Mohammed Escapes From Mecca

In fact, by the time the murderers arrived before the dwelling of Mohammed, he was apprised of the impending danger.

Continuing Mohammed,
with a selection from Mohamet and His Successors by Washington Irving published in 1849. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages. This selection is presented in 3.5 easy 5 minute installments.

Previously in Mohammed

Time: June 17, 622
Place: Mecca

His warnings and entreaties were in vain; a solemn compact was made between the parties. Mohammed demanded that they should abjure idolatry and worship the one true God openly and fearlessly. For himself he exacted obedience in weal and woe; and for the disciples who might accompany him, protection; even such as they would render to their own wives and children. On these terms he offered to bind himself to remain among them, to be the friend of their friends, the enemy of their enemies.

“But, should we perish in your cause,” asked they, “what will be our reward?”

“Paradise,” replied the prophet.

The terms were accepted; the emissaries from Medina placed their hands in the hands of Mohammed and swore to abide by their compact. The latter then singled out twelve from among them, whom he designated as his apostles; in imitation, it is supposed, of the example of our Saviour. Just then a voice was heard from the summit of the hill, denouncing them as apostates and menacing them with punishment. The sound of this voice, heard in the darkness of the night, inspired temporary dismay. “It is the voice of the fiend Iblis,” said Mohammed scornfully; “he is the foe of God; fear him not.” It was probably the voice of some spy or eavesdropper of the Koreishites; for the very next morning they manifested a knowledge of what had taken place in the night and treated the new confederates with great harshness as they were departing from the city.

It was this early accession to the faith and this timely aid proffered and subsequently afforded to Mohammed and his disciples, which procured for the Moslems of Medina the appellation of Ansarians, or auxiliaries, by which they were afterward distinguished.

After the departure of the Ansarians and the expiration of the holy month, the persecutions of the Moslems were resumed with increased virulence, insomuch that Mohammed, seeing a crisis was at hand and being resolved to leave the city, advised his adherents generally to provide for their safety. For himself he still lingered in Mecca with a few devoted followers.

Abu Sofian, his implacable foe, was at this time governor of the city. He was both incensed and alarmed at the spreading growth of the new faith and held a meeting of the chief of the Koreishites to devise some means of effectually putting a stop to it. Some advised that Mohammed should be banished the city; but it was objected that he might gain other tribes to his interest, or perhaps the people of Medina and return at their head to take his revenge. Others proposed to wall him up in a dungeon and supply him with food until he died; but it was surmised that his friends might effect his escape. All these objections were raised by a violent and pragmatical old man, a stranger from the province of Nedja, who, say the Moslem writers, was no other than the devil in disguise, breathing his malignant spirit into those present.

At length it was declared by Abu-Jahl that the only effectual check on the growing evil was to put Mohammed to death. To this all agreed and as a means of sharing the odium of the deed and withstanding the vengeance it might awaken among the relatives of the victim, it was arranged that a member of each family should plunge his sword into the body of Mohammed.

It is to this conspiracy that allusion is made in the eighth chapter of the Koran:

And call to mind how the unbelievers plotted against thee, that they might either detain thee in bonds, or put thee to death, or expel thee the city; but God laid a plot against them; and God is the best layer of plots.”

In fact, by the time the murderers arrived before the dwelling of Mohammed, he was apprised of the impending danger. As usual, the warning is attributed to the angel Gabriel but it is probable it was given by some Koreishite, less bloody-minded than his confederates. It came just in time to save Mohammed from the hands of his enemies. They paused at his door but hesitated to enter. Looking through a crevice they beheld, as they thought, Mohammed wrapped in his green mantle and lying asleep on his couch. They waited for a while, consulting whether to fall on him while sleeping or wait until he should go forth. At length they burst open the door and rushed toward the couch. The sleeper started up; but, instead of Mohammed, Ali stood before them. Amazed and confounded they demanded, “Where is Mohammed?” “I know not,” replied Ali sternly and walked forth; nor did anyone venture to molest him. Enraged at the escape of their victim, however, the Koreishites proclaimed a reward of a hundred camels to anyone who should bring them Mohammed alive or dead.

Divers accounts are given of the mode in which Mohammed made his escape from the house after the faithful Ali had wrapped himself in his mantle and taken his place upon the couch. The most miraculous account is, that he opened the door silently, as the Koreishites stood before it and, scattering a handful of dust in the air, cast such blindness upon them that he walked through the midst of them without being perceived. This, it is added, is confirmed by the verse of the thirtieth chapter of the Koran: “We have thrown blindness upon them, that they shall not see.” The most probable account is that he clambered over the wall in the rear of the house, by the help of a servant, who bent his back for him to step upon it. *

[* Palmer has it: “In the meantime Mohammed and Abu-Bekr escaped by a back window in the house of the latter.”]

Washington Irving begins here. Simon Ockley begins here.

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