The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page clxiii
GENERAL INTRODUCTION For two days the Prophet and Abu Bakr waited in the cave. On the third night, according to the plan, two fleet camels were brought to the cave, one for the Prophet and the guide; the other for Abu Bakr and his servant, ‘Āmir bin Fuhairah. Surāqah Pursues The Prophet Before setting out, the Prophet looked back at Mecca. Emotions welled up in his heart. Mecca was his birthplace. He had lived there as child and man and had received there the divine call. It was the place where his forefathers had lived and flourished since the time of Ishmael. With these thoughts, he had a last long look at it and then said, "Mecca, thou art dearer to me than any other place in the world, but thy people would not let me live here. " Upon this Abū Bakr said, "The place hath turned out its Prophet. It only awaiteth its destruction. " The Meccans, after the failure of their pursuit, put a prize on the heads of the two fugitives. Whoever captured and restored to the Meccans the Prophet or Abu Bakr dead or alive was to have a reward of a hundred camels. The announcement was made among the tribes around Mecca. Tempted by the reward, Surāqah bin Mālik, a Bedouin chief, started in pursuit of the party and ultimately sighted them on the road to Medina. He saw two mounted camels and, feeling sure they were bearing the Prophet and Abū Bakr, spurred on his horse. The horse reared and fell before it had gone very far and Surāqah fell with it. Surāqah's own account of what happened is interesting. He says: After I fell from the horse, I consulted my luck in the superstitious fashion common with Arabs by a throw of the arrows. The arrows boded ill-luck. But the temptation of the reward was great. I mounted again and resumed my pursuit and nearly overtook the party. The Prophet rode with dignity, and did not look back. Abū Bakr, however, looked back again and again (evidently, out of fear for the safety of the Prophet). As I neared them, my horse reared again, and I fell off. I consulted the arrows again; and again they boded ill-luck. My horse's hoofs sank deep into the sand. Mounting again and resuming the pursuit seemed difficult. I then understood that the party was under divine protection. I called out to them and entreated them to stop. When near enough I told them of my evil intention and of my change of heart. I told them I was giving up the pursuit and returning. The Prophet let me go, but made me promise not to reveal their whereabouts to anybody. I became convinced that the Prophet was a true one, destined to succeed. I requested the Prophet to write me a guarantee of peace to serve me when he became supreme. The Prophet cxxxvii