Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 79
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 79 While the migrants were still in Abyssinia, Najashi was involved in a battle with a rival. The migrants sent Zubair bin Awam across the Nile, to where the battle was being fought, to check up on the situation and to report back to them whether their help m ight be needed in any way; and in the meantime, they occupied themselves with prayers for the victory of Najashi. Zubair returned within a few days and told them that Najashi had been victorious. The migrants continued to live in peace in Abyssinia for a long while. A majority of them returned to Mecca about the time of the Migration to Medina, and the rest returned to Medina at the time when the Holy Prophet returned after his campaign against Kha ibar. When the Muslims migrated to Abyssinia, Abu Bakr also left Mecca, intending to migrate, and headed towards the south. When he arrived at Barkal Ghamad he met by chance Ibn Daghna, chief of Qarah, who inquired from him whither he was bent. Abu Bakr replied that his people had expelled him from Mecca and he intended to settle at some place where he could worship God freely. Ibn Daghna said to him, ‘One like you should not be expelled, nor should he himself wish to migrate. Come back to Mecca with me and worsh ip God freely in Mecca. I shall extend my protection to you. ’ Thus Abu Bakr was persuaded to return to Mecca. Ibn Daghna reproved the leaders of Quraish on making it difficult for people like Abu Bakr to live in Mecca in freedom. Thereafter, Abu Bakr built a small mosque in the courtyard of his house in which he performed his worship and recited the Holy Quran. His recitation was made in a very moving