Mohammed’s Hegira

On the fourth day, when they presumed the ardor of pursuit had abated, the fugitives ventured forth and set out for Medina, on camels.

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, 622
Place: Between Mecca and Medina

He repaired immediately to the house of Abu-Bekr and they arranged for instant flight. It was agreed that they should take refuge in a cave in Mount Thor, about an hour’s distance from Mecca and wait there until they could proceed safely to Medina; and in the mean time the children of Abu-Bekr should secretly bring them food. They left Mecca while it was yet dark, making their way on foot by the light of the stars and the day dawned as they found themselves at the foot of Mount Thor. Scarce were they within the cave when they heard the sound of pursuit. Abu-Bekr, though a brave man, quaked with fear.

“Our pursuers,” said he, “are many and we are but two.”

“Nay,” replied Mohammed, “there is a third; God is with us!”

And here the Moslem writers relate a miracle, dear to the minds of all true believers. By the time, say they, that the Koreishites reached the mouth of the cavern, an acacia-tree had sprung up before it, in the spreading branches of which a pigeon had made its nest and laid its eggs and over the whole a spider had woven its web. When the Koreishites beheld these signs of undisturbed quiet, they concluded that no one could recently have entered the cavern; so they turned away and pursued their search in another direction.

Whether protected by miracle or not, the fugitives remained for three days undiscovered in the cave and Asama, the daughter of Abu-Bekr, brought them food in the dusk of the evenings.

On the fourth day, when they presumed the ardor of pursuit had abated, the fugitives ventured forth and set out for Medina, on camels which a servant of Abu-Bekr had brought in the night for them. Avoiding the main road usually taken by the caravans, they bent their course nearer to the coast of the Red Sea. They had not proceeded far, however, before they were overtaken by a troop of horse headed by Soraka Ibn Malec. Abu-Bekr was again dismayed by the number of their pursuers; but Mohammed repeated the assurance, “Be not troubled; Allah is with us.” Soraka was a grim warrior, with shagged iron-gray locks and naked sinewy arms rough with hair. As he overtook Mohammed, his horse reared and fell with him. His superstitious mind was struck with it as an evil sign. Mohammed perceived the state of his feeling and by an eloquent appeal wrought upon him to such a degree that Soraka, filled with awe, entreated his forgiveness and turning back with his troop suffered him to proceed on his way unmolested.

The fugitives continued their journey without further interruption, until they arrived at Kobe, a hill about two miles from Medina. It was a favorite resort of the inhabitants of the city and a place to which they sent their sick and infirm, for the air was pure and salubrious. Hence, too, the city was supplied with fruit; the hill and its environs being covered with vineyards and with groves of the date and lotus; with gardens producing citrons, oranges, pomegranates, figs, peaches and apricots and being irrigated with limpid streams.

On arriving at this fruitful spot Al Kaswa, the camel of Mohammed, crouched on her knees and would go no farther. The prophet interpreted it as a favorable sign and determined to remain at Koba and prepare for entering the city. The place where his camel knelt is still pointed out by pious Moslems, a mosque named Al Takwa having been built there to commemorate the circumstance. Some affirm that it was actually founded by the prophet. A deep well * is also shown in the vicinity, beside which Mohammed reposed under the shade of the trees and into which he dropped his seal ring. It is believed still to remain there and has given sanctity to the well, the waters of which are conducted by subterraneous conduits to Medina. At Koba he remained four days, residing in the house of an Awsite named Colthum Ibn Hadem. While at this village he was joined by a distinguished chief, Boreida Ibn al Hoseib, with seventy followers, all of the tribe of Saham. These made profession of faith between the hands of Mohammed.

[* Zem-sem, the name of this well, is said by the Moslems to be the spring which Hagar had revealed to her when driven into the wilderness with her son, Ishmael.]

Another renowned proselyte who repaired to the prophet at this village was Salman al Parsi — or the Persian. He is said to have been a native of a small place near Ispahan and that, on passing one day by a Christian church, he was so much struck by the devotion of the people and the solemnity of the worship, that he became disgusted with the idolatrous faith in which he had been brought up. He afterward wandered about the East, from city to city and convent to convent, in quest of a religion, until an ancient monk, full of years and infirmities, told him of a prophet who had arisen in Arabia to restore the pure faith of Abraham.

This Salman rose to power in after years and was reputed by the unbelievers of Mecca to have assisted Mohammed in compiling his doctrine. This is alluded to in the sixteenth chapter of the Koran: “Verily, the idolaters say, that a certain man assisted to compose the Koran; but the language of this man is Ajami — or Persian — and the Koran is indited in the pure Arabian tongue.”

The Moslems of Mecca, who had taken refuge some time before in Medina, hearing that Mohammed was at hand, came forth to meet him at Koba; among these were the early convert Talha and Zobeir, the nephew of Kadijah. These, seeing the travel-stained garments of Mohammed and Abu-Bekr, gave them white mantles, with which to make their entrance into Medina. Numbers of the Ansarians, or auxiliaries, of Medina, who had made their compact with Mohammed in the preceding year, now hastened to renew their vow of fidelity.

Washington Irving begins here. Simon Ockley begins here.

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