Recall the Prophet Muhammad’s perilous journey. We stand before Jabal Thugbah. It is more famously known as Jabal Thawr. This mountain holds a pivotal place in Islamic history. It is a story of faith, courage, and divine intervention.
Jabal Thugbah rises 750 meters high. It is located south of Mecca. The mountain’s significance lies in the cave it shelters. This is the Ghar Thawr. The Prophet Muhammad and Abu Bakr sought refuge here. They were fleeing persecution in Mecca. This was during their emigration to Medina.
Imagine the scene. The year is 622 AD. The Prophet Muhammad and Abu Bakr secretly leave Mecca. They are trying to escape the Quraysh tribe. The Quraysh are determined to stop the spread of Islam. The Prophet and Abu Bakr seek shelter in the cave of Jabal Thugbah.
Abu Bakr bravely entered the cave first. He cleared away any dangers. He found holes and stuffed them with cloth. This was to protect the Prophet from harm. The Prophet then entered. He rested on Abu Bakr’s lap. A sudden sting caused Abu Bakr intense pain. He didn’t move fearing he would wake the Prophet. Tears streamed down his face. The Prophet woke up. He applied his spittle to the injury. The pain vanished.
For three nights, they remained hidden. Abu Bakr’s son, Abdullah, gathered information in Mecca. Each night, he returned to Jabal Thugbah. He informed the Prophet and his father of the Quraysh’s plans. Abu Bakr’s slave, Amir bin Fuhayra, grazed goats nearby. This provided them with fresh milk. He obscured Abdullah’s footprints.
As the Prophet and Abu Bakr hid, Allah sent a spider. It spun a web across the cave entrance. Two doves built a nest and laid eggs. The Quraysh search party arrived at the cave’s mouth. The spider’s web and dove’s nest convinced them. No one could have entered the cave recently, they thought.
Abu Bakr feared for the Prophet’s safety. The Prophet reassured him. “How can you be apprehensive about two with whom is a third, especially when the third one is Allah?”
After three days, the search petered out. The Prophet and Abu Bakr left the cave. They headed towards Medina. Asma, Abu Bakr’s daughter, brought them food. She tore her waistband in two. She used one half to tie the food. The Prophet praised her and named her “She of the two waistbands”.
The entrance to the cave is wider now. In 1858, a man got stuck. The opening had to be enlarged. Jabal Thugbah stands as a testament. It embodies faith, sacrifice, and divine protection. Pilgrims and tourists visit this mountain. They reflect on this pivotal moment in Islamic history. It serves as a reminder. It highlights the unwavering faith that shaped a religion.