The Story of the Prophet’s Migration

Praise be to Allah, Who raised the believers’ prestige and honour, and weakened the status of the unbelievers with daunting humiliation. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Him from the evils of our souls and the evils of our deeds. Whoever Allah guides, non can mislead, whoever He misleads, none can guide. I testify that there is no god but Allah alone, He Has no partner,- such testimony that takes away the sayer from darkness to light, saves him from the worship of creatures, the dead and tombs and ultimately saves him from the fire, and admits him into the Paradise on the day of Resurrection. I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, Allah guided people through the blessing of his call, and what he brought including the Proof and Guidance. May Allah’s blessing, peace be upon him, his family and companions, and on all those who tread the path of his Sunnah till the Day of Judgment. O Servants of Allah, fear Allah in the secret and the open, and know that piety is the way out of every difficulty, and the way to Provision. Allah says: {وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجاً , وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْراً} (الطلاق 2-3) {And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out, And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion.} (Talaaq: 2-3). Dear Muslim Brothers and Sisters, these days remind us of one of the most important events in the History of the Messenger of Allah and his companions which demands that we make a pause at its proceedings all the time and emulate our Messenger within its framework, ranging from his faith and patience, struggle and morals, steadfastness, sacrifice and from all his virtues: Allah says: {لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فيِ رَسُولِ اللهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ} (الأحزاب21). (Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct)) (Ahzab: 21) Brothers in Allah, the Messenger of Allah stayed in Makkah after being commissioned as a Prophet for thirteen years directing people to the worship of Allah in order to take them away from the darkness of Shirk, Ignorance, Superstition and tyranny to faith and the ultimate success in this life and the hereafter. However, the polytheists in Makkah stood against this blessed message and left no stone unturned at causing an end to it, ranging from mockery, winking, injury and persecution to him and his companions. Despite these advances, the faithful group was patient and firm on the religion having been convinced that paradise is the reward for the patient ones and possessing a kind of faith that is truly registered in their hearts. The persecution of the polytheists heightened while the Apostle (pbuh) continued his search for every legitimate means to achieve victory for the religion and spread it on the surface of the earth. He used to take advantage of the pilgrimage to introduce Islam to the tribes seeking their support and assistance. In one of the seasons, Allah wished for His prophet to meet a delegation of Khazraj tribe from Madinah who listened to him and believed in his message. In the following year, another group among them gave him their oath of allegiance to support and protect him. By this, a base was formed for Islam in Madinah. Migration to Abyssinia: Before migration to Madinah, the first set of Emigrants (Muhajirun) had migrated to Abyssinia. While the persecution of the unbelievers got intensified against the Messenger of Allah and those who submitted to Allah, the Prophet approved of the migration to Abyssinia and said: (Verily, there, stays a king, no person is oppressed around him). Thus, twelve men and four women among the Muslims migrated, leading them was Uthman bn Affan and his wife Ruqayyah, daughter of the Messenger of Allah. They lived in Abyssinia among the best of neighbourhood, a situation the polytheists found distasteful, seeing the Emigrants enjoying stability: personally and religiously. They chose two wise men: Amr bn Aas and Abdullah bn Abi Rabee’ah, just before the two accepted Islam, they sent them with great gifts for King Negus and his bishops. When the two gathered the gifts to the bishops, they provided them with arguments to expel the Muslims. After the chiefs have agreed to advise Negus to expel them, the two came to Negus, presented the gifts and said: They said to him: "O King, there is a group of evil persons from among our youth who have escaped to your kingdom. They practice a religion which neither we nor you know. They have forsaken our religion and have not entered into your religion. The respected leaders of their people - from among their own parents and uncles and from their own clans - have sent us to you to request you to return them. They know best what trouble they have caused." The Bishops said: O King, release them to the two in order to return them to their people and country. But Negus felt the issue must be scrutinized, and to hear from all the parties. He then sent for the Muslims and they arrived having unanimously agreed to speak the truth whatever happens. Negus said to them: “What religion made you left your people and you did not take up my religion or that of any of these religious communities? Jaafar bn Abi Talib, the speaker for the Muslims said: “O king we were a people of ignorance; worshiping idols, eating flesh of dead animals, committing immorality, breaking ties of kinships, behaving badly to neighbors and the strong amongst us usurp the weak ones. We used to do that until Allah sent us an apostle from amongst us, we knew his lineage, his level of truthfulness, his trustworthiness, and his chastity, he thereby invited us to Allah that we may profess His oneness, and worship Him and discard what we and our fathers were worshipping other than Him, of stones and idols. He commanded us to say the truth, discharge trust, join ties of kinship, maintain good neighborliness, refrain from incest and bloodshed, and forbade us from immoralities, and false speech, consumption of the orphan's wealth, and from wrong accusation of chaste women. He commanded us to worship Allah alone, without associating partners with Him, and ordered us to observe solat, zakat, and fasting ...” Thus he enumerated for him the matters of Islam … “we therefore accepted him, believed and followed him based on what he presented to us of the religion of God. We therefore worshipped Allah alone without joining partners with Him, and we forbid what he forbade us and we legitimize what he legitimize for us, but our people became hostile to us, they tortured us and persecuted us in our religion in order to retract us to idolatory from the worship of Allah, the exalted, and that we should legitimize the obscenity we used to legitimize. When they subdued, oppressed and compelled us, standing between us and our religion, we set out to your country, choosing you over others, as we desire your nearness”. Negus said to him: Do you have with you any of what he said about God ? Jaafar said to him: Yes. Negus said to him: “Read it for me”. He recited the beginning of Surat Maryam. Negus wept until his beard got soaked, and bishops cried as well until their Books got soak when they heard what he recited for them. Negus then told them: “This and that brought by Jesus came from the same source” “The two of should leave” “By Allah, I will not release them to you” Then they left, and Amr bn El-Aas said to Abdullah bn Abi Rabee’ah: “By Allah, I shall meet him tomorrow concerning them with what I shall tear out their greens” Abdullah bn Abi Rabee’ah said to him: “Do not do that, they have relatives even though they disagree with us”. But Amr went ahead with his plan and told Negus the next day: “O King, they utter a great word about Jesus the son of Mary” Thus Negus sent for them and they were amazed when asked over their comment about Jesus but they resolved to say the truth whatever happens. On entry, and they were asked, Jafar replied: “We do say what our prophet (pbuh) brought to us concerning him: “He is a servant of Allah, His Messenger, His breath, and word which He inspired Maryam, the virgin maiden. Negus then picked a stick from the ground and said: “By Allah, Jesus is not more than what you said. Then he told the Muslims: “"Go, for you are safe and secure. Whoever obstructs you will pay for it and whoever opposes you will be punished. For, by God, I would rather not have a mountain of gold than that anyone of you should come to any harm."” Then he said to his entourage: “return their gifts back to them, I do not need it, by Allah, Allah did not collect a bribe from me when he restore my dynasty, where I will then need to collect bribes in its (administration), and as far as people obey me I obey them ” Ummu Salamah, the narrator of this story said: “The two left his domain dejected with the gifts they came with, while we stayed in the abode among the best neighbour. Migration to Madinah and the Schemings of the Polytheists: Then came the permission and the command of God for believers to migrate to Madinah. Then Muslims began to leave successively from Mecca and join their brethren- the Ansars in the Madinah. The Quraish had felt the danger of this migration and were afraid of the Messenger of Allah leaving, thus they met, consulted and agreed to kill him: { وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ} (الأنفال 30 ). {Remember how the Unbelievers plotted against thee, to keep thee in bonds, or slay thee, or get thee out (of thy home). They plot and plan, and Allah too plans; but the best of planners is Allah. (Anfal: 30). Allah saved His Messenger, where he and his companion Abubakr, may Allah be pleased with him, left to the cave of Thawr towards the south of Mecca, and remained there for three nights as disguise strategy for the idolaters and using the appropriate means, as effort does not contradict reliance on God Almighty. The polytheists began the search for him and arrived near the cave, Abu Bakr may Allah be pleased with him heard the sound of their feet and agitated as fear over the Messenger of Allah not for himself and he said: “O Messenger of Allah, if anyone of them look towards below his feet, he would see us”. But the Apostle remained firm and connected with God Almighty confident in His victory and companionship. Allah, the Almighty says: { إِلاَّ تَنْصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَى وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ}(التوبة 40). {If ye help not (your leader), (it is no matter): for Allah did indeed help him, when the Unbelievers drove him out: he had no more than one companion; they two were in the cave, 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 ye saw not, and humbled to the depths the word of the Unbelievers. But the word of Allah is exalted to the heights: for Allah is Exalted in might, Wise.} (Taubah: 40). God is the greatest. Such way do the enemies of Allah plan to eliminate the Messenger of Allah by deceits and deceptions, but they plot and plan, and Allah plans too. Allah revealed the plans of the polytheists to His prophet and authorized him to migrate while Abubakr had earlier prepared for the migration to Madinah and the Prophet said to him: “slowly, I hope to be authorized” By that, Abubakr stayed back in order to accompany the Prophet- peace be upon him. Aisha- may Allah be pleased with her- said: While we in the house of Abubakr by midday, the Messenger of Allah arrived at the door disguised. Abu Bakr said: Ransoming my parent for him, by Allah, nothing could have brought him by this time except an issue. The Prophet peace be upon him entered and said to Abubakr: “send out those with” He said: “They are your family” The Prophet said: “I have been authorized to migrate”. Abubakr said: “in your companion, O Messenger of God” He said: “Yes” He then said: “O Messenger of Allah! Take one of my two rides” the Prophet said: “with the price” Then the Messenger of Allah and Abubakr set out and stayed at the cave of Mount Thawr for three nights. Abdullah bin Abubakr- a young, intelligent and conscious boy- used to spend the nights with them to return to Makkah in the last hours of the nights to Makkah to be awake among the Quraishites. And whatever he hears concerning the prophet and his companion except that he keeps it until he gets to the two when night falls. The Quraishites searched for the prophet from all directions and used all means such that they place a price of hundred camels for whoever could apprehend the two or any of the two. But Allah was with the two, protecting and caring for them. The Quraishites stood at the cave’s entrance but could not see them. Abubakr said: “I told the prophet when we were in the cave that if one of them looks towards below his feet, he would see us!” The Prophet replied: Do not be sad, surely Allah is with us, what do you think of two people whom Allah is their third? Until the search for the two became a bit settled, they left the cave after the third night heading towards Madinah enroute the sea coast where Suroqah bn Malik on top his horse met them. Abubakr turned around and said: “O Messenger of Allah! This is the search, it has caught up with us! The prophet replied: “Do not be sad, surely Allah is with us” Suroqah came close to them and he heard the recitation of the prophet suddenly the two limbs of his horse sank into the earth while the belly touched the ground, though a hard ground. Suroqah descended and pulled it out, it stood, when it took out her hands, a radiant light follows it to the sky like a smoke. Suroqah said: “it came clear in my mind that the affair of the Messenger of Allah shall be manifested, consequently, I call out to them for an agreement. Then the prophet and the one with him stopped, as I rode my horse to them, I informed them of what the people wanted with them and I offered them provisions. He said to the prophet: “You shall pass by my camels and sheep at a particular place, take what you need from it”. He replied: “I do not need that” He then said: “conceal our matters”. Then Suroqah returned and never met anyone in search of the duo except he turned them back and said: “The side is adequately enough for” Glory be Allah, Praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah and Allah is the greatest. A man on his horse in search of the prophet- peace be upon him- and his companion in order to profit through them and profess pride of handing over the duo to their unbeliever enemies but never turn until he returned as a helper, a supporter, and a protector, offering them provision and whatever they wish for among camels and sheep while still foiling the attempts of those advancing towards their direction. Same is the case of whoever Allah is with, no one can harm, the end shall be for him. The Apostle arrived at Madinah and was welcomed with eagerness and joy, and the Migrants and the Helpers- Ansars- met forming the first Islamic State, which raised the Islamic flag and subjected the kings of Persia and the Romans. O servants of Allah! Let us make derive benefit from this great incidence and example in being consistent in the religion of Allah, whatever the temptations and obstacles, and sacrifice for it and work to uphold the banner of firm establishment on earth. Second Sermon Praise be to Allah, the end is for the pious and there is no aggression except against the oppressors. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone with no partner, the protector of the righteous. I bear witness that Muhammad (pbuh) is His slave and Messenger, the honest and trustworthy, may Allah bless him and his family and all his companions. I admonish you and myself to fear Allah and obey Him and I warn you of sins and violation against Him. Dear brothers in Allah! The world today is deprived of security and safety, despite these stunning means of security achieved by modern science and despite these stunning inventions and innovations which discover and invent new discoveries daily. Likewise despite these massive planning based on scientific and psychological foundations to fight crime. Despite all these, the whole world is still deprived of security and safety. Millions of people in the world today live in a state of terror and dreadful panic, fear and anxiety, expecting death at every moment of their lives owing to what they see with their own eyes in the extermination of the human race, As well as what they witness with their own eyes in the cheapness of human blood! And the whole world in general and the Islamic world in particular will keep walking in this flight, and its face bear this suffocating heat, and will continue to walk in this labyrinth and misguidance, it will continue to walk and pass through this crisis, difficulty, narrowness and panic as long as it fails to return to the method of God Almighty over again. Oh God, bestow upon us with your fear and constant turn to You, inspire our guidance in your religion, and do not make the worldly matters the biggest of our concerns, and not the height of our knowledge, admit us into paradise with your mercy in the company the righteous, O You The Mighty, The All- Forgiving. Oh God, forgive the believing men and women, and Muslim men and women, living and dead, You are All- hearing, The Ever near, Ever -Responsive. O Allah! honour Islam and the Muslims, humiliate polytheism and the polytheists, destroy Your enemies, the enemies of the religion. O You The Strong, The Sturdy. O Allah! Make this country safe and peaceful, and other Muslim countries, by thy mercy, O You The Most Merciful.