Stories from Early Islam — Page 83
The Prophecy about the Gold Bangles The Holy Prophet saw was naturally very sad when he was forced to leave Makkah, the city where he had been born and brought up, the only home he had known. It was the place where his forefathers had lived and died, and where he had received the Divine Call. With these thoughts in mind, he had a last look at the city and said, ‘Makkah, you are dearer to me than any other place on earth, but your people would not let me live here’. For two days and two nights, the Holy Prophet saw and Abu Bakr remained hidden in the cave. Then they proceeded in the direction of Yathrib. Suraaqah bin Maalik, who had heard of the reward announced by the Quraish, was on the look-out for them. One day he spotted two mounted camels heading north. He guessed that those were the persons he was looking for. So he spurred his horse in their direction. He did not go very far when the legs of his horse sank in the sand and he fell down. He got up, took out his arrows and consulted his luck in the old Arab fashion. The arrow showed bad luck. But the temptation of the reward was so great that he mounted his horse again and set out after the two. As he came closer, the legs of his horse sank again in the sand and he fell down. Again he consulted his arrows, and they gave the same message of bad luck. Suraaqah changed his mind. He realised that the party was under Divine