The Cave of Thaur

According to one narration, as the Holy Prophet (sa) walked upon the mountainous terrain towards Cave Thaur, his feet became injured.

( Muhammad (sa) Rasulullahi Walladhina Ma‘ahu, Abdul Hameed, Vol. 3, p. 59, Baab Al-Hijrat, Egypt)

According to another narration, his foot hit a rock along the way, causing injury.

(Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 1, p. 568, Tarikh Qabal al-Hijrat, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1987)

When they reached Cave Thaur, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) requested the Holy Prophet (sa) to wait outside, while he went inside and cleaned the cave thoroughly, and if there was anything dangerous inside, he would be the one to encounter it. Thus, he went inside and cleaned the cave, and he blocked any holes and crevices with his own clothes. Then he invited the Holy Prophet (sa) inside. It is stated that the Holy Prophet (sa) lay down and placed his head on Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) thigh. There was one hole which Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) either did not have enough cloth to block or had not seen, and so he covered it with his foot. It is recorded that either a scorpion or snake kept biting him through this hole, but out of fear of disturbing the Holy Prophet (sa) by moving, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) remained still. When the Holy Prophet (sa) awoke, he noticed that the colour of Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) face had changed, and asked what was wrong. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) explained what had happened, upon which the Holy Prophet (sa) applied his blessed saliva [to the wound] on his foot, and it healed as if nothing had even happened.

(Sharh al-Zurqani, Vol. 2, p. 121, Bab Hijrat al-Mustafa wa Sahabahu Ila al-Medina, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1996)

The Meccans Deploy Expert Trackers and Reach the Cave of Thaur

And after scouring Mecca to no avail, they deployed expert trackers to every corner of Mecca. One of the chiefs of Mecca, Umayya bin Khalaf took an expert tracker with him and set out along with his counterparts. There is no doubt that this tracker was exceptionally skilled. In fact, he cannot be complimented enough, for he was the only tracker who was able to trace the Holy Prophet (sa) footprints to Cave Thaur, and once there, he said that Muhammad’s (sa) footprints stopped there and did not go any further.”

Allama Baladhuri has stated that the tracker’s name was Alqama bin Kurz, and writes that he accepted Islam during the Conquest of Mecca. They were standing and talking by the mouth of the cave, and not only were the two migrants [the Holy Prophet (sa) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)] hidden inside the very same cave, they could hear what the people outside were saying. In fact, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) states, “I could see their feet, and by God, if even one of them were to look inside, we would have been caught.” However, in this time of danger and hardship, those two were not alone; rather, God was the Third among them, Who has control over the earth and the heavens and power over all things.

(Subul al-Huda wa al-Rishad, Vol. 3, p. 241, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1993) (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Fazail Ashaab al-Nabi, Baab Manaqib-ul-Muhajireen wa Fazlehim, Narration 3653)

Before those people arrived, He caused a tree to grow through His miraculous power, He sent a spider which spun a web at the mouth of the cave, and He sent a pair of birds who made a nest and laid eggs. This is all recorded in the narration.

(Al-Muwahib al-Ladunniyyah, Allama Qastallani, Vol. 1, pp. 292-292, Al-Maktab Al-Islami, Beirut, 2004)

His Anxiety about the Holy Prophet (sa) being Captured at the Cave of Thaur

اِلَّا تَنۡصُرُوۡهُ فَقَدۡ نَصَرَهُ اللّٰهُ اِذۡ اَخۡرَجَهُ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا ثَانِيَ اثۡنَيۡنِ اِذۡ هُمَا فِي الۡغَارِ اِذۡ يَقُوۡلُ لِصَاحِبِهٖ لَا تَحۡزَننۡ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَنَاۚ فَاَنۡزَلَ اللّٰهُ سَكِيۡنَتَهٗ عَلَيۡهِ وَ اَيَّدَهٗ بِجُنُوۡدٍ لَّمۡ تَرَوۡهَا وَ جَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوا السُّفۡلٰي ؕ وَ كَلِمَةُ اللّٰهِ هِيَ الۡعُلۡيَا ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ عَزِيۡزٌ حَكِيۡمٌ

In the previous sermon, the incident of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) with regard to Cave Thaur was being mentioned. In the aforementioned verse of the Holy Quran, which relates to this incident whereby the enemies had reached Cave Thaur, Allah the Almighty says, the translation of which is:

“If you help him not, then [know that] Allah helped him [even] when the disbelievers drove him forth while he was one of the two when they were both in the cave, when he said to his companion, ‘Grieve not, for Allah is with us.’ Then Allah sent down His peace on him, and strengthened him with hosts which you did not see, and humbled the word of those who disbelieved, and it is the word of Allah alone which is supreme. And Allah is Mighty, Wise.” (Ch.9: V.40)

This has been mentioned in the Holy Quran in relation to the incident that took place in Cave Thaur. The disbelievers of Mecca were speaking to one another at the entrance of the cave. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) heard them and became anxious as to what would happen if they were to capture the Holy Prophet (sa) at this place because the entire religion of Islam was due to the blessed life of the Holy Prophet (sa). When the Holy Prophet (sa) noticed that Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was becoming anxious, he said:

لَا‭ ‬تَحۡزَنۡ‭ ‬اِنَّ‭ ‬اللّٰهَ‭ ‬مَعَنَا

“Grieve not, for Allah is with us (O Abu Bakr).”

(Sharh al-Zurqani ala al-Mawahib al-Laduniyyah, Vol. 2 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1996], pp. 122-123)

The Enemy turns back from the Cave of Thaur

The enemy followed the Holy Prophet (sa) and when they reached the mountain where the Cave Thaur was located, the person who was searching their tracks said, “I cannot tell where these two individuals went from here.” When they reached near the cave, he said, “By God! The person you are pursuing did not go beyond this point.”

(Tarikh al-Khamis, Vol. 2, p. 15, fi Waqai‘ al-Sanah al-Ula min al-Hijrah, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2009)

When the person searching the tracks uttered these words at the entrance of the cave, and at this point someone even wanted to take a look inside the cave, Umayya bin Khalaf said in a rather harsh and careless manner, “I have seen this web and tree here even before Muhammad (sa) was born. You must have lost your mind. How could he be here? Let us leave this place and look for him elsewhere.”

Having said this, the people returned.

(Allama Qastallani, Al-Mawahib al-Laduniyyah, Vol. 1, pp. 292-293, Al-Maktabah al-Islami, Beirut, 2004)

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)

Departure from the Cave of Thaur

At the same time, since three days had passed, Abdullah bin Urayqit brought the camels according to the agreed plan.

A narration of Sahih al-Bukhari mentions that it was settled with Abdullah bin Urayqit that after three days had passed, he would bring the camels with him the next morning.

(Ibn Hisham, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, p. 344, Hijrat al-Rasul, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah Beirut, 2008) (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib al-Ansar, Bab Hijrat al-Nabi (sa), Hadith 3905) (Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, Ibn Hajr Asqalani, Vol. 7, p. 238, Dar al-Ma‘rifah, Beirut)

From this narration, it seems that the journey from Cave Thaur to Medina began in the morning; however, from another narration of Bukhari, it is clarified that the journey, in fact, started in the evening. Whilst mentioning Abdullah bin Urayqit, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) writes:

“The Holy Prophet (sa) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) had entrusted their camels to him, and explained that after three nights, on the morning of the third day, to reach the Cave of Thaur with their camels. Therefore, as per the agreement, he reached there. This is a famous narration of Bukhari, but historians write that the Holy Prophet (sa) left during the night time, and this itself is supported by another narration of Bukhari. Moreover, the idea that the Holy Prophet (sa) departed at night seems to be the most believable notion as well.”

(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), p. 239-240)

The Holy Prophet (sa) left the cave on the night of Monday, 1 Rabi‘ al-Awal and continued the journey. According to Ibn Saad, the Holy Prophet (sa) left the cave on the night of Monday 4 Rabi‘ al-Awal.

(Tarikh al-Khamis, Vol. 2, p. 15, Dhikr Khurujihsa ma‘a Abi Bakr (ra) min Makkah, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2009)

The first date was narrated by Khamis and the commentator of Sahih al-Bukhari, Allamah Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani writes that Imam Hakim states that there are numerous narrations which state that the Holy Prophet (sa) left Mecca on Monday and arrived in Medina on Monday as well, except for Muhammad bin Musa Khwarizmi. He stated that the Holy Prophet (sa) left Mecca on Thursday.

In order to reconcile these different narrations, Allama Ibn Hajar writes that the Holy Prophet (sa) left Mecca on Thursday and after spending three nights in the cave, i.e. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, he left for Medina on the night of Monday.

(Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, Ibn Hajr Asqalani,Vol. 7, p. 299, Qadimi Kutub Khana Maqabil, Arambagh, Karachi)

The camel which the Holy Prophet (sa) mounted himself upon is said to be Al-Qaswa. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) mounted a camel along with Aamir bin Fuhairah, while Urayqit mounted on a camel of his own. The total wealth that Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) had at the time in his home was five to six thousand dirhams and he brought this with him. According to some narrations, Aamir bin Fuhairah and Hazrat Asma (ra) came with the food which consisted of roasted goat meat. Upon reaching there they realised that they had no cloth to tie the food and water vessel with. Hazrat Asma (ra) loosened her girdle and ripped it into two pieces. With one of the pieces, she tied the food and with the other piece, she tied the water vessel. Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) gave Hazrat Asma (ra) the glad tidings of two girdles in Paradise. He then told everyone to leave and started his journey with the following prayer:

اللّٰهُمَّ‭ ‬اصْحَبْنِيْ‭ ‬فِيْ‭ ‬سَفَرِيْ‭ ‬وَاخْلُفْنِيْ‭ ‬فِيْ‭ ‬أَهْلِيْ

“O Allah! Become my Companion in this journey of mine and become the Guardian of my family.”

(Abdul Hameed Jaudah al-Sahhar, Muhammad (sa) Rasulullah walladhina ma‘ahu, Vol. 3 [Egypt: Maktabah Misr], p. 61)(Ibn Hisham, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, p. 345, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2001)

Departure from the Cave of Thaur (Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib’s (ra) Narration)

Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) writes:

“After he left the cave, the Holy Prophet (sa) mounted himself upon a camel which in light of various narrations, was named Al-Qaswa, while Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and his servant, Aamir bin Fuhairah mounted upon the other. Upon his departure, the Holy Prophet (sa) cast a final glance towards Mecca and said in intense grief, ‘O city of Mecca! You are more beloved to me than all the places of the world, but your people have not allowed me to live here.’ At that time, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, ‘These people have exiled their prophet. Indeed, they shall be destroyed.’”

(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), p. 240)

Departure from the Cave of Thaur (Hazrat Musleh Mau’d’s (ra) Narration)

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) states:

“After waiting two days in the cave, according to the agreed plan, the mounts were brought near the cave in the night and the Holy Prophet (sa) and his companions set out on fleet camels. The Holy Prophet (sa) and the guide were mounted on one of the camels.”

It is also mentioned in the narrations that both were mounted on one camel and according to other narrations there were three camels. In any case, “Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and his servant, Aamir bin Fuhairah were mounted on the other camel. Just before departing for Medina, the Holy Prophet (sa) turned towards the direction of Mecca – the holy city which was his birthplace, where his advent took place and the place where his ancestors from the time of Hazrat Ishmaelas had been living. The Holy Prophet (sa) cast a final glance and addressed the city with great anguish, ‘O city of Mecca, you are more beloved to me than all the places of the world, but your people have not allowed me to live here.’ At that time, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said with great regret, ‘These people have exiled their prophet. Indeed they shall be destroyed.’”

(Dibachah Tafsir-ul-Quran, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 20, pp. 223-224) (Ibn Hisham, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, p. 344, Hijrat al-Rasul (sa), Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2001)