One of the most important events in Islamic history is the migration of Muslims to Medina. Today’s discussion will focus on this incident. After living in Mecca for 13 long years, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) migrated to Medina with his companions, and this migration was not an uncertain event.
There are several years of preparation behind this. Earlier we discussed how Islam entered Medina.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had been preparing for two years to settle permanently in Medina. First he sent Mus’ab then he performed the second taking the oath ceremony at Aqaba. When he saw the enthusiasm among the Ansar, he decided to migrate. The Ansar informed the Prophet (peace be upon him) that they were fully prepared to protect him. That is why the Ansar of Medina said that we will protect the Prophet in the same way that we protect our wives and children.
But how prepared were those in Mecca to migrate? Migrating to another country has never been as easy as it is today. Nowadays, we migrate from one place to another so that it is easier to make a living there. But for the companions, it was not a celebration but the only option.
Staying in Mecca means endangering one’s faith.
To remove fear from the hearts of the Muslims of Mecca, Allah Almighty informed them that the entire world belongs to Allah alone. Allah says that
Say, “O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.
(Quran 39:10)
In this verse, Allah Almighty refers to the migration. Surah Kahf was revealed after this Surah. In this Surah, Allah mentions some people who took refuge in caves to protect themselves.
Then Allah mentioned in the Quran:
And those who emigrated for [the cause of] Allah after they had been wronged – We will surely settle them in this world in a good place; but the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if only they could know.
(Quran 16:41)
Allah has promised to grant those who migrate to protect their faith a good abode in this world.
Then, indeed your Lord, to those who emigrated after they had been compelled [to renounce their religion] and thereafter fought [for the cause of Allah] and were patient – indeed, your Lord, after that, is Forgiving and Merciful.
(Quran 16:110)
Migrating is an act of worship and has a very high status in Islam. Those who migrated to Medina and those who sheltered them are called Ansar. The Ansar opened their small homes to the migrants.
Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars. Or do those who do evil deeds think they can outrun Us? Evil is what they judge.
We see from this verse that those who believe will be tested. In this regard, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that the greatest test is upon the Messengers. Then on the righteous, and then on the lower class. Then they attacked people of lower class than them. If he is firm in his faith, his trials will be difficult.
The question may arise why the fourth verse refers to liars. The hypocrites had not yet appeared. The hypocrites or traitors rose up after the Battle of Badr. This Surah is a Makki Surah, but many scholars say that this Surah is a Madani Surah.
Allah Almighty says in verse 11 regarding the hypocrites:
And Allah will surely make evident those who believe, and He will surely make evident the hypocrites.
(Quran 39:11)
In this, Allah says that He will judge through good and evil so that it can be understood who is good and who is bad.
In another verse of this Surah, Allah says:
And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, “We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.
(Quran 29:46)
In this verse, Allah Almighty tells the prophets to treat Jews and Christians well.
Allah Almighty says from verse 56:
O My servants who have believed, indeed My earth is spacious, so worship only Me. Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned. And those who have believed and done righteous deeds – We will surely assign to them of Paradise [elevated] chambers beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers. Who have been patient and upon their Lord rely. And how many a creature carries not its [own] provision. Allah provides for it and for you. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
The meaning of this verse is that if you cannot worship Allah somewhere, then go to a place where you can worship Him. Here, Allah’s provision is said to mean that He does not only provide sustenance in Mecca, but He provides sustenance to the entire creation. And here Allah Almighty reminds the prophets of death.
Now let’s enter the main story of the migration of the companions.
Ibn Ishaq says that Allah Almighty refers to war with this verse:
Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. And indeed, Allah is competent to give them victory.
(Quran 22:39)
When Allah gave permission for war, the Ansar helped the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). They follow the Messenger, and someone helps them. And many Muslims took refuge in the houses of the Ansar. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ordered the Muslims of Mecca to migrate and meet their Ansar brothers in Medina. In this regard, he said, “Allah has chosen for you some brothers in whom we can seek refuge.”
We know that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) migrated to Medina towards the very end and that his companions migrated to Medina before him. They migrated together for safety. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: When 70 delegates returned from Aqaba to Medina, Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was very happy because Allah had given him security.
Meanwhile, when the polytheists learned that the Muslims would leave Mecca for Medina, their persecution of the Companions in Mecca increased even more. Then the companions informed the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) of their situation and asked for permission to migrate. Then he said that the place I was shown in my dream to migrate to was between two mountains surrounded by date palm trees. One day, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) became very happy with his companions and said, “I know where you will migrate, and that is to Medina. So if anyone wants to leave Mecca, he should migrate to Medina.”
Then the Muslims migrated to Medina together and helped each other. The first Muslim to emigrate was named Abu Salama.
Then, one group by one migrated to Medina and they went to the homes of the Ansar. The Ansar gave them shelter and assistance. Meanwhile, the polytheists of Mecca were very angry when they heard the news. The Ansar arrived in Mecca and were able to safely bring the Muslims to Medina.
With their help, all Muslims left Mecca and migrated to Medina. The Quraysh devised various plans to stop the Muslims of Mecca. Among the notable events of the migration was the migration of Abu Salama and his wife Umm Salama, narrated by his wife Umm Salama: We returned from Abu Siniya. My husband decided to go back to Abu Sime again. But when he learned about Medina, the new place of migration, he decided to go to Medina with his family. My husband put me and my child on a camel. Just as we were about to start our journey, my family members ran to me and stopped me, saying, “We won’t let you go.” Saying this, they tried to force me to take them with them. On the other hand, my husband’s family came to me and said, “We will not let you take your children with you.” Someone took my children away. As a result, Abu Salama and Umm Salama were separated and their children were also taken away.
In the end, Abu Salama himself left his wife and child and went to Mecca alone. Umm Salama said: I used to sit on a hill and cry all day. A year passed like this. Umm Salma’s uncle, seeing her condition, felt pity for her and said to her family, “Don’t you have any pity for her?” Her family agreed to let her go to her husband, and her in-laws, on the other hand, returned her son and allowed them to go together.
Umm Salama migrated alone with her child. No one was with them at that time. They were completely alone. At a place called Tain, a few kilometers from Mecca, they met a scholar named Talha. Although he was a polytheist, he was from a noble family.
He provided Umm Salma and her child with the utmost security and brought them to Medina. After we reached Kubai, he said, “Your husband is in this village, you can go.” From this incident we can see how low the Quraysh had sunk. They took away Abu Salamah’s wife and children.
They wanted to stop Abu Salama from migrating, but Abu Salama did not give in, and this is faith.
Now we will know the story of Umar bin Khattab’s migration. Umar bin Khattab was not afraid of anyone. Everyone migrated secretly, but Omar migrated informing everyone.
He left his house with a bow, arrows, and even a stick in order to migrate. Then he circumambulated the Kaaba seven times in front of the Quraysh and went to the people and said, “Who among you wants to be killed by me, then come before me.”
Umar and Ibn Ayyash migrated to Medina. After the Prophet (peace be upon him) arrived in Medina, Allah revealed the verse:
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped. And follow the best of what was revealed to you from your Lord before the punishment comes upon you suddenly while you do not perceive
(Quran 39:53-55)
No matter how many sins a person commits, if he is surprised, Allah will surely forgive him. If someone falls behind, is captured by the infidels, or is unable to migrate, there is still a chance for forgiveness for him.
What do we learn from these incidents? First, Allah is Forgiving. No matter how many sins you have committed, Allah will forgive them if you repent.
Secondly, it is important to be careful about the infidels. One should not be careless about them for a moment.
Thirdly: Shuaib (may Allah be pleased with him) was a resident who settled in Mecca and gained respect as a merchant there. But when he wanted to migrate for the sake of Allah, the very people who respected him stood in his way.
