Narrated by Aisha (RA), the wife of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the daughter of Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA):
Since the time I attained maturity, I always found my parents practicing Islam. Not a single day passed without the Prophet (PBUH) visiting us at both ends of the day—in the morning and in the evening.
When the Muslims were severely persecuted and tested by the enemies, Abu Bakr (RA) set out towards Abyssinia (Ethiopia) to migrate, due to the intense pressure from the disbelievers (Kuffar).
When he reached a place called ‘Bark al-Ghimad’ along the way, Ibn ad-Daghina, the chief of that region, met Abu Bakr and asked him, “Where are you going?”
Abu Bakr (RA) replied, “My people have expelled me. Therefore, I wish to travel through the earth and worship my Lord.”
Ibn ad-Daghina said, “A man like you should neither leave nor be expelled! For you earn a living for the poor, maintain good relations with your kith and kin, bear the hardships of others, look after guests, and help those afflicted with calamities. Therefore, I give you protection. Return to your town (Makkah) and worship your Lord there!”
The Protection of Ibn ad-Daghina and the Reaction of the Quraysh
Ibn ad-Daghina took Abu Bakr (RA) with him and met the chiefs of the Quraysh disbelievers. He asked them, “Should you expel a man like Abu Bakr, who earns for the poor, maintains ties of kinship, hosts guests, bears the burdens of others, and helps those in distress? A person like him should neither leave nor be expelled!”
The Quraysh accepted Ibn ad-Daghina’s protection and granted safety to Abu Bakr (RA). However, they told Ibn ad-Daghina, “Tell Abu Bakr to pray to his Lord inside his house and recite whatever he wishes there, without causing any disturbance to us, and he must not do it publicly. We are deeply afraid that he will misguide and seduce our women and children!”
Ibn ad-Daghina conveyed this to Abu Bakr (RA). Consequently, Abu Bakr (RA) began worshipping his Lord strictly inside his house, refraining from praying or reciting Quran publicly outside.
The Mosque in the Courtyard
After some days, an idea occurred to Abu Bakr (RA), and he built a mosque in the open courtyard in front of his house. He began praying and reciting the Quran there openly. The women and children of the polytheists (Mushrikeen) started gathering around him in large numbers, watching him with great amazement.
Abu Bakr (RA) was a soft-hearted man; whenever he recited the Quran, he could not control his tears and would weep profusely. This deeply alarmed the chiefs of the Quraysh polytheists.
They immediately summoned Ibn ad-Daghina and told him, “We gave protection to Abu Bakr on the condition that he would worship his Lord inside his house. He has violated that agreement by building a mosque in the courtyard in front of his house and has started praying and reciting publicly. We fear he will misguide our women and children. Therefore, if he wishes to worship his Lord exclusively inside his house, let him do so; but if he insists on doing it publicly, ask him to return your protection! We do not want to break our covenant with you, but at the same time, we are not ready to tolerate Abu Bakr’s public actions.”
Relying on Allah’s Protection
Ibn ad-Daghina went to Abu Bakr (RA) and said, “You know the conditions upon which I granted you protection. You must either abide by them or return my protection to me. I do not want the Arabs to say that Ibn ad-Daghina broke a covenant he had made.”
Abu Bakr (RA) replied, “I return your protection back to you, and I am fully satisfied with the protection of Allah!”
The Commandment for Migration (Hijrah)
At that time, the Prophet (PBUH) was still in Makkah. He announced to the Muslims, “I have been shown the place of your migration. It is a land of salt pans, situated between two mountains and rich in date-palm trees.” These two mountains represented the two stony tracts (Harrah) of Madinah.
Hearing this, some people started migrating towards Madinah. Even some of those who had previously migrated to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) returned and headed to Madinah.
When Abu Bakr (RA) prepared to migrate, the Prophet (PBUH) told him, “Wait a little, for I am expecting permission (from Allah) to migrate.”
Abu Bakr (RA) asked eagerly, “May my father be sacrificed for you! Are you really expecting that?” The Prophet (PBUH) replied, “Yes.”
Therefore, Abu Bakr (RA) postponed his journey to accompany the Prophet (PBUH). He fed his two camels with the leaves of the Samur (acacia) tree for four months to prepare them for the long journey of Hijrah.
Subsequently, in accordance with the command of Allah, the Prophet (PBUH) migrated from Makkah to Madinah alongside his companion, Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA).
