The correct answer to this question is Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA). The Hijrah took place in 622 CE, following years of escalating persecution against the Muslim community in Makkah. While most of the Sahaba had already migrated to Madinah (then... Read More
The correct answer to this question is Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA). The Hijrah took place in 622 CE, following years of escalating persecution against the Muslim community in Makkah. While most of the Sahaba had already migrated to Madinah (then known as Yathrib) in small groups, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) remained in Makkah, waiting for the divine command from Allah to depart. When the command finally came, he chose his most trusted friend and companion, Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), to accompany him on this perilous trek.
The night of the migration was fraught with danger. The leaders of the Quraish had conspired to assassinate the Prophet (PBUH) by selecting a young man from every tribe to strike him simultaneously. To foil this plan and ensure the safe return of people's belongings (trusts) left with him, the Prophet (PBUH) asked Hazrat Ali (RA) to sleep in his bed. Under the cover of darkness and divine protection, the Prophet (PBUH) left his home, passed through the ranks of the besiegers undetected, and met Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) at his house.
Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) had been preparing for this moment for months. He had purchased and specifically fed two camels in anticipation of the journey. To ensure total secrecy, they did not take the main road to Madinah, which headed north; instead, they traveled south toward the rugged mountains to mislead their pursuers.
The pair sought refuge in Ghar-e-Thawr (the Cave of Thawr), located atop a steep mountain. They stayed there for three days and three nights. During this time, the family of Abu Bakr (RA) played a vital role in their survival. His son, Abdullah, would listen to the plans of the Quraish during the day and report back at night. His daughter, Hazrat Asma (RA), brought them food, earning the title "Dhat al-Nitaqayn" (The One with the Two Waistbands) because she tore her belt in two to carry the supplies.
The Quraish trackers eventually reached the very mouth of the cave. In a moment of high tension, Abu Bakr (RA) whispered his fears that they would be seen if the enemy looked down at their feet. The Prophet (PBUH) famously comforted him, saying, "O Abu Bakr, what do you think of two, the third of whom is Allah?" Tradition holds that a spider had spun a web across the entrance and a pigeon had laid eggs in a nest, leading the pursuers to believe the cave had been undisturbed for a long time.
After the search cooled down, they began their journey north toward Madinah, guided by a non-Muslim guide named Abdullah bin Urayqit, who was hired for his expert knowledge of desert paths. Despite the precautions, a bounty hunter named Suraqa bin Malik spotted them. Every time Suraqa tried to approach them to claim the reward of 100 camels, his horse’s legs sank into the sand. Realizing that the Prophet (PBUH) was under divine protection, Suraqa asked for forgiveness and returned to Makkah, diverting other search parties away from their path.
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