Lessons from the Hijra that can be applied to money management – part 3
Searching for Muhamad ﷺ
While the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه planned their escape from Makkah, the notables of Makkah convened an emergency session to determine the future course of action and explore all areas that could lead to the arrest the two men. They decided to block all avenues leading out of Makkah and imposed heavy armed surveillance over all potential exits. A price of 100 camels was set upon the head of each one. As a result, numerous horsemen, infantry, bounty hunters and tracers of tracks scoured the country.
Among those who were on the lookout for the Prophet was Suraqah. The following is a from a first-person account of the happening: “Bani Mudlij, a man from them [his tribe] came to us and stood up while we were sitting, and said, "O Suraqa! No doubt, I have just seen some people far away on the seashore, and I think they are Muhammad and his companions." Suraqa added, "I too realized that it must have been they. But I said 'No, it is not they, but you have seen so-and-so, and so-and-so whom we saw set out.' I stayed in the gathering for a while and then got up and left for my home and ordered my slave-girl to get my horse which was behind a hillock and keep it ready for me. Then I took my spear and left by the back door of my house dragging the lower end of the spear on the ground and keeping it low. Then I reached my horse, mounted it, and made it gallop. When I approached them (i.e. Muhammad and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه), my horse stumbled and I fell down from it, then I stood up, got hold of my quiver and took out the divining arrows and drew lots as to whether I should harm them (i.e. the Prophet (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه) or not, and the lot which I disliked came out. But I remounted my horse and let it gallop, giving no importance to the divining arrows. When I heard the recitation of the Quran by Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who did not look hither and thither while Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه was doing it often, suddenly the forelegs of my horse sank into the ground up to the knees, and I fell down from it. Then I rebuked it, and it got up but could hardly take out its forelegs from the ground, and when it stood up straight again, its fore legs caused dust to rise up in the sky like smoke. Then again, I drew lots with the divining arrows, and the lot which I disliked, came out. So, I called upon them to feel secure. They stopped, and I remounted my horse and went to them. When I saw how I had been hampered from harming them, it came to my mind that the cause of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (i.e., Islam) will become victorious. So, I said to him, "Your people have assigned a reward equal to the blood-money for your head." Then I told them all the plans the people of Mecca had made concerning them. Then I offered them some journey food and goods, but they refused to take anything and did not ask for anything, but the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not tell others about us." Then I requested him to write for me a statement of security and peace. He ordered 'Amr bin Fuhaira who wrote it for me on a parchment, and then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) proceeded on his way.”
This is one of the many examples indicating that the Messenger ﷺ was under the Divine Protection which manifested itself on many occasions such as when he was milking a goat without milk and hiding in the cave of Thawr.
Lessons
The first lesson that emerges is that we should plan with tawakkul. These are some of the many examples throughout the Prophetic mission where intense planning was put in place, yet, ultimately salvation came in an unusual way from our Lord who says “And remember, O Prophet, when the disbelievers conspired to capture, kill, or exile you. They planned, but Allah also planned. And Allah is the best of planners.”
The second prominent lesson is that Allah can change the condition of a people in ways which may seem impossible. We see Suraqa is on the verge of killing the Prophetﷺ, yet quickly realises that he will need protection from the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ goes a step further and promises the bracelets of Kisra, head of the Persians, a superpower at the time to Suraqa. While fleeing from the Makkans and their associates, the Prophet is without an army and hardly any material protection. Shortly thereafter, during the Caliphate of Umar ضي الله عنه, the Persians are eventually conquered by the Muslim army and surqa is given the bracelets. Often, we look at our situation and cannot imagine it being able to change, however, we see numerous examples of how “Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit”.
Extracts from the Prophetic Biography is adapted from Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar): Biography of the Prophet – by Sheikh Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarkpuri.
Allah Knows Best.