The Prophets ﷺ Hijrah

“I have an idea,” said a stranger as he entered the gathering.

The leaders of Quraysh paused. They had been searching for a way to stop the Prophet ﷺ once and for all. In that tense meeting, the stranger spoke boldly: every tribe should send a young man, strike together and no single clan would be blamed.

They approved it immediately. What they did not realise was that this mysterious adviser was the devil, appearing in human form.

That night, the plan was set in motion.

Young men surrounded the Prophet’s ﷺ house, waiting for the moment he would emerge. But by Allah’s will, the Prophet ﷺ had already left. Inside his bed lay Ali (r.a), who had taken his place, remaining behind despite the danger.

The Prophet ﷺ left with Abu Bakr (r.a), heading south toward the cave of Thawr.

When Quraysh discovered the escape, they sent search parties in every direction. Among them was Suraqa ibn Malik, a skilled tracker. He followed the traces until they reached the mouth of the cave.

Inside, the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr waited in stillness. Abu Bakr feared they had been found, but the Prophet ﷺ reassured him: “Do not grieve, Allah is with us.”1

At that moment, Allah protected them in a way beyond sight. Suraqa turned away, unable to see what lay so near.

The mission of Quraysh had failed. And the journey of Hijrah continued.

Reflection:

- This moment of the Hijrah reminds us that true reliance (tawakkul) is not passive, it is trusting Allah while still taking the right steps, even when every visible sign suggests danger.

- The Quraysh carefully designed a plan meant to end the mission of the Prophet ﷺ, yet it exposes a deeper truth: human planning is always limited, while Allah’s decree is absolute and never overpowered.

- For us today, this raises a difficult but necessary question: how often do we feel overwhelmed by people, circumstances, or opposition, forgetting that none of it operates outside Allah’s control?

- The story shows that pressure and opposition are not always signs of failure. At times, they are part of Allah’s way of refining Īmān (faith), strengthening conviction, and elevating a believer’s rank.

- Most importantly, what was meant to be a moment of destruction became the beginning of a journey that changed history. This reminds us that Allah can transform the darkest situations into the very means of victory.

إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

If you do not aid him, Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved drove him out as one of two when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, “Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.” Then Allah sent down His tranquility upon him and supported him with forces you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

[Surah At-Tawbah, verse 40]