Episode 31: On the Way to Madinah
Enlisting a Guide:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Abu Bakr enlisted the services of Abdullah ibn Uraiqit so they could go to Madinah without being detected by the Quraysh.
Abdullah ibn Uraiqit was not a Muslim but he was very trustworthy.
On the way, they met a tribe called Jush’um, who saw Abu Bakr, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Abdullah ibn Uraiqit passing through on a caravan.
The people of Jush’um thought that they were the people that the Quraysh were looking for.
Encounter with Suraqah ibn Malik:
Suraqah ibn Malik wanted to claim the prize of one hundred camels that the Quraysh set for himself. Because of this, he told the people of Jush’um that he knew the people on the caravan and it wasn’t who the Quraysh were looking for.
Suraqah ibn Malik went on his horse and started to chase the caravan, he was an expert horse rider and he had never fallen off his horse before.
Abu Bakr would move around in the caravan to make sure he was constantly circling the Prophet.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked Abu Bakr: why are you doing this? Abu Bakr replied: ya Rasoolullah, just in case anyone finds us, I want to make sure that I am in the way between your enemy and you.
The Prophet then told Abu Bakr: don’t worry, Allah SWT is with us.
Suraqah ibn Malik got so close to the caravan and he had a bow and an arrow.
Abu Bakr saw the man behind them and got worried but the Prophet remained calm as he knew Allah SWT would protect them.
When Suraqah picked up his bow and arrow to shoot, the feet of his horse slipped into the sand and he fell off his horse. He got back on his horse and went to catch up with the caravan and again, when he was about to shoot his arrow, the horse fell.
He chased them for a third time and the same thing happened.
Suraqah realised that this was something that was not normal and he called out to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and said: ya Rasoolullah, I am Suraqah ibn Malik, I just want to come and talk to you, I promise I will not harm you.
Suraqah then went to the Prophet and said: I want a promise of safety from you. The Prophet granted this promise of security but attached a condition to it.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said to Suraqah: the condition is you don’t tell anybody that you saw us, and if anyone asks about us, you mislead them.
Suraqah ibn Malik agreed to this condition and as he was leaving, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to him: How will it be Suraqah on the day Suraqah, when you are wearing the bracelets of the Kisra.
Suraqah ibn Malik went back and kept his word to not tell anybody about encountering the Prophet.
Visit to Umm Ma’bad:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Abu Bakr and Abdullah ibn Uraiqit stopped by the tent of a woman named Umm Ma’bad.
They asked her if she had any food or drink but Umm Ma’bad was very poor and had no food to provide.
Miracle of the Prophet:
The Prophet ﷺ saw a weak old goat and asked Umm Ma’bad if he could milk it, and she told the Prophet that the goat produced no milk.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then said ‘Bismillah’ and began to milk the goat. After doing this, milk flowed out in large quantities.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ distributed the milk to Umm Ma’bad, Abu Bakr and Abdullah ibn Uraiqit.
After doing this, the Prophet asked Umm Ma’bad to bring all of the vessels that she had and filled all of them with milk so that she could use it in the future.
Umm Ma’bad’s Wonderful Description of the Prophet:
When Abu Ma’bad, the husband of Umm Ma’bad, returned home and saw all of the milk they had at their disposal, he asked his wife if anyone had come. She replied: Yes, a blessed man!
Abu Ma’bad asked for the description of this man.
Umm Ma’bad then described the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and said: He is distinctly handsome with a beautiful face. He is well-built. The pupils of his eyes are dark, he has long eyelashes and the area around the pupils are very white. His eyebrows are perfectly close and he has very dark hair. He has a long neck and a thick beard. When he remains silent, you feel awe when looking at him. When he speaks, eminence exhibits in his words. His words are like pearls. He is a gifted orator whose words are neither too few nor too many. He has the clearest speech and the most audible voice. When you look at him from afar, he is the most handsome of all people, and when you move closer to him, he is the most pleasant of all people. You will never be tired of looking at him. He is like a branch between two branches and he is the most handsome of the three and the most important of them. He has companions that honour him. When he speaks, they listen to his words and when he commands, they are quick to carry out their order. He neither frowns nor nags (he is always smiling).
This was considered the greatest physical description of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Arrival in Madinah:
The journey to Madinah took three days and on the 12th of Rabbi al-Awwal, on a Monday, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ finally arrived in the city.
This was the beginning of a new era in the history of Islam.
Suraqah ibn Malik’s Promise Fulfilled:
The promise of safety for Suraqah ibn Malik came in handy eight years later.
In the battle of Ta’if, Suraqah was a prisoner and when he was captured, he told the Muslims: I have a promise of security from your Prophet. Take me to him.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ didn’t recognise him at first and asked him: who are you? The man replied: Suraqah ibn Malik.
The Prophet then remembered and said: Yes, I remember you and that was a day when you showed loyalty and you kept your promise. And today, I keep my promise to you and you are free to go.
After this, Suraqah ibn Malik accepted Islam.
Suraqah ibn Malik and the Bracelets of the Kisra:
After the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ passed away, during the Caliph of Umar ibn al-Khattab, the Muslims conquered the Persian Empire.
All of the treasures of the Kisra were at the disposal of Umar and he called for Suraqah.
Umar ibn al-Khattab took the bracelets of the Kisra from the treasure and gave them to him and told Suraqah: walk amongst the people and let them see what you are wearing on your hands.
Umar ibn al-Khattab said: tell the people what the Messenger of Allah said to you on the day of Hijrah.
Suraqah then told the gathering that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said to him: how will it be on the day Suraqah, when you are wearing the bracelets of the Kisra.