Delivery of Food During the Migration

This incident of tying the food was previously mentioned that it took place when they were departing from the house of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). However, in this narration, it is reported to have taken place at this particular occasion. Thus, there are two different occasions reported in history as to when this particular incident took place. Some are of the opinion that this incident took place when the Holy Prophet (sa) was migrating from Mecca and was leaving from the house of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and was going towards the cave of Thaur. However, another opinion is that this incident took place when the Holy Prophet (sa) was leaving the cave of Thaur and migrating towards Medina. In any case, there are two narrations; however, based on the details of the migration which have been mentioned by Hazrat Aisha (ra) and recorded in Bukhari, it seems that this incident took place when they were leaving from the house of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). Thus, it is deemed more appropriate to give preference to the narration of Bukhari. This is because firstly, due to the confidentiality of their stay in the Cave of Thaur, it seems unlikely that Hazrat Asma (ra) would go there to take food. Hazrat Abdullah bin Abi Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Aamir bin Fuhairahra were already going there secretly every day, therefore for a woman to go there [in such circumstances] would go against the measures adopted for security and precaution. Nevertheless, the incident of tying the food with her girdle in the home also demonstrates Hazrat Asma’sra devotion and extreme love [for the Holy Prophet (sa)] as she did not want to waste any time by looking for something else to tie the food with. Of course, it can be said that this took place in the cave because there was nothing available there to tie the food with, but this incident could have taken place in the home as well whereby she did not find something immediately and so to save time she took her girdle and tied the food with it and thus helped to see Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and the Holy Prophet (sa) off on their journey. Hence, according to the narration of Bukhari, it seems more accurate that the incident of tying the food took place when they were about to leave from the house of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) as opposed to leaving from the cave of Thaur for Medina. In any case, Allah knows best.