OCCASION OF THE REVELATION (VERSE NO. 30)

      A meeting of the chiefs, leaders, and influentials of Mecca was held in a hall called, `DطR- AL- NADVEH' which they had it for important consulting purposes. The object of the meeting was to decide on what was to be done against Mohammad and his followers.

      A neat, handsome, old stranger man too, who claimed to have come from Najd, took part in the meeting! He seemed indeed to be the devil incarnation, who attracted all the attentions by his words.

      They suggested to arrest Mohammad, and put him in a jail in order to get rid of his actions and endeavours.

      The old devil objected saying; `His followers who love him ardently will soon release him from the prison.'

       They suggested to expel him, but the Devil of Najd did not like that too! He said: `Mohammad is very eloquent, and has a mysterious attraction; and wherever you exile him to, he will attract people to himself and prepare them against you, while he is out of your reach and access!'

      One of the chief tribe said: ``Let us kill Mohammad at once and get rid of him for ever.''

      Again the old devil said No! He reasoned: ``His family, the HASHEMITES, with the help of his companions may take a dreadful vengeance, and a civil war may break in between the various tribes of Mecca!

      ``Then let us have your opinion and proposal.'' Said the members of the meeting to the stranger. He said to them: ``Elect a young brave man from each group and each clan in the town. Then when Mohammad is on his bed at midnight let all the young representative of all the clans rush upon him at once and simultaneously slay him! Thus the responsibilty of the murder and the blood- money is shared among all, and Mohammad is lain by all, and not by an individual or a single tribe or clan.''

      This suggestion was accepted with unanimous approval. When Mohammad was informed of their decision, he asked Hazrat Imam Ali (AS) to lay in his bed, and he hid himself in a cave called, `Sowr' and after a couple of days he managed to emigrate to Medina. His Emigration has been accepted as the Epoch of Islamic Date and history.

THE FOREMOST EMIGRANTS

As the emigration of the persecuted Muslims from Mecca is one of the most important events in the primeval history of Islam, and it is a turning point and epoch of date for us, I think it necessary to give some detail of the incident, for better understanding of our dear readers.

      After thirteen years of hard work and continuous endeavour of the prophet and his followers, Mecca was still governed by the idolaters and the prophet's cruel enemies. They ever increased their pressure and persecutions, upon the poor converts whose only fault was the worship of the only one God, and rejection of idols! Mecca had been turned to a hell for the Muslims- male, female, or children. They had no other option but to die, recant, or escape to some other place.

They had to immigrate to somewhere in order to change their battle- field. So, as per order of God, the Messenger said to Muslims:

      ``O, you who believe! The omnipotent Lord has arranged for you safe and secure houses, and helpful brothers in Medina. You all may emigrate to that town, as some of your religious brothers have already gone to ABYSSINIA.''

      To obey their prophet, every Muslim decided to prepare himself and his household for the long journey of some fourteen days, and emigrate from Mecca to Medina. When it happened so, GHOREISH, did their best to bar the roads to Medina, and prevent Muslims leaving Mecca. In many cases they took the believers. wife or children as hostages, so as to hinder them leaving.

      But the believers had taken their final decision, and that was to obey the commandment of immigration. Their love for their home and hearth, for their wife and children, and for their jobs, estate parents, could not excel or overcome their love for God, and abstain them there. It took some 12 to 14 days of walk in the heat of the Arabian summer sun, to travel that distance of 400 Km. to Medina. They forsook their homes and properties and most of them, their wives and children to assist their Divine Leader.

      The first man who set out for that purpose was named ABDULLAH- IBN- ABDULASAD. When he took his wife and children and made for Medina, his wife's kindreds prevented him to take her. His own family too, took the child from the poor mother saying that he belonged to the father!

      The Ayash in accompany with UMAR (the second khalif) and HOSHAM set out for the journey, when Ayash was captured and chained in prison, but his two fellow travellers could escape the enemy, and reach Medina.

      The emigration had made the leading pagans and the chief idolaters as angry as a cow in a china shop! They were anxious and suspicious of the least movements of the converts. Then it happened so that we mentioned above under the `OCCASION OF THE REVELATION' - Ghoreish chieftains and leaders met in a consulting meeting in Dar-al- Nodveh, which served as their parliament. Therein they discussed the secret treaty of Mohammad with the Medinans, and the emigration of the converts, and eventually they decided to slay Mohammad S.A. in his bed simultaneously. In other word, the court condemned Mohammad S.A. to death:

      ``Remember how the unbelievers plotted against you in order to keep you in bonds, or slay you, or expel you out of home. They plot and Allah plans, and Allah is the best of planners. S 8: 30''

 

IMAM ALI IN THAT DEATH BED

      GABRIEL the Arch Angel informed Mohammad of the plot and advised him what to do and how to emigrate. Mohammad was then strictly under the guards surveillance, and had to take great care over the arrangement for his dangerous and confidential journey. First of all he had to find some volunteer to endanger his own life by sleeping in Mohammad's bed which was under the gaze of the guards that critical night. Generally the houses in Medina had no outer wall, and if they had any, they were short, and one could see from beyond the walls what was going on in the houses. It was indeed a dangerous job for the voluntary who had to lay on prophet's bed, for he had to give himself to sacrifice.

      No volunteer could Mohammad find for that hard task save HAZRAT IMAM ALI (AS), his cousin, elected brother, and later his son in law and successor.

      The prophet said to Imam Ali: ``Will you sleep in my bed, that we may decieve the enemy who intend to slay me tonigh? If you throw dust upon their eyes by doing that, I may find enough time to reach and hide in a safe place for the time being.''

      In answer to the prophet's proposal, Imam Ali said: ``Why not!? Of course by all means! And, Messenger of God; can I have the good- tiding that your life which is dearer to me than mine, will be saved by doing that?'' The prophet assured him of that, and the two brothers embraced, and kissed, and the prophet told him what to do after, and how to join him through the emigration later.

      Mohammad left Imam Ali sleeping on his bed that indeed could be called a death bed, covered with the prophet's green clock to show that it was him in his own bed, in order to mislead the spies and guards who were peeping from behind the short walls.

      Then the prophet made use of the dark of the night and went out from a back door, while the watchmen's gaze were fixed upon the prophet's bed which was occupied by Imam Ali. (AS). The guards were waiting for the silence of the midnight to come in order to rush at once and kill the apostle.

      The prophet went directly to the house of ABUBEKR one of his eminent companions and a friend of him. Mohammad S.A. told him that God had ordered him to leave the town and make for Medina.

      ``And what about me? Am I not to emigrate?'' asked ABUBEKR. ``This is what I am here for. You are my fellow traveller in this journey.'' said the prophet.

      The prophet told him of what was needed for the dangerous journey of the two friends of the cave. They immediately made the necessary preprations, and left the house of ABUBEKR for a cave which was on top of a mountain named Sowr, nowadays a visiting monument for the pilgrims.

      It was about the midnight that the two friends were hidden in the cave of Sowr; and meanwhile 20 young men, each a representative of his own clan or tribe, and all headed by ABUJAHL, jumped over the wall and rushed upon the bed to slay Mohammad!

      Imam Ali was vigilant and on guard, and as soon as the assassins came, he put the cloak aside to unveil his face to be recognized. They shouted on him saying:

      ``Then it is you! the son of ABUTALIB!?''

      ``Whose son then you expected me to be?'' answered Imam Ali. They rushed upon him and beating him harshly, said: ``Don't you try to pull our legs, and tell us frankly and truthfully where is Mohammad, or you will get killed.'' Imam Ali who took his sword out of its sheath, angrily exclaimed: ``How do I know where he is? Had you trusted him to me, or was I your watchman over him?''

      Ali took out his sword to fight them. They at first thought of killing him for his throwing dust upon their eyes, but when they remembered how brave Ali was and also ready to fight, they were sure that they could not kill him without several of them being killed or injured. So they gave up the idea and disposed in search of the prophet. The following verse then revealed to this effect:

      ``And there is a type of the believers who gives his life to please Allah, and Allah is the Most kind to His devotees. (S 2: 207)

 

IDOLATERS IN PURSUIT OF MOHAMMAD

      The young idolaters whose pride was injured by their failure of slaying him, pursued him wildly and searched for him here and there and everywhere.

      Heralds made a public announcement that a hundred she-camels would be awarded to him who may hand over the apostle, dead or alive! That present or prize could make the winner the richest of the town, so all the rascals and mean trickish knaves in Mecca did their best in that great search to seize the prophet and obtain the prize. The prophet and his friend were hidden in the cave, and ABUBEKR'S shepherd made his sheep to tread on their footprints on the surrounding soft sands.

      Once the pagans who were in search, climbed the mountain and came as far as the cave in which the two friends were hidden! Seeing them so near, ABUBEKR lost his courage by fear, and said to the prophet:

      ``If they cast their looks a little further, they will see us here.'' The prophet with his natural tranquility and usual smile said; ``O, ABUBEKR! What do you think of the two companions, the third of whom is Allah!? Don't be afraid of them, for our Lord, Allah is here with us.''

      Quran has revealed the fear and anxiety of ABUBEKR in the cave through the verse; S 9: 39 which follows:

      ``If you help him (i.e. MOHAMMAD) not; Allah did indeed help him (in many instances like) when he was driven out by the unbelievers, having not more than one companion. They both were in the cave, when he said to his companion: `Have no fear, for Allah is with us.' Then Allah sent down His tranquility upon him and strengthened him with invisible forces, so that He routed down the words of the unbelievers.'' QURAN S 9: 39

      The prophet and his friend tarried in the cave for three days to have things calmed down. At the end of the third day, they came down the mountain. He was so sad to leave his beloved home town. He cast a look over all the town and saw its perspective, and sighed sadly, and said: ``Had your residents not driven me out of you, I would have never left you; but alas, that I have to bid farewell to you. When he said so, the verse S 28: 84 was revealed as a consolation to him which is as under mentioned:

Verily he who ordained Quran for you will bring you back to the place you left.''

      A guide, named ABDULLAH- IBN- ARGHAT; three nimble camels, and some necessities for their long journey, was made ready at the foot of the mountain by the son of ABUBEKR. It was Thursday the first of the Arabic month REBIE- AL- AWAL, equal to 4th July 622 A.D. that the prophet set out for Medina. Later on this date was universally accepted as the Epoch of Islamic history and date. Mohammad was then 53 years old, and thirteen years had elapsed from the beginning of his mission.

      The caravan of three travellers; Mohammad- Abubekr and Arghat, set out on their camel backs and rode as quick as they could, going through by- ways, and sometimes zigzag, and after confronting with dangerous incidents that one has to read it through history books. At last they reached GHOBط, safe and sound - a village near Medina on 16 the July 622 A.D.   TRANSLATOR'S NOTE

 

COMMENTS

THE BEGINNING OF EMIGRATION (VERSE NO. 30)

      This verse (No. 30) and the next five verses have been revealed immediately after the beginning of the incident of emigration from Mecca to Medina. They remind us of a great reminiscence and very important past events of the history of Islam.

      If we consider the prophet's immigration carefully, we come to know that the heathens did their best, and tried by all their means to destroy Mohammad and his new Divine Mission but they failed. When the prophet escaped of their hands, they offered a great prize of a hundred she camels for his head! They pursued him up to Medina. They went even to the door of the cave in which they were hidden, but they failed to see him and arrest him!

      The history and the acts of all the other apostles of God, shows that Allah has always made use of the simplest of means to vanquish His rebellious and haughty enemies. Wind, rain, gnats and flies have served as hosts against the enemies of Allah and the truth. Allah sent the flights of small birds called, `ABط, BILL' upon the companions of Elephants; bombarding them with small gravels, and knocked them all down!

      It was not the creed of only the oppressors of Ghoreish to resort to prison, banishment, and murder, to shut up the mouth of their opposition; that almost all the tyrants and dictators of the world have always done so; and yet all of them have failed and eventually have been defeated.

      Worthy of note that this book too, was slowly going forward when I, the author, (i.e. AYATULLAH ALOZMط- MAKARIM- SHIRAZI) was exiled from Qom, to Mahجbجd, and Anarik. Here in my banishment I obtained a nice leisure to work faster and more; and I could completely write and review the volume 7 of the whole work.