The Meccans Deploy Expert Trackers and Reach the Cave of Thaur (Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib’s (ra) Narration)
In Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin [The Life and Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa)], Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) has mentioned the announcement of the Quraish of Mecca and their pursuit of the Holy Prophet (sa) in the following manner,
“An open announcement was made that whoever brought Muhammad (sa) back, dead or alive, would be given a bounty of 100 camels. Therefore, longing for this reward, many people set out in all directions of Mecca. Even the chieftains of the Quraish set out behind the Holy Prophet (sa), and following clues, they precisely reached the mouth of the Cave of Thaur. Arriving here, their detectives said, ‘That is it. The footsteps go no further. Therefore, either Muhammad (sa) is hiding nearby, or he has ascended to the heavens.’
“Someone said, ‘Go and check the inside of this cave as well,’ but someone else said, ‘Alas! What logic is there in such an idea? Is it possible for an individual to hide in such a cave? This is an extremely dark and dangerous place, and we have always looked upon it as such.’
“It is also narrated that after the Holy Prophet (sa) entered the cave, a spider spun a web on the tree which was located just at the entrance of the cave, and a pigeon made a nest and laid its eggs on the branch which was exactly in front of the cave.”
According to Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra), “This narration is weak, but if something of this sort happened, it is not bewildering in the least.” Although it is a weak narration, it is not a matter of great astonishment. “In some cases, a spider weaves a web over a vast area in just minutes, and it does not take long for a pigeon to make a nest and lay its eggs. Therefore, if, by His divine power, God Almighty made this happen for the protection of His messenger, it is not unbelievable; rather, considering the situation at hand, it is completely plausible. In any case, no man from the Quraish went in, and all the people returned from here.”
Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) further writes:
“It is narrated that the Quraish reached so near that their feet could be seen from inside the cave, and their voices could be heard. At this instance, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) apprehensively, but quietly, said to the Holy Prophet (sa), ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! The Quraish are so close that their feet can be seen. If they come forward even a little more, and snare in, they will be able to see us.’
“The Holy Prophet (sa) said:
لَا تَحۡزَنۡ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَنَا
“Meaning, ‘Worry not, Allah is with us.’ Then, the Holy Prophet (sa) said:
وَمَا ظَنُّكَ يَا أَبا بَكْرٍ بِإِثْنَيْنِ اللّٰهُ ثَالِثُهُمَا
“Meaning, ‘O Abu Bakr! What do you infer of those two individuals, the third of Whom is God?’
“In another narration, it is related that when the Quraish reached the mouth of the Cave, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) became very worried. When the Holy Prophet (sa) noticed his anxiety, he comforted him that there is nothing to worry about. At this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said in a weeping tone:
إِنْ قُتِلْتُ فَأَنَا رَجُلٌ وَاحِدٌ وَإِنْ قُتِلْتَ أَنْتَ فَهَلَكَتِ الْأُمَّةُ
“Meaning, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! If I am killed, I am merely one man. But if (God-forbid) you are harmed, then it is as if the entire community has been erased.’
“Upon this, after receiving revelation from God, the Holy Prophet (sa) responded in the following words:
لَا تَحۡزَنۡ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَنَا
“Meaning, ‘O Abu Bakr, do not worry at all, because Allah is with us, and we are both under His Divine protection.’
“In other words, ‘You are worried for me, and in the passion of your sincerity, you feel no grief for your own life. However, at this time, not only is God the Almighty my Protector, but yours as well, and He shall protect us from the evil of our enemy.’”
(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), p. 237-239)