The Pursuit of Suraqah bin Malik

The incident in relation to the pursuit of Suraqah bin Malik is as follows:

Urayqit, who was an exceptionally skilful guide, started the journey towards Medina from the coastal towns, which was a different route from the traditional route to Medina. The news of 100 camels as a reward had spread in Mecca and its neighbouring areas and everyone was desirous of attaining this huge reward. Suraqah bin Malik, who later became a Muslim, related this incident after having embraced Islam:

“The disbelievers amongst the Quraish sent a messenger who announced a bounty for whosoever brought back the Holy Prophet (sa) or Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), dead or alive.”

Suraqah further relates:

“I was sitting in a gathering of my people, the Banu Mudlij, when someone came to us. He was standing there whilst we were all sat and he said, ‘O Suraqah! I have just seen some shadows from the coast of the sea’, or he said, ‘I have seen a caravan consisting of three people and I believe that it is Muhammad (sa).’”

Suraqah says:

“I immediately figured that this must be them, but I wanted to acquire all the reward for myself and so I quickly took control of the delicate situation and signalled with my eye to the person who brought this news to remain quiet and I said, ‘No, it cannot be the caravan of Muhammad (sa), in fact the people you are referring to have just passed in front of us and belong to such and such tribe who are searching for their lost camels.’”

Suraqah says:

“Having remained sat there for a short while so as not to raise any suspicion, I left the gathering and came to my lady servant and said, ‘Saddle my fast-paced horse and take it to the rear of the home and wait there for me.’”

Suraqah later arrived there and states:

“I then took an omen, which turned out to be against my journey; however, I showed no concern and kicked the horse with my foot and raced off in pursuit of the caravan which I believed to be the caravan of Muhammad (sa).”

Suraqah says:

“Quickly covering the distances, I reached close to the caravan. I was still a little distance away when something unusual happened and my horse struck something and I fell off it. I stood up and again took an omen, which yet again turned out against my wish, but I wanted to take back Muhammad (sa) with me and receive the award of 100 camels. I stood up and mounted my horse again and now I was so close that not only was I able to recognise that this was Muhammad (sa) and Abu Bakr, but I could also hear Muhammad (sa) recite something. Once again, my horse badly struck something and its feet were driven into the ground and I fell off it. I regained myself and scolded the horse; however, the horse was unable to hoist them out of the ground. Finally, when it was able to stand upright, the dust from its two feet spread into the air like a cloud of smoke.” In other words, the feet of the horse had been so firmly driven into the ground that when it took them out, there was a cloud of dust.

Suraqah states:

“I again took an omen by a throw of arrows and again the outcome was that which I did not desire. And so, whilst stood in that very place, I gave a call to settle the matter and said, ‘you will not receive any harm from me.’”

Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) turned towards Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and said, “Ask him what is it that he wants”, to which Suraqah replied, “I am Suraqah and I wish to speak to you all.” And so, they stopped and Suraqah then told them that the people of Mecca had announced a reward of 100 camels for whoever captured them dead or alive. He stated, “In order to attain this reward, I came in pursuit of you; however, after seeing what has happened to me, I am convinced that this plan of mine is not right.”

After this, he also offered some provisions to the Holy Prophet (sa), but the Holy Prophet (sa) did not accept them and only stated that their whereabouts should be kept secret. Suraqah gave his promise and along with this he also stated, “I am sure that someday you will become a king. Please give me a written declaration of peace so that when I come in your presence, I am treated respectfully.”

According to a narration, Suraqah requested for a written declaration of peace, and upon the instruction of the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) wrote this for him and according to another narration, it was Aamir bin Fuhairah who wrote it. Following this, Suraqah took the written declaration and returned.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Manaqib, Bab Hijrat al-Nabi (sa) wa Ashabih ila al-Madinah, Hadith 3906) (Mustafa Abd al-Wahid, Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad fi Sirat Khair al-Ibad, Vol. 3, Qissat Suraqah [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1993], p. 248) (Abdul Hameed Jaudah al-Sahhar, Muhammad (sa) Rasulullah walladhina ma‘ahu, Vol. 3 [Egypt: Maktabah Misr], pp. 64-65)

Accounts from the life of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) were being related two sermons ago and it was mentioned that Suraqah, in greed of the reward, also set out in pursuit of the Holy Prophet (sa). However, when the decree of Allah the Almighty created hurdles before him, he requested the Holy Prophet (sa) to grant him protection when he would come into rule and he also requested the Holy Prophet (sa) for this to be put into writing.

There are various narrations in this regard. According to one narration, the Holy Prophet (sa) addressed him whilst he was returning and said, “O Suraqah! What shall be your state when the bangles of the Chosroes shall be on your wrists?” Suraqah turned around in astonishment and said, “Chosroes, the son of Hormizd?” The Holy Prophet (sa) said, “Yes, Chosroes, son of Hormizd.” Hence, during the era of Hazrat Umar’s (ra) Khilafat, when the bangles, crown and girdle of the Chosroes were brought before him, he called for Suraqah and said, “Raise your hands.” He then placed the bangles around his wrists and said, “Proclaim that all praise belongs to Allah the Almighty, Who seized both of these from the Chosroes, son of Hormizd and granted them to you.”

(Abdul Hameed Jaudah al-Sahhar, Muhammadur-Rasulullahi walladhina ma‘ahu, Vol. 3, al-Hijrah [Egypt: Maktabat Misr], p. 65)

It is also mentioned that Suraqah did not accept Islam during this migration, but did so when the Holy Prophet (sa) was returning from Hunain and Ta‘if at a place called Ji‘ranah. Ji‘ranah is the name of a well located close to Mecca and on the way towards Ta‘if. [On that occasion] the Holy Prophet (sa) said to Suraqah, “What shall be your state when you shall wear the bangles of the Chosroes?”

(Bukhari Sharh al-Karmani, Vol. 14, p. 178, Bad‘ al-Khalq, Bab Alamat al-Nubuwwahfi al-Islam, Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut) (Sayyid Fadl al-Rahman, Farhang-e-Sirat [Karachi, Pakistan: Zawwar Academy Publications, 2003], p. 88)

In Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin [The Life and Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa)], Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) has related this in the following manner:

“The Holy Prophet (sa) started off, but only a short time had passed when Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) noticed that a man was racing his horse in pursuit of them. Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) worriedly said, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! A man pursues us.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Do not worry, Allah is with us.’ This pursuant was Suraqah bin Malik, who describes the tale of his pursuance in the following words, ‘When the Holy Prophet (sa) left Mecca, the infidels of the Quraish announced that whosoever brings back the Holy Prophet (sa) or Abu Bakr (ra) dead or alive, shall be given such and such a bounty, and this announcement was given to us through their messengers as well.’” Suraqah said this. “‘After this, one day, I was sitting in a gathering of my people, the Banu Mudlij, when one man from the Quraish came to us and addressed me saying, “I have just seen two personages to the coast of the sea. I perceive that perhaps they are Muhammad (sa) and his companions.” Suraqah says, ‘I immediately figured that this must be them.’”

Following this, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) has mentioned the details of this incident including Suraqah’s pursuit, the omen not showing in his favour and also his horse sinking into the sand, all of which have already been mentioned. Nevertheless, Suraqah says:

“This entire ordeal led me to believe that this man’s star is prosperous and that in the end, the Holy Prophet (sa) would be victorious. Therefore, in a gesture of peace, I said, ‘Your people have set such and such a bounty for your assassination or capture, and people have planned such and such [conspiracy] against you. I also came with the same intention, but now I shall return.’”

Then, with regard to further details regarding Suraqah and the prophecy of the bangles of Chosroes, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) writes:

“When Suraqah was about to return, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘What shall be your state when the bangles of the Chosroes shall be on your wrists?’ Flabbergasted, Suraqah enquired, ‘Chosroes, son of Hormizd, the Emperor of Iran?’ ‘Yes’, responded the Holy Prophet (sa). Suraqah’s eyes were left wide open in amazement. A Bedouin of the Arabian Desert and the bangles of the Chosroes, Emperor of Iran! But look at the display of the power of truth. When Iran was conquered in the reign of Hazrat Umar (ra), the treasure of the Chosroes came to the Muslims as spoils of war. The bangles of the Chosroes also came to Medina in these spoils. Hazrat Umar (ra) summoned Suraqah, who had become Muslim after the Fall of Mecca, and put the bangles of the Chosroes on his wrists, which were laden with precious jewels.”

(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), pp. 240-242)

Hazrat Musleh Mau’d’s (ra) Narration

Whilst mentioning this incident, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) states:

“The Meccans announced a reward of 100 camels for whoever caught Muhammad (sa) or Abu Bakr (ra), dead or alive. The announcement was made among the tribes around Mecca. Tempted by the reward, Suraqah bin Malik, a Bedouin chief, started in pursuit of the party and ultimately sighted them on the road to Medina. Upon seeing the two mounted camels, he realised that it was the Holy Prophet (sa) and Abu Bakr (ra), he spurred on his horse after them.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) then mentioned the entire incident of Suraqah’s horse stumbling and falling and also him seeking an omen [by throwing arrows]. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) continues:

“Suraqah says: ‘The Holy Prophet (sa) rode with dignity, and did not look back. Abu Bakr (ra), however, looked back again and again evidently, out of fear for the safety of the Holy Prophet (sa).’”

After mentioning the details of the incident whereby Suraqah pursued after them, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) writes:

“Just as Suraqah was about to leave, the Holy Prophet (sa) received a revelation from Allah the Almighty about the future events and said, ‘Suraqah, how wilt thou feel with the gold bangles of the Chosroes on thy wrists?’ In utter astonishment, Suraqah asked, ‘Which Chosroes? Chosroes bin Hormizd, the Emperor of Iran?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Yes’.

“Sixteen or seventeen years later, the prophecy was literally fulfilled. Suraqah accepted Islam and went to Medina. After the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa), first Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), and then Hazrat Umar (ra) became the Khalifas of Islam. The growing influence of Islam led the Iranians to attack the Muslims but, instead of defeating the Muslims, they themselves were defeated. The capital of Iran fell to the Muslims who captured its treasures, including the gold bangles which the Chosroes wore when he would sit on the royal throne.

“After becoming a Muslim, Suraqah used to relate the incident of the migration with great pride. Thus, the Muslims were well aware that the Holy Prophet (sa) had stated to him, ‘Suraqah, how wilt thou feel with the gold bangles of the Chosroes on thy wrists?’

“When the spoils of the war were placed before Hazrat Umar (ra), he saw the gold bangles of Chosroes and recalled that very incident. It was a time of weakness in which the Messenger (sa) of Allah was forced to leave his city and migrate to Medina, and the reason why Suraqah and other men raced their horses in pursuit of him was so that they could somehow bring him back to the Meccans alive and acquire the reward of 100 camels. It was in such a time that the Holy Prophet (sa) stated, ‘Suraqah, how wilt thou feel with the gold bangles of the Chosroes on thy wrists?’ How grand a prophecy this was and how manifestly clear was this news of the unseen. When Hazrat Umar (ra) saw the bangles of Chosroes before him, the power of God was visible before his eyes.

“He, therefore, sent for Suraqah. When Suraqah came, Hazrat Umar (ra) ordered him to put on the gold bangles. Suraqah stated, ‘O Khalifa of the Messenger (sa) of Allah! It is forbidden for Muslims to wear gold.’ Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, ‘This is true, but not for occasions such as this one. Allah the Almighty had shown the Holy Prophet (sa) that Chosroes’ gold bangles were on your wrists; therefore either you wear them now or I will punish you.’ Suraqah was only objecting out of deference to the Shariah; otherwise, he was as eager as anyone else to provide visible proof of the fulfilment of the great prophecy. Suraqah put on the bangles and Muslims witnessed with their very eyes the fulfilment of this grand prophecy.”

(Dibachah Tafsir-ul-Quran, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 20, pp. 224-226)

It is further mentioned that on his way back, Suraqah encountered an envoy that was sent to seek out the Holy Prophet (sa). They asked Suraqah for any information about the Holy Prophet (sa), but Suraqah not only refrained from telling them anything, he also spoke to them in a manner that caused them to halt their search.

(Mustafa Abd al-Wahid, Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad fi Sirat Khair al-Ibad, Vol. 3, Jama Abwab al-Hijrah ila al-Medina [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1993], p. 249)