Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 131
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 131 opposition, one against the other. The believers bore persecution with a patient and tolerant spirit and a magnanimous forbearance. One hundred men and women, rather than abjure their precious faith, had abandoned home and sought refuge till the storm shou ld be over past in Abyssinian exile. Now again a still larger number, with the Holy Prophet himself, were migrating from their fondly loved city with its Sacred House, to them the holiest spot on earth, and fleeing to Yathrab. There the same marvellous cha rm had, within two or three years, been preparing for them a brotherhood ready to defend the Holy Prophet and his followers with their blood. Jewish teaching had long sounded in the ears of the men of Yathrab; but it was not until they heard the spirit - sti rring strains of the Holy Prophet that they too awoke from their slumber, and sprang suddenly into a new and earnest life. Having received the divine direction to depart from Mecca, the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, emerged from his house in the fierce noon - day heat of the middle of June, with his face wrapped up against it, and went over to Abu Bakr’s house and told him that he had been granted permission to emigrate. Abu Bakr enquired eagerly, ‘Messenger of Allah, shall I accompany you?’ On receiving this assurance, Abu Bakr shed tears of joy, and submitted, ‘Messenger of Allah, in preparation for this day I have reared two dromedaries on the leaves of the acacia tree. I would beg you to accept one of them for yourself. ’ He offered to buy one of them and Abu Bakr had to submit to his condition. Food was prepared for the journey and Abu Bakr’s elder daughter, Asmaa, tore her w aist belt into two lengths with which she tied up the