The Pursuit of Suraqah bin Malik (II)
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)