Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Incident with Suraaqa bin Maalik
When Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu) reached the settlement of Qudayd which lay on their route, a person went up to the Banu Mudlaj tribe (who lived there) and told them, “I have seen two riders travelling near the coast. I think that they are the same people from the Quraysh regarding whom you are in search of.”
Suraaqa bin Maalik bin Ju’shum, who was present in that gathering, responded saying, “Those are not the people we are in search of, instead they are two men whom we have sent out to do some work for the people.” Suraaqa, however, knew that the riders were most probably Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu), but he wished to secure the reward of one hundred camels for himself through capturing Hadhrat Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu). Suraaqa then called for his slave woman and whispered to her to bring his horse to him. He then set out in pursuit of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu).
He travelled swiftly and reached a point from where he could see Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu). Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu) (who was turning around repeatedly to see whether they were being followed by anyone), spotted him from a distance and called out to Hadhrat Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam): “O Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), we are being followed by someone and soon we will be caught.” Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was engaged in the recitation of the Qur’aan at that time. Calmly, he answered Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu) saying:
لاَ تَحْزَنْ إنَّ اللهَ مَعَنَا
“Do not grieve, certainly Allah Ta’aala is with us."
When Suraaqa was at a close distance, Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu) was overcome with fear and worry, and thus began to cry. Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) asked: “What causes you to cry, O Abu Bakr?” Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu) replied: “I take a qasm, O Nabi of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), that I am not crying out of fear for losing my life, rather I am only crying out of the fear that harm will come to you.” Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) supplicated to Allah Ta’aala in the following words: “O Allah, deal with him (Suraaqa) on our behalf as You please.”
No sooner did Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) make this duaa that Suraaqa who was travelling with tremendous speed, found the legs of his horse sinking into the ground and himself falling over. Suraaqa pulled out an arrow from his quiver (complying with the superstitious ways of the ancient Arabs, that before embarking on any mission they would draw lots with the arrows in their quiver whereupon signs indicating goodness or evil were written on in order to determine the future success or failure in the mission they were embarking on). The indication on the arrow showed failure and that he should not proceed. However, Suraaqa ignored the indication and in the desire of acquiring the reward, decided to once again attempt capturing Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu). To his utter surprise, he found his horse sinking to the ground in the manner it happened previously. He decided to once again refer to the arrows to determine whether pursuing them would be favourable, and once again the indication on the arrow turned negative.
By now Suraaqa was convinced that he was fighting against a divine force and would not succeed. Hence, he humbly called out to Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) saying, “O Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)! I have firm conviction that I am being faced with this trial on account of the curse that you have placed upon me, and I swear by Allah Ta’aala that I will not harm you and I will turn away every other person I meet who is searching for you. I beg you to ask Allah Ta’aala that I be saved from this calamity.”
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) thereupon beseeched Allah Ta’aala to rescue him from the calamity that had afflicted him. Suraaqa, who was blood thirsty for the blood of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu) a few moments ago, upon meeting Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) presented his food before Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and respectfully requested Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam) to partake thereof. However, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) politely refused.
Suraaqa then removed an arrow from his quiver and addressed Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) saying, “O Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)! Take this arrow of mine, and when you pass by a certain place you will find my camels and goats grazing. Show this arrow to the shepherds as proof of you gaining permission from my side to take whatever you desire from my wealth.” Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied, “I have no need for your wealth.” Suraaqa thereafter asked Raulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) for written security, to which Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) acceded. Suraaqa then left the presence of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) to return to his people, and whomsoever he met on the path he turned them away saying that I have checked this path thoroughly and I am sure that they have not taken this route.
After some while, when Suraaqa met Abu Jahl, he recounted his entire encounter with Hadhrat Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (Radhiallahu Anhu) and thereafter he addressed Abu Jahl saying:
أَبَا حَكَم وَاللهِ لَوْ كُنْتَ شَاهِدًا لِأَمْرِ جَوَادِي حِيْنَ سَاخَتْ قَوَائِمُهُ
عَلِمْتَ وَلَم تَشْكُكْ بِأنَّ مُحَمَّدًا نَبِيٌّ بِبُرْهَانٍ فَمَنْ ذَا يُقَاوِمُهُ
O Abu Hakam (Abu Jahl) I take a qasm on Allah Ta’aala, had you witnessed the spectacle when my horse’s legs sunk into the ground.
You would have surely realised that Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is a true messenger of Allah Ta’aala. So who can combat this divine force? [1]
[1] بخاري، حياة الصحابة، سيرة المصطفى
