The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 323
IX - Exile 323 of Bukhārī, but historians write that the Holy Prophet sa left during the night time, and this itself, is supported by another narration of Bukhārī. 1 Moreover, the idea that the Holy Prophet sa departed at night seems to be the most believable notion as well. In any case, after he left the Cave, the Holy Prophet sa mounted himself upon a camel which in light of various narrations, was named Al-Qaswā’, while Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra and his servant, ‘ Āmir bin Fuhairah ra mounted upon the other. 2 Upon his departure, the Holy Prophet sa cast a final glance towards Makkah, and said in intense grief, “O city of Makkah! You are more beloved to me than all the places of the world, but your people have not allowed me to live here. ” 3 At that time, Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra said, “These people have exiled their prophet. Indeed they shall be destroyed. ” 4 Since there was still risk of being pursued, the Holy Prophet sa and his companions left the usual route and started off towards Yathrib from an alternate route near the coast of the sea. They continued for almost one night and for some time the following day. The next day, during the afternoon, when the heat of the sun intensified, upon the request of Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra , the Holy Prophet sa came to rest under the shadow of a large rock. During this time, Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra began to look here and there to ensure that no one was pursuing them. Haḍrat Abū Bakr ra noticed a Shepherd who had a few sheep and was bringing them towards that very rock for shade. Seeking permission for some milk, Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra had the Shepherd clean his hands and the udders of his sheep thoroughly, and asked him to yield some milk. Therefore, he yielded some milk in a vessel. Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra cooled it in water and brought it to the Holy Prophet sa. At that time he had risen from sleep; as such, Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr ra presented the vessel of milk before the Holy Prophet sa , who drank it. 1 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Manāqibil-Anṣār, Bābu Hijratin-Nabiyyi sa wa Aṣḥābihī ilal-Madīnah, Ḥadīth No. 3917 2 * Tārīkhul- Khamīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan Dayār Bakrī, Volume 1, p. 330, Dhikru Khurūjihimā minal-Ghāri wa Khurūjihimā ilal-Madīnah, Muwassasatu Sha‘bān, Beirut * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az-Zarqānī, Volume 2, p. 129, Bābu Hijratil-Muṣṭafā wa Aṣḥābihi ilal-Madīnah, Dārul-Kutubil- ‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 3 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Volume 2, p. 108, Bābu Hijratil-Muṣṭafā wa Aṣḥābihi ilal-Madīnah, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 4 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Volume 2, p. 218, Kitābul-Maghāzī , Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)