Episode Summary
This episode explores the beginning of the Hijra, detailing the deep bond between the Prophet and Abu Bakr as they depart Makkah for Medina. It captures the emotional moment of their departure, the tactical roles played by Abu Bakr’s children to facilitate the escape, and the three days spent in the Cave of Thawr. The narrative highlights the miraculous divine protection that shielded them from bounty hunters and the profound spiritual tranquility the Prophet provided to a nervous Abu Bakr during their closest brush with capture.
Key Highlights
- The Prophet described Abu Bakr as the only person who immediately accepted Islam without questions or hesitation.
- The Islamic calendar begins on the Monday of Rabi’ al-Awwal when the Prophet departed Makkah in the 13th year of Prophethood.
- Despite their close friendship, the Prophet insisted on paying Abu Bakr for his own transportation during the Hijra.
- Asma bint Abi Bakr displayed immense courage, refusing to talk even after being brutally slapped by Abu Jahl.
- To protect her father's honor, Asma tricked her blind grandfather into thinking they had been left a tray of money when it was actually rocks.
- While traveling to the cave, Abu Bakr constantly circled the Prophet to act as a physical shield against potential ambushes from all sides.
- Allah used a spider web, a pigeon nest, and a miraculously sprouted tree to hide the mouth of the cave from search parties.
- The Prophet consoled a weeping Abu Bakr near the cave by reminding him that Allah was the third companion on their journey.
Comprehensive Analysis
1. A Foundation of Unwavering Trust
The bond between the Prophet and Abu Bakr was unique; while others questioned or pondered the message of Islam, Abu Bakr accepted it immediately. The Prophet remarked that no one’s wealth had benefitted the religion as much as Abu Bakr’s, and that if he were to take a human as a best friend, it would have been him. This trust was reaffirmed during the Al-Isra Wal-Miraj, where Abu Bakr testified to the truth of the Prophet’s journey without needing physical proof, earning the spirit of the title As-Siddiq.
2. The Night of the Migration
The Hijra officially began on a Monday in Rabi’ al-Awwal during the 13th year of Prophethood. Having already purchased two camels and hired a guide, Abu Bakr was overjoyed when the Prophet visited him at night to announce that Allah had granted them permission to leave. In a display of independence and principle, the Prophet insisted on paying for his own transportation, refusing to let Abu Bakr gift him the camel for the journey. They departed through a back entrance to avoid the Quraysh assassins who were searching for them.
3. The Bravery and Wit of Asma
Following the departure, Abu Jahl and his crew rushed to Abu Bakr’s home, where they encountered his young daughter, Asma. When she refused to disclose her father’s location, Abu Jahl slapped her so hard she fell, yet she remained defiant. Asma also had to manage her blind grandfather, Abu Quhafa, who feared Abu Bakr had left the family destitute. She cleverly filled a tray with rocks and pebbles, covering it with a cloth to convince the old man that they still had their wealth (5,000–6,000 dirhams) intact, thereby defending her father’s honor and calming her grandfather.
4. Protective Vigilance on the Road to Thawr
As they trekked toward the Cave of Thawr, Abu Bakr exhibited intense anxiety for the Prophet’s safety, continuously circling him—moving to the front, back, left, and right. He explained to the Prophet that he was trying to anticipate and absorb any potential arrow or ambush from any direction. Upon reaching the cave, Abu Bakr insisted on entering first, manually searching the dark interior with his hands to ensure no snakes or scorpions were present before allowing the Prophet to step inside.
5. The Three-Day Strategic Stay
The pair remained hidden in the cave for three days and nights to allow the initial search intensity to die down. During this time, they relied on a sophisticated support network: Abdullah bin Abi Bakr spent his days in Makkah gathering intelligence and brought them nightly reports before returning by daybreak. Meanwhile, Amir bin Fuhaira, a shepherd associated with the family, would lead his flock near the cave to provide fresh milk and use the sheep to obscure any footprints left by Abdullah.
6. Divine Miracles and the Power of Faith
As the Quraysh bounty hunters scoured the area, they came within 40 yards of the cave’s entrance. To shield them, Allah caused a tree to sprout instantaneously, a spider to spin a web across the entrance, and pigeons to build a nest and lay eggs at the mouth of the cave. These signs convinced the hunters that no one could have entered the cave recently. When a terrified Abu Bakr wept, fearing for the Prophet’s life, the Prophet comforted him with the words recorded in Surah At-Tawbah [9:40], asking what could harm two travelers when Allah is their third companion.