The Hijra 
But the haven of safety was not yet in sight. The Prophet had to spend another three trying years in Mecca.
The tenth year of the Call had been one of very sad losses. Yet the Prophet was not the man to brood over his grief. He nobly went about his great task. He made a journey to Taif, the rich city of mild climate, to preach to the people there. Perhaps they might be better prepared to receive the truth. He took Zaid with him. He walked the distance, preaching to the clans on the way. Arrived at Taif, he met the three chiefs, all brothers, and presented Islam to them. They were most insolent and haughty. "Could Allah get no wealthy cief for a messenger? You do not have even so much as a mount", said one. "I will go to get my beard shaved before the Ka'ba, if thou art a Prophet", said another. The third was even more insolent. "I will have no word with you. It is dangerous to believe you if you are in fact a messenger. And if you are an impostor it is below my dignity to talk to you." The Prophet only said in reply to all this: "Keep your views to yourselves. Let not your ideas withold others from Islam."
Nothing daunted, the Prophet went about preaching in Taif for ten days. However none would listen to him. The wocked chiefs egged on the dregs of society to be rude to the Prophet. Once the hooting, shouting and clapping became so intolerable that he was driven to take refuge in a house nearby. At another place he was so severely pelted with stones that he fainted. Zaid carried him on his back to a place of safety, and sprinkled water on his face to revive him.
It was a most shocking experience. But the Prophet did not curse them - so sweet was his temper, and so sincere his sympathy for man. As for himself he opened his heart, in a lovely prayerd, to the Most Merciful.
The Prophet returned to Mecca under the protection of Mut'im som of Adi. According to a custom he was not longer a citizen, after he had left the city. But Mut'im only helped in the Prophet's return. He did not offer the full Arab protection - he did not undertake to sheilf the Prophet against further persecution.
When there was darkness and despair all round, the Prophet had the luminous experience of M'iraj - ascension, going up. Some say it was a grand vision. Most believe it was a waking experience, both soul and body being blessed. Anyway the M'iraj was the fore-runner of further greatness for the Prophet, and glory for Islam. A bright future is promised in chapter 17, the Children of Israel, revealed at this time. The Prophet was to be raised to a "praised estate". Truth would triumph, for falsehood is ever bound to vanish. His departure from Mecca and the entry into Medina were both to be firm. For all these blessings Muslims were to establish worship five times a day, out of gratitude. "Prayer", says the Prophet, "is M'iraj for a believer."
It was the eleventh year after the Call, and the season of Hajj. With his usual concern for man, the Prophet went about preaching to the various groups of pilgrims. It was ever a passion with him, his deep concern. "Yet it may be , if they beieve not in this statement, that thou (Muhammad) will torment thy soul with grief over their footsteps", says the Quran. He moved from group to group, preaching. He then came upon a small group of six pilgrims from Yathrib. They listened to him with interest. In a way they were prepared to listen. They had heard from the Jews that the promised Prophet was coming. The group accepted Islam and promised to return the following year. They would also ask their people if they could receive some Muslim refuges from Mecca. The following year they came with seven men of Aus and Khazraj, the two chief Arab tribes of Yathrib. The Prophet talked to them and recited the Quran for them. Their hearts warmed to Islam and they took an oath of loyalty. This was the pledge: "We will ascribe nothing as partner unto Allah. We will neither steal nor commit adultery. We will not kill our children. We will not manufacture lies to damage the reputation of others. We will obey the Prophet in everything that is right." This is called the first Pledge of Aqaba, after the name of the place where it was taken. At their request, Mus'ab bin Umair was sent with them to teach them Islam.
Mus'ab was a wonderful teacher. Islam was carried toe very home in Medina through his efforts In youth he had gone about dressed in silk, and had slaves to attend upon him. But now as a teacher in Medina he waited on himself and had only a blanket, pinned in fron with nothing better than thorns, as a covering.
The efforts of Mus'ab were a blessing in another manner too. Medina was to be the haven of safety for the Prophet and for Islam. A deputation of 75 persons from Medina, including two women, met the Prophet in the darkness of the night near' Aqaba, the following year. It was the season of Hajj again. Abbas, not yet a Muslim, the uncle of the Prophet was with him. He was a shrewd man, businesslike, and a jealous guardian of the Prophet's afety. The deputation had invited the Prophet, on behalf of the entire Muslim community of Medina, to settle there. Abbas said to them, "You must bear in mind that most of the Quraish are the bitter enemies of Muhammad. But his own people would protect him. You invite him to your city. All Arabia will be against you. If you are prepared to run this risk take him with you. If not, give up the idea and let him stay here." "We know the dangers ahead. But our faith is firm. We mean what we say. Speak, O prophet of Allah, and take any pledge from us for yurself and your Lord." The Prophet recited the Quran to them and promised to accept their request if they would defend him and Islam as they would their wives and children. "Yes, yes," replied all together. Abbas cautioned them to speak low lest they should be overheard. One of them said aloud, "We are not afraid. Permit us, O prophet of Allah, and we can deal with the Meccans right now and avenge the wrong they have done you." The Prophet said that he had not yet been permitted to fight. "And what shall be our reward, if we die in the cause of Allah?" asked they. "Happiness hereafter!" They further asked, "Will you leave us in the hour of prosperity to return to your people." The Prophet smiled and said, "Nay, never. I am yours, you are mine." "Give us your hand to take the oath." All then, one by one, swore to be loyal to the Prophet and to Islam. This is called the second Pledge of 'Aqaba'. What was new in the second pledge was that the Medinites had promised to defend the Prophet as their own kin.
Even since the first Pledge of 'Aqaba' the Prophet had allowed the Muslims quietly to migrate to Medina. But the emigrants found it no easy task. The Meccans were afraid of Muslim power abroad. They had followed, out of hatred and fear, the Muslim refugees into their exile in Abyssinia. They tried all methods to prevent the Muslim exodus to Medina.
Meanwhile the Prophet stuck to his post. He was the target of severe persecution. One day dust was thrown at him in a public way. He came home. His daughter washed his head and shed tears. "Weep not, my child. Allah will help your father." The darker the prospects, the brighter was his faith. About a hundred Muslim families had gone away to Medina by twos and threes. They were greeted at Medina as brothers.
It was time now for the Prophet to bid farewell to the town of his birth, and for thirteen years the scene of his mission. He had now two devoted followers left in the city, Ali and Abu Bakr. The Quraish met in council to deal with the Prophet before it was too late. They keenly felt that delay would be dangerous. What was to be done? The Quran briefly reports their proceedings: they plotted to confine him or to kill him or to drive him out. They plotted, but Allah is the best of plotters. Abud Jahl's proposal was resolved upon. They must slay the Prophet. But he cleverly suggested that a champion should be found from every clan. Together they were to strike to avoid blood being placed against a single clan by the Banu Hashim. They could well afford to pay the blood money. The would-be murderers were to keep a close guard at the house. They were to drive their swords into the body of the Prophet the moment he came out of the house during the night or very early in the morning.
But Allah was indeed the best of plotters. It was revealed to the Prophet what to do. He asked Ali to lie on his bed, wrapped in his mantle. Reciting the Quran, he left the house and passed through his enemies, unobserved. It is reported that one of the verses on his lips was: "Anad We have set a bar before them and a bar behind them, and have covered them so that they see not." He made straight for the house of Abu Bakr. Together they left the city and took shelter in the cavern of Thaur, some two or three miles from Mecca. Abu Bakr carried the prophet part of the rough and stony way. He entered the cave first, smoothed the place as best as he could, and then requested the Prophet to enter. They lay hidden in the cave three days. At night a son of Abu Bakr gave the the news, his goatherd brought the goats for the milk, and Abu Bakr's daughter Asma brought them food.
When it was day those who had been keeping a close watch during the night were full of rage on finding that the Prophet's bed was occupied by Ali and were even rude to him, but then they decided to spare him. The Meccans sent pursuers in all directions. They set a price, hundred (100) camels, on the head of the Prophet. They scoured all the neighbourhood of Mecca and were once so near the place of hiding that they could have seen the two friends if they had bent down and peeped into the cavern. Abu Bakr was concerned for the Prophed. "Grieve not, my friend, Allah is with us," were the reassuring words of the Prophet. The Quraish were put off the track, they could not have everything their own way. Allah caused His peace to descend on the Prophet, and Abu Bakr caught this spirit, and supported him with "hosts ye cannot see." At last when the search of the neighbourhood was over and all was clear, they left the cave. Abu Bakr had purchased two fast camels and kept them ready for the journey to Medina. He had also retained a guide in readiness. The camels were now brought to the cave. They set out on the long journey to Medina. They followed unfrequented paths because they were still being pursued by the enemy. Indeed, one Suraqa, a gallant Meccan soldier, had almost succeeded in his object. But as he drew near his horse stumbled and fell. Suraqa fell with it. He consulted the arrows as an omen. The arrows boded ill-luck. But the temptation of the reward of 100 camels was great. He rode again. The horse stumbled again and the rider fell off. He consulted the arrows again. Again ill-luck was boded. Suraqa was overawed. He called out to the party to stop. He told the Prophet his design and asked to be forgiven. He was allowed to go in peace on the condition that he should not disclose the whereabouts of the party.
As Suraqa was leaving, the Prophet said to him: "How surprised you will feel when the gold bangles of the Emperor are on your wrist?" "Which Emperor?" "Why, the Kisra (the Emperor of Iran)," replied the Prophet. And strange to say the marvel did happen. Years later, in the reign of Caliph Omar, the spoils of Iran were captured and brought to Medina by the Muslim conquerors. As Omar's eyes fell on the gold bangles of the Emperor he remembered the story of Suraqa. Suraqa after his conversion would sometimes relate to his friends the story of his pursuing the Prophet. It was grand prophecy. Omar lived to see the prophecy fulfilled to the letter. He sent for Suraqa and ordered him to put on the gold bangles. Suraqa hesitated, because a Muslim may not wear gold ornaments, but the Caliph desired people to see a mighty sign. Suraqa was pleasantly surprised when he actually put on the bangles.
The rest of the journey to Medina was safe. Meanwhile the Muslims of Medina had got news of the Prophet's departure from Mecca. The city was all expectation. The children would run about shouting with joy: "The Prophet will soon be in our midst." Women and girls would watch from the housetops. Armed young Muslims would go out miles on the road to Mecca and wait for the arrival of the holy cavalcade. They would only return to the city when it was too hot to stay out. One day they had gone back when a Jew cried out from a tower: "Lo! he whom you expected is arrived." He had seen the two camels, on the horizon, carrying the Prophet and his fellow travellers. The news spread instantly in the city. The Prophet alighted at a suburban village Quba, some two miles from Medina. The chief invited him to stay there for a rest. The Prophet accepted the offer and stayed for some days at Quba. As he sat under a tree and people came to meet him they mis-took Abu Bakr for the Prophet. Abu Bakr detected this at once stood up. He took up his mantle and hug it against the sun and said, "Prophet of Allah, you are in the sun, I make this shade for you." This simple incident is eloquent of the utter simpicity of the Prophet and the gentle courtesy of Abu Bakr. During his short stay the Prophet built a mosque at Quba. The Quran refers to this place of worship as "founded upon duty to Allah from the first day." At Quba Ali joined him. Ali had to walk all the way, hiding himself in the daytime and travelling only at night, lest he should fall into the hands of the Meccan enemies. Before he fled Mecca he had returned the articles entrusted to the Prophet by the Meccans. They still called him Al-Amin, only they did not believe in his message.
The Medinites were now anxious to receive the Prophet. The entry into Medina began on a Friday. As he neared the quarter of Banu salam it was time for prayer. The first Friday prayer in Muslim history was conducted here by the Prophet with a hundred worshippers. The Prophet mounted his camel after the Friday prayers. The entire route was lined on both sides by loving and loyal Muslims. As his camel passed by a particular family they would say with one voice, "Here we are with our homes, our property and our lives. Come and live with us." Some in their zeal would hold the reins of the camel and request the Prophet to dismount. Gently the Prophet would refuse saying "Leave the camel alone. She is under Divine command. She will stop where Allah wants her to stop." At last she stopped at a site which belonged to two orphans of Banu Najjar, the clan to which belonged the Prophet's mother. The nearest house was that of Abu Ayub. He was the Fortunate man to be the host of the Prophet.
A sincere, warm welcome was extended by women and girls alike from the tops of their houses. They sang songs of joy, and of praise to God. This was one of their songs: "The full moon has risen on us from behind Al-Wida. We are duty bound to thank God so long as one is in our midst who call us to God. To you who have been sent to us by God we present our perfect obedience."
The girls of Banu Najjar were over-joyed; "We are the girls of Banu Najjar. Muhammad will live in our midst. O the joy of it!"
Yathrib of old was henceforth to be called Medina, city in brief, for the City of Messenger. The Prophet and the Muslims at last reached the haven of safety. But dangers and difficulties of perhaps a harder nature awaited them. They were to be "sorely tried, and shaken with a mighty shock" but not be found wanting.