We spoke before about Prophet Muhammad’s immigration. I told you that Allah protected him against the idolaters’ plans. Tonight, I will tell you about one of the amazing adventures of his trip. You may be wondering why I would do this amidst Omar’s story. To explain why, I must tell you the story first. So here we go.

After his companions arrived at Madinah, it was time for Prophet Muhammad to immigrate. The prophet and his two companions, Ali Ibn Abi-Tālib and Abu-Bakr, were the only ones remaining. The idolaters decided to kill the prophet. They planned that a man from each tribe would contribute in stabbing him. They wanted his blood to be scattered among all tribes. As such, his relatives and followers wouldn’t dare avenge him. Allah revealed to the prophet their plan. The archangel informed him that the idolaters planned to kill him during the night. Prophet Muhammad summoned his young cousin Ali. He asked him to sleep in his bed. He assured Ali that the idolaters won’t kill him. The idolaters always left their trusts with the prophet. That’s why the prophet ordered Ali to stay behind. He wanted Ali to return all trusts to their rightful owners. Thereafter, he can catch up with Muslims at Madinah. Ali obeyed the prophet’s orders showing no hesitation.

That night, the prophet went to Abu-Bakr’s house and told him that it was time for them to immigrate. They immediately set out towards south Makkah. They took a temporary refuge in a cave called “Thawr.” They waited there for Abu Bakr’s son, Abdullah, to make the necessary preparations for their trip.

That night, the idolaters entered the prophet’s house. They pulled out their swords and approached his bed. The moment they saw Ali’s face, they were shocked. They returned to their leaders and told them what had happened.

The notables of Makkah called for an emergency meeting. They decided to block all the roads surrounding Makkah. Armed men guarded all city exits. Horsemen roamed all areas seeking to capture the prophet. A hundred camels bounty was set for the prophet’s head. Trackers scoured the region.

When they reached the cave where the prophet hid, Abu-Bakr said, “O Prophet, if they look into the cave, they will see us.” The Prophet calmed Abu-Bakr saying, “Don’t worry. Allah is our protector.” And Allah did protect the prophet and his friend from the idolaters. They never saw the prophet or Abu-Bakr.

Abdullah Ibn Abu-Bakr hired a guide to lead the prophet and his father on their trip. He brought two camels that his father had prepared for the journey. Abu-Bakr’s servant volunteered to go with them.

Meanwhile, news of the bounty reached a man named Surāqa Ibn Malik. Surāqa was a skilled tracker. He decided to chase after the prophet. He was investigating near the markets when a traveler arrived bearing news. He said that he saw riders heading north towards Madinah. He designated the place and said that they could be the prophet and his companions. Surāqa replied in the negative. He claimed that these were shepherds searching for their lost cattle. The people took his word for it and resumed their speech.

Surāqa sneaked out to chase after the prophet. He was hoping to kill the prophet and receive the big prize. Surāqa reported what happened to him during the chase. He said,

“When I saw the prophet and his companions, I urged my horse to run faster. Suddenly, the horse’s front legs sank into the sand. I flew off the saddle and rolled on the sand.

I got up and looked at my horse in disbelief. This never happened before. I picked out the divination stones from my quiver and threw them. The stones ordered me to go back but I hated to do that. I got on my horse and resumed the chase.

When I approached the prophet, I heard him reciting the Qur’an while riding his camel. Abu-Bakr looked around and saw me approaching. Yet again, my horse’s front legs sank into the sand throwing me off its back for the second time. I got up swearing at my horse. I pulled it up but was unable to free its legs. I yelled in fear, ‘Safety, Muhammad.’

The prophet stopped. I said to him, ‘I realize that you have invoked Allah to punish me. Ask Him to set my horse free and save me. I promise to distract the men chasing after you.’ The prophet invoked Allah for me.

The horse was immediately freed. I approached and told him that his people had placed a big bounty on his head. I offered him and his companions the water and food I had. They refused to take it and said, ‘Don’t tell anyone of the route we are taking to Madinah.’

I asked the prophet to write me a safety pact. He ordered Abu-Bakr’s servant to write down what he dictated. The young man picked out a piece of leather and wrote what the prophet dictated.

I took the written pact and was about to leave when the prophet stopped me. ‘How will you look, Surāqa, wearing the armlets of Chosroes?’ ‘Chosroes son of Hormizd?’ I asked. The prophet confirmed, ‘Yes, Chosroes son of Hormizd,’ then he rode away.

Surāqa wondered, where are all Arabs from Chosroes’s big armies? How can those few refugees fight the mighty Persian Empire? He didn’t believe what the prophet told him. He didn’t embrace Islam or follow Muslims to Madinah. Nonetheless, he fulfilled his promise. He distracted whomever he met away from the prophet’s route.

Surāqa lived among his tribe near Makkah for the next eight years. He kept the safety pact with him. Later on, after the conquest of Makkah, the prophet’s army reached Surāqa’s village. Surāqa asked to meet the prophet. When the prophet spotted him, he said, ‘This is the day of fidelity and kindness. Come closer, Surāqa. There is no faith in him who is not honest. There is no religion for him who doesn’t keep his promise.’

Surāqa approached and declared his faith in Islam. Not long after that, the prophet passed away. Surāqa reported, ‘When I learned that the prophet passed away, I remembered the day I went chasing after him. I remembered how I hoped to kill him and receive the hundred camels. Yet, at that moment, all the riches in this world for me weren’t even worth the prophet’s nail.’”

Surāqa took pride in telling his story with the prophet. Years passed by. Muslims’ numbers grew from tens to tens of thousands. They fought to free the surrounding countries from occupation. During the reign of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, Muslims defeated the Persians. After many battles, they succeeded in freeing the region’s people from enslavement. The Army brought back to Omar tokens of their victory. Among them were Chosroes’s crown, cloak, and armlets. The crown was inlaid with jewels and pearls. The cloak was sewn with golden threads. Omar looked at this treasure with tearful eyes. His companions asked him about that. He said, “The people who brought this back are surely trustworthy. Chosroes’s crown alone is worth millions. If the man who brought it had taken it to Antakia, he would have lived there the richest among all people.” Omar summoned Surāqa. When he arrived, Omar dressed him in Chosroes’s crown, cloak, and armlets. He then said, “Praise be to Allah. He removed those from Chosroes the tyrant who claimed divinity, and dressed them to Surāqa, a poor Bedouin.”

This was the prophecy the prophet gave 18 years before this incident. When the prophet immigrated, the Persian army was the strongest in the world. Its forces exceeded 120,000 soldiers. The Persians were victorious over the Romans and had invaded most of their lands. Meanwhile, there were less than 1500 Muslims in the world. Less than 350 of them could fight. Any observer of the events could confirm that this prophecy could never happen. If events had not been divinely influenced, the prophet would have been killed before reaching Madinah. Nonetheless, the prophet reached Madinah safely and so did his companions. Allah opened people’s hearts for Islam. Arabs embraced Islam and Muslims’ number increased. From being a defenseless bunch, they turned into a faithful strong army. They fought their persecutors and won their freedom. They faced all the tyrants of the world fearlessly. They succeeded in freeing millions from slavery. That’s what true faith does. When it enters one’s heart, the person changes. And if persons change, the whole world changes. All you need is make victorious what’s right, and Allah will make you victorious.

Omar ordered Surāqa to return the fancy stuff so that he may distribute them equally to the poor and the needy. He then lifted his hands to the sky and said, “O Allah, you held these riches back from your messenger and Abu-Bakr. I know you loved them more than you love me. Yet, you have laid this treasure in front of me. I ask your protection from its seduction.” Omar then ordered his workers to divide all this stuff into equal shares. He didn’t get up until all jewels, gold, and fancy fabric were justly distributed to the poor and the needy.

What else happened during Omar’s reign? You have to wait till tomorrow night to find out. Sleep tight little ones. There are still more amazing stories to tell.

Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, The Prince of Believers – Part V.
Englished and Recomposed for 5^th graders by Ehab Shawky

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