The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 207
VII - Days of Struggle 207 since the immigrants had migrated to Abyssinia, when a wandering rumour reached them that all of the Quraish had accepted Islām, and Makkah was now a place of complete peace and security. The result of this news was that most immigrants returned immediately and when they reached near Makkah, they found that this news was false. Now they were confronted with great difficulty. Ultimately, some returned, while others secretly or under the protection of an influential and powerful individual, entered Makkah. 1 This incident occurred in Shawwāl of 5 Nabawī. 2 In other words, the duration between the commencement of migration and the return of the immigrants was only two and a half to three months. As we have mentioned above, the migration to Abyssinia occurred in the month of Rajab and the supposed return date of the immigrants is mentioned to be in Shawwāl. In actuality, although this was a completely false and unsubstantiated rumour, which was probably spread in order to lure the immigrants to Abyssinia back and to put them in difficulty. As a matter of fact, on closer investigation, this rumour and the tale of the immigrants’ return, in itself, seems to be baseless. Nonetheles, if it is taken as true, the incident motioned in various Aḥādīth could be hidden beneath the surface. As mentioned in Bukhārī, once the Holy Prophet sa recited verses of Sūrah An-Najm in the courtyard of the Ka‘bah. At that time, many a chieftain of the infidels were also present, along with the Muslims. When the Holy Prophet sa completed the chapter, he fell into prostration and with him all the Muslims and infidels fell into prostration as well. 3 The reason behind the prostration of the disbelievers has not been mentioned in Aḥādīth , but it seems that apparently the Holy Prophet sa recited the verses of God in such a manner as touched the cords of heart. Those verses were such as particularly illustrated the unity of God, His Power, and Majesty in an extremely eloquent and perspicuous manner, and His favours were reminded of. Then, the Quraish were warned in a very majestic and awe-inspiring manner, that in case they did not refrain from their evil doings they would meet the same end as past nations because they rejected the Messengers of God. Then, at the conclusion of these verses it was ordered 1 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Volume 2, p. 16, Bābu Dukhūlish-Sha‘bi wa Khabriṣ-Ṣaḥīfah, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebehon, First Edition (1996) 2 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 1, p. 99, Bābu Dhikri Sababi Rujū‘i Aṣḥābin- Nabiyyi sa min Arḍi Ḥabashah , Dārul-Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 3 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābut-Tafsīr, Sūratul-Qamar, Bābu Fasjudū lillāhi Wa‘budūhu , Ḥadīth No. 4862