Life of Muhammad — Page 41
sa 41 been forbidden by Islam. ‘ Umar ra said that this was true, but that the occasion was an exception. The Prophet sa had foreseen Chosroes' gold bangles on his wrists; therefore he had to wear them now, even on pain of punishment. Sur a qa ra was objecting out of deference to the Prophet's sa teaching; otherwise he was as eager as anyone else to provide visible proof of the fulfilment of the great prophecy. He put on the bangles and Muslims saw the prophecy fulfilled ( Usud al-Gh a ba ). The fugitive Prophet sa had become a king. He himself was no longer in this world. But those who succeeded him could witness the fulfilment of his words and visions. THE PROPHET sa ARRIVES AT MEDINA To return to our narrative of the Hijra. After the Prophet sa had dismissed Sur a qa ra he continued his journey to Medina unmolested. When he reached Medina, the Prophet sa found the people waiting impatiently. A more auspicious day could not have dawned for them. For, the sun which had risen for Mecca had come instead to shine on Medina. News that the Prophet sa had left Mecca had reached them, so they were expecting his arrival. Parties of them went miles out of Medina to look for him. They went in the morning and returned disappointed in the evening. When at last the Prophet sa did reach Medina, he decided to stop for a while in Qub a , a nearby village. A Jew had seen the two camels and had decided that they were carrying the Prophet sa and his Companions. He climbed an eminence and shouted, "Sons of Qaila, he for whom you waited has come. " Everyone in Medina who heard this cry rushed to Qub a , while the people of Qub a , overjoyed at the arrival of the Prophet sa in their midst sang songs in his honour. The utter simplicity of the Prophet sa is illustrated by an incident which took place at this time at Qub a. Most people in Medina had not seen the Prophet sa before.