by Bilal while he was being tortured this way; and he asked Bilal's master to free him. But the idolatrous master replied, "You are the one who corrupted him, so save him from the plight ¹⁷ he is in." Abu Bakr was ready to save him, and he paid the money and freed Bilal.
   

2. `Ammar was another victim of this ruthless <sup>18</sup> persecution. His master used to take `Ammar, his father and mother out in the scorching ¹⁹ heat of Makkah in summer and torture them. Whenever the Prophet passed by them while they were being tortured, he would say, "Patience, O family of Yasir! Your meeting-place will be Paradise." `Ammar's mother died a victim of torture, refusing to abandon Islam.

d) Persuasion and Boycott:

Persuasion did not avail Quraysh in trying to stop the new religion from spreading in Makkah. When Quraysh sent `Utbah, one of their leaders to the Prophet, he began in a conciliatory <sup>20</sup> manner proposing that Quraysh would be ready to offer wealth to the Prophet on condition that he should cease attacking their idols. If the Prophet did not want wealth, they would offer him kingship; and if he suffered from a certain illness, they would provide a physician and spend their wealth until the Prophet's cure is complete. When `Utbah finished, the Prophet asked him to listen to his recitation from Al-Qur'an, starting with the opening verses of the Chapter "Fussilat (41)" until he came to verses (`ayahts) 37 and 38.

"And of His signs are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun nor to the moon, and prostrate (in worship) to Allah Who has created them; if Him indeed yoil worship." (37)

"So if they wax proud, then those who are in the presence of your Lord hymn to Him night and day; and they do not feel weary." (38)

At the end of the verse, the Prophet prostrated placing his forehead on the ground. Then he said to `Utbah "You have heard what you have heard, Abu-l-Walid (`Utbah's title); it is now for you to decide."

When `Utbah went back to the leaders of Quraysh, he advised them not to obstruct the way of the Prophet, because what he heard from the Prophet was neither poetry, nor sorcery, nor anything of purely human origin. Their answer was, "He has bewitched you with his tongue." to which he answered, "You have my opinion, and you do what you think best." With the increase in the number of new converts, Quraysh thought of sending to the Jewish rabbis in Yathrib (Al-Madinah) requesting them to tell Quraysh how to deal with the Prophet. The rabbis said, "Ask him about three things; if he gives you the right answer then he is a true Prophet." The questions were about some young men who disappeared in ancient days, about the mighty traveller who reached the confines of both East and West, and about what the Spirit is.

When the leaders of Quraysh posed these questions to the Prophet, he told them that he would give the answers the next day, but did not say, "If Allah decides." But the Prophet waited for fifteen days, after which the Chapter of the Cave was revealed, reproaching the Prophet for not saying, "If Allah decides," and giving answers to the questions they had posed. To the last question came the Divine answer:

"And they ask you about the Spirit, say, the Spirit is from the Command of my Lord, and you have been granted only a little knowledge." (Allsra'-85).

Finally the leaders of Quraysh found that Muslim youths like Umar and Hamzah were getting bold ²¹ enough to come in large bodies and pray in front of Al-Ka'bah. Without getting into open conflict with the Muslims, the leaders of Quraysh agreed upon a boycott ²² to the whole clan of Banu Hashim. They wrote a document ²³ forbidding intermarriage between Banu Hashim and other clans of Quraysh, and stopping every kind of buying and selling with Banu Hashim until they outlawed the Prophet. The document was placed inside Al-Ka'bah.

This boycott continued for two years before five of the leaders of Quraysh began to feel unhappy about the injustice of the boycott, and decided to go to Al- Ka'bah and tear the document and end the boycott. One of the five leaders had a quarrel with Abu Jahlabout the document, after which he went into Al-Ka'bah to get the document. When this leader came out of Al-Ka'bah, he opened the document, and there the document had been eaten by the worms, all of it except for a small piece of it on which was written:

"In Your name, O Allah." And thus the ban on Muslims was lifted at last.

e) Before the Ascension: ²⁴

To escape persecution many Muslims began to migrate to Abyssinia, where they were allowed to practice their religion freely. Among the first immigrants were Ja'far, the Prophet's cousin, and `Uthman, the Prophet's Companion and son-in-law. There were about eighty Muslims who stayed there until they heard that the number of Muslims in Makkah was increasing and persecution had stopped. But when they came back they were again subject to mockery and torture.

Even the Prophet himself was the subject of insult and mockery. One day, one of the leaders of Quraysh came to the Prophet in the House at Makkah, and told the people who had been listening to the Prophet reciting Al-Qur'an, "Muhammad cannot tell a better story than I, and his talk is only of old fables ²⁵ which he has copied from others. I can tell better stories about the great kings of Persia." So Allah revealed concerning him these verses:

"Woe to every sinful liar." (Aljathiyah - 7)

"Who hears the verses of Allah recited to him, and then insists on waxing proud as if he has not heard them; so give him the (hateful) tidings of a painful torment." (8)

Again when a deputation of Christians from Najran came to Makkah, met the Prophet and embraced Islam, Abu Jahl and other polytheists of Quraysh accosted them and said to them, "What a wretched band you are! Your people at home sent you to bring them information about this man, and as soon as you sat with him you renounced your religion and believed what he said." Their answer to Abu Jahl and his companions was, "Peace be upon you. We will not engage in foolish controversy ²⁶ with you. We have not been remiss ²⁷ in seeking what is best."

Not long after the lifting of the ban, ²⁸ Abu Talib fell ill. The leaders of Quraysh found it a hopeful opportunity to come to terms with the Prophet before Abu Talib's death. They spoke to Abu Talib and asked him to ask the Prophet to leave them and their religion in peace. Then Abu Talib called the Prophet and told him of Quraysh's request. They were still in Abu Talib's house when the Prophet came and said to them: "Give me one word - a word by which you shall rule over the Arabs, and the Persians shall be your subjects." To this Abu Jahl answered, "Yes, by your father, for that we will give you one word, and ten words more." "You must say," said the Prophet, "There is no god but Allah, and you must renounce what you worship apart from Him." At this the leaders of Quraysh despaired of ever coming to terms with the Prophet.

Then Abu Tahb died, and this left the Prophet without the protection that he had enjoyed during his life-time. These were days of sadness for the Prophet, especially since his wife had died months earlier.

After Abu Talib's death, insolent actions against the Prophet did not cease. Once filth was thrown into the Prophet's cooking pot; and on another occasion a sheep's dirt with blood was thrown over him. As he was coming from the House, a man took a handful of dirt and threw it in his face and over his head. When he returned home, one of his daughters washed him clean of it, while weeping. "Weep not, little daughter," said the Prophet, "Allah will protect your father." With the growing hostility Quraysh, after the death of the Prophet's wife and uncle, he decided on going to Al-Ta'if to seek help from the tribe of Thaqif. He went to three of Thaqif's leaders offering them belief in Islam and requesting their help against his enemies in Makkah, but all of them rejected his offer and were more insolent than he had expected. Then the Prophet said to them, "Seeing that you acted as you have, keep the matter secret," for he did not like that the people of Makkah should hear about it, lest they should be still further emboldened ²⁹ against him. But they stirred up their slaves and children to insult him, so that he was compelled to take refuge in an orchard³⁰ and sat in the shade of a vine ³¹ Then he uttered this plaintive supplication;

This supplication in such a moving immortal style never attained by any other human mortal can never be adequately translated; but a near rendering would be like this:

"O Allah, to You I complain of my weakness, of my helplessness and of my lowliness before men. O Most Merciful of the merciful, You are Lord of the ill-treated. And You are my Lord. Into whose hands will You entrust me? Into the hands of some far off stranger who will scowl at me? Or to an enemy whom You have empowered against me? If You are not angry with me I care not; Your clemency is more wide for me. I take refuge in the Light of your Countenance whereby all darkness is illuminated and the things of this world and the next are rightly ordered, lest You may descend Your anger upon me, or lest Your wrath may beset me! It is for me to return to You until You are well satisfied! There is no means or power save in You."

Then the Prophet left At-Ta'if for Makkah until he reached the valley of Nakhlah, nearly half way between the two cities; and he stood there to pray. While he was praying in the middle of the night, a company of jinn passed by and they listened to his recitation of Al-Qur'an in prayer. After prayers, the jinn went back to their tribe to carry the message of Islam to them, after they have become Muslims themselves. There now came the Revelation to the Prophet:

"Say it has been revealed to me that a group of jinn listened (to me), and then said: `Surely we have heard a wonderful Qur'an." (Al-Jinn-1).

"It guides to righteousness, so we have believed in it, and we shall never associate anybody with our Lord." (2)

3. Answers to the Supplication:

a) The Heavenly Journey:

While the Prophet was sleeping in the House, Jibril came to him and awakened him, and led him on a night journey mounted on the Buraq to Jerusalem. There the Prophet led a company of Prophets: Ibrahim, Musa, `Isa and others in prayer. Then Jibril ascended with the Prophet to heaven, where he saw the other Prophets. Finally he reached the Lote Tree, which marks the end of knowledge for all creatures. There Jibril communicated to him the Revelation in the Chapter of the Star (An-Najm):

"When there enshrouded the Lote Tree that which enshrouds." (An-Najm- 16).

"The eye did not waver, nor was it extravagant." (An-Najm- 17).

"Indeed he has seen, of all the signs of the Lord, the greatest." (An-Najm- 18).

All this radiance ³² splendor ³³ and serenity seemed to have been an answer to the Prophet's plaintive ³⁴ supplication in Ta`if in the midst of his deep distress. It was an illuminating answer, coupled with the blessings of five prayers a day enjoined upon the Prophet and the believers on that most eminent occasion.

In the morning the Prophet told Quraysh what he had seen. Most of them said, "How unbelievable! The caravan takes a month to go to Syria and a month to return, and can Muhammad do the return journey in one night?" When this question was posed to Abu Bakr, he said, "If he says so, then it is true. And what is so surprising in that? He tells me that tidings ³⁵ come to him from Heaven to earth in an hour of the day or night, and I know him to be speaking the truth." That was the occasion on which Abu Bakr was given the name "As-siddiq": the Faithful - by the Prophet.

b) Pledges at Al-'Aqabah:

Meanwhile the Prophet offered himself to the tribes, calling them to the worship of Allah alone, and telling them that he was His messenger. On one occasion he met six men from Yathrib (Al-Madinah) at Al- `Aqabah, to the north of Makkah on the way to Mina. He learnt that they were of Al-Khazraj tribe and allies of the Jews in Yathrib. He called them to Islam, and they accepted it, for they realized that he was the Prophet whose time had come as the Jews had told them. So they promised the Prophet to follow the precepts of Islam and told him, "We have left our people, for there is no tribe so divided by hatred and enmity as they. Perhaps Allah will unite them through you. So let us go to them and invite them to this new religion; and if Allah unites them, in it, then no man will be mightier than you." These six people went back to their people, and many of their people embraced Islam.

In the following year, twelve people from the same city, Yathrib, came and met the Prophet at Al -`Aqabah, where they gave him their pledge, called, "The First Pledge" or "The Pledge of the Women." It was so called, because the order to fight the enemies of Islam had not been revealed to the Prophet yet. Among these twelve, were As'ad, son of Zurarah and `Awf, son of Al-Harith. They gave their pledge to the Prophet that they would not associate anything with Allah, not steal, not commit fornication,³⁶ not kill their offspring, not utter slanders, and not disobey him in what was right. If they fulfilled this, Paradise would be theirs; if they committed any of these sins it was for Allah to punish or forgive them as He pleased.

When these twelve left for Yathrib, the Prophet sent with them Mus'ab, son of `Umayr to recite Al- Qur'an for them and to teach them Islam. Among the first people to embrace Islam, thanks to the efforts of Mus'ab, were Sa'd, son of Mu'ath and Usayd, son of Hudayr. With these two leaders becoming Muslims, Islam spread far and wide in the city.

The third meeting at Al-'Aqabah saw "The Second Pledge" by the people of Yathrib to the Prophet. They were seventy three men and two women. When the Prophet came to meet them, he was accompanied by his uncle Al-'Abbas, although he had not yet embraced Islam at that time. Al-'Abbas was the first to speak, and said, "You know the esteem in which we hold Muhammad. We have protected him from our own people who think as we do about him. He lives in honour and safety among his people, but he will turn to you and join you. So if you think that you can be faithful to what you have promised him and protect him from his opponents, then assume the burden you have undertaken. But if you think that you will betray and abandon him after he has gone out with you, then leave him now. For he is safe where he is." They replied, "You speak, O Prophet, and choose for yourself and for your Lord what you wish."

Then the Prophet spoke and recited from Al-Qur'an, and called the people to Allah and Islam; and then said, "I invite your pledge on condition that you protect me as you protect your women and children." One of their leaders called Al-Bara' stood up and said, "By Him Who sent you with the truth we will protect you as we protect our women." Then another man stood up and said, "O Prophet, we have ties with other men (he meant the Jews) and we are willing to sever them. Perhaps when we have done that and Allah will have given you victory, will you return to your people and leave us?" The Prophet smiled and said, "No, I am yours and you are mine. Whom you war against, him I war against. Whom you make peace with, him I make peace with." Then the Prophet said, "Bring out to me twelve leaders that they take charge of their people's affairs." They brought out to him nine from the tribe of Al-Khazraj and three from Al-'Aws: among these were As'ad, son of Zurarah (a Khazraji) and `Usayd, son of Hudayr (an Ausi).

Soon after the Second `Aqabah, the Prophet was permitted to fight the enemies of Allah and Islam. Thus the Revelation came:

"Permission has been given to those who fight because they have been unjustly treated; and suerly Allah is indeed determined to give them victory." (Al-Hajj-39).

4.The Prophet's Migration:

Many Muslims began to leave and migrate to Yathrib after the Second Pledge at Al-'Aqabah. Among those immigrants to the new city were `Umar and his family, `Uthman and his wife, the Prophet's daughter Ruqayyah. Abu Bakr had asked the Prophet's permission to emigrate, but the Prophet had said, "Do not be in a hurry, for it may be that Allah will give you a companion." So Abu Bakr understood that he must wait to emigrate with the Prophet .

Now the time had come for Quraysh to act and stop the Prophet from migrating to the new city, which has become a stronghold for the new religion. Now that Abu Talib was dead, the way was clear for them to get rid of the Prophet by planning to kill him. The decision to get rid of the Prophet was taken at a meeting of their leaders, including Abu Jahl and Abu Sufyan.

(A gathering of the leaders of Quraysh)

Abu Sufyan (to Abu Jahl): "You start, Abu Jahl." Abu Jahl: This man has been doing all that you have seen. So many have followed him, including Umar and Hamzah. So many have accepted his new religion; and he's getting to be a real threat. So you have to decide what course of action against him lies before us."

Umayyah, son of Khalaf: "Imprison him, and wait for his end, as has happened to poets like him."

Abu Sufyan (thinking for a while): "We banish ³⁷ him away from our city. So long as he is away, we are free to practise our traditional way of life."

Abu Jahl (after a while): "I have come to an opinion which none of you have mentioned."

Abu Sufyan: "And what is that Abul-Hakam (Abu Jahl)?"

Abu Jahl: "I see that we choose from every clan a noble, strong and reliable young man, and we provide everyone of them with a sharp sword; then each of them will strike a blow at him. Thus when he is killed, the responsibility for his blood will fall upon all the clans of Quraysh. Then his family would accept the blood-money which we would be ready to offer."

Abu Sufyan and the others: "This sounds the best way out. Agreed!" (Having come to that decision the conspirators dispersed).

Then Jibril came to the Prophet warning him not to sleep that night on the bed on which he used to sleep. After night-fall, the young men chosen to kill the Prophet gathered in front of his house. When the Prophet saw this, he told `Ali to sleep on the Prophet's bed, and wrap himself in the Prophet's green cloak, for no harm would befall him.

The conspirators' young men stayed outside the Prophet's house, and did not choose to break into the house. They waited for the Prophet to come out, so that they would all attack him as one man. When the Prophet went out of the house, he sprinkled dust on their heads, and recited verses from the Chapter "Ya Sin," up to the words:

"And We enshrouded them, so that they did not see." (Ya Sin-9).

Thus the Prophet passed unnoticed through their midst, and went on his way to Abu Bakr's house. He told him that Allah had given him permission to migrate, and that Abu Bakr would be his Companion. Two camels were already saddled for them, and they made for a cave in the Mount of Thawr, to the south of Makkah, on the way to the Yaman; for they knew that Quraysh, expecting them to go northwards, would try to find them on the way to Yathrib (Al- Madinah). `Ali was left behind in Makkah to return goods which had been deposited with the Prophet by the people who trusted him with their property.

The Prophet and Abu Bakr stayed in the cave for three days. When Quraysh missed the Prophet they offered a hundred camels to anyone who would bring him back. During these three days, `Abdullah, son of Abu Bakr, used to bring them food at night, together with the news about Quraysh. On his way back to Makkah in the morning, `Abdullah would tell his servant to take the sheep over the same route to hide the tracks of Abdullah's camel.

On the third day the Prophet and his Companion heard the faint ³⁸ sound of men's voices; then the voices grew louder, and the speakers were getting nearer the cave's entrance. Abu Bakr became apprehensive lest the pursuers should at last find them. But the Prophet comforted him saying, "What do you think of two men when Allah is their Third?"

"When they both were in the Cave and when he said to his Companion `Do not grieve; for surely Allah is with us." (At-Tawbah-40).

Then the voices outside ceased, for they realized that there was no need to enter a seemingly empty cave.

When `Abdullah came back to the Prophet in the cave, he brought with him a guide who was an expert in out-of-way paths in the desert to Yathrib (Al- Madinah).

One man in Makkah heard the story of the migration of the Prophet, and the reward offered by Quraysh; so he decided to go after the Prophet to get the precious reward. That was Suraqah, son of Malik. Thus he rode in pursuit of the Prophet. Although his horse stumbled and threw him, he did not stop until the Prophet and the little band were not far away from him. Then his horse stumbled again, and its forelegs ³⁹ went into the ground, and the rider fell again. Then as it got its legs out of the ground smoke arose as a sand storm. Then he realized that the Prophet was protected from him and had the upper hand. The pursuer then assured the Prophet and his companions that he intended no harm to them. Then the Prophet told Abu Bakr to ask the pursuer what he wanted. The man said he wanted a written promise of a reward. So Abu Bakr wrote him on a bone the written promise of the two bracelets of the Emperor of Persia. Thus the Prophet, a fugitive from Makkah, promised Suraqah the bracelets of the Emperor. The promise was fulfilled when `Umar became Caliph, and the Muslim empire had swept away the two decadent Empires of Rome and Persia.

Finally the Prophet entered Yathrib and it has since been given the name "The City," The City of the Prophet, the First Muslim State in modern times. And that Imperial City ruled the world, for centuries to come.