The Hijrat (migration) of Prophet Muhammad(saw)

Life for Prophet Muhammad (saw) and Muslims was becoming more and more difficult and dangerous in makka as the Quraish idol worshippers increasingly

tortured and harassed them.

After the pledges of Aqaba, the People of Madina(Yathrib) began converting to Islam in large numbers.

Hence it was time for the Prophet and his small group of Muslims to leave Makka and go to Madina

Muslims were beaten and torturedhazrat Bilal

The Muslims leave Makka

• One by one the Muslims left Makka for Madina(Yathrib) without raising any suspicion amongst the enemy.

• The enemies (quraysh) soon found out and realized that the Muslims were getting support in Madina and they were worried. They called a meeting and decided to kill the holy prophet (saw). They decided that all the tribes would send one person to form the group that would carry out this evil deed

Muslims were beaten and harraseduntil they left Makka for Yathrib

Prophet (saw) informedALLAH swt sent Angel Jibrail to inform the Prophet of the plan of the enemies and also commanded him to

leave Makka immediately.

Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) informed Imam Ali (as) about the dangerous situation and his plan to

migrate to Yathrib (Madina).

Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) asked Imam Ali (as) if he would sleep in his bed covering himself with Holy Prophet

Muhammad's (saw) blanket.

It was a dangerous situation!Anybody could peep in and see whether Holy Prophet (saw)

was in the house or not? But when Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) asked Imam Ali (as) if he would accept this

dangerous mission, Imam Ali (as) replied;"If I sleep in your place, in your bed, will your life be

saved?" "Yes," replied Holy Prophet (saw)

Imam Ali(as) immediately agreed and thanked ALLAH (swt) for giving him this opportunity

Imam Ali (as) slept in the bed of Holy Prophet (saw) without any hesitation.

ALLAH (swt) was so pleased with imam Ali’s(as) action that he revealed this verse;

"And among men there is who sells himself (soul ) seeking the pleasure of God; and verily, God is affectionate unto

His (faithful) servants." Qur'an (2:207)

The holy Prophet (saw) left his house to begin his journey. As he came out of the house he threw some sand towards

the men who were waiting to kill him and recited the following verse of Noble Qur'an:

"And We have made before them a barrier and a barrier behind them, then We have covered them over so that they

do not see." (Quran36:9)

While the Prophet(saw) was leaving , he met Abu Bakr, who insisted on accompanying the prophet (saw). They left Makka and went to hide in a

cave known as Thawr.

• Before dawn, the killers rushed towards the Prophet’s bed with drawn swords in their hands, but to their surprise, they found Imam Ali (as) in his place.

• When the Quraish realized that Prophet (saw) had left Makkah, they blocked all exit routes and hired trackers to track the prophet’s(saw), route through footprints and other signs

Inside the cave of Thawr

The trackers managed to trace the Prophet (saw) to the cave of Thawr. As they approached the cave, Abubakar heard them and became

frightened and started crying. Prophet Muhammad (Saw) Reassured him saying: "Have no fear, for Allah is with us":

This is also revealed in verse of Quran

and he said to his companion, "Have no fear, for Allah is with us": then Allah sent down His peace upon him, and strengthened him with

forces which you saw not, Quran 9:40

When the enemies approached the cave, they saw that its entrance was covered by a spider's web and blocked by a bird’s nest, full of eggs

The men thought that if anybody would want to enter the cave , they would have to break the web and the birds nest would be disturbed and eggs broken. And since both the web and nest with it’s eggs were intact, nobody would be

inside the cave. They thus turned away to look elsewhere.By this miracle Allah (SWT) protected His beloved messenger.

The entrance to the cave of Thawr

Spider’s web

Bird’s nest

The Prophet (saw) remained in the cave for three days and nights. On one of these nights Imam Ali (as) came to visit him.

the Prophet (saw) told him to arrange for camels for Abu Bakr and himself.

The Prophet (saw) also directed Imam Ali (as) to return all valuables and possessions that people had left with him for safe keeping and thereafter leave Makka with the Prophet’s daughter –Fatima Zahra (as), and Fatima bint Asad (imam ali’s

Mother) as well as anyone else who wished to leave.

The First Mosque Of Islam- Quba

The Prophet (as) and AbuBakr left the cave on the 4th day and arrived at Quba which

was near Madina (Yathrib) On the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal.The Prophet (as) awaited for Imam Ali(as) to arrive and in the meantime he laid the

foundation of the first Mosque in Islam- the Mosque of Quba

After fulfilling his mission Imam Ali (as) left Makka with Fatima Zahra (as), his mother Fatima bint Asad and others. At first, the Quraishcaught up with Imam Ali(as) and tried to block their way. Imam Ali(as) drew his sword and challenged them. The enemies knew they would not be able to match the “Lion of ALLAH” and they retreated. They reached Quba three days after the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (saw), Imam’s legs were so bruised that he could hardly walk. Prophet Muhammad (saw) embraced him most affectionately, blessed his hurt legs with the saliva from his own mouth which healed Imam Ali's (as)

swollen legs.

painting of the early years of the city of Madina (Yathrib)