Notes on the Life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) - Migration to Madinah

The First Pledge of Al-'Aqaba

  • Year: 11th year of the Prophethood.
  • Event: The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, met with a group from the Khazraj tribe in Al-Aqaba while inviting them to Islam.
  • Outcomes:
    • The Khazraj accepted the message and were invited to embrace Islam.
    • In the following year, a delegation from Medina arrived, composed of 12 men that included 5 from the earlier meeting.
  • Terms of the Pledge:
    • No association with Allah.
    • Not to steal.
    • Not to commit adultery.
    • Not to kill children.
    • Refrain from known sins.
    • No slander among themselves.

The Second Pledge of Al-'Aqaba

  • Event: Following the first pledge, Mus'ab ibn Umair was sent to Medina to preach Islam; this visit saw increased acceptance of Islam.
  • Year: 13th year of the Prophethood.
  • Pledge of Jihad: 73 men and 2 women pledged allegiance to the Prophet.
  • Terms of the Second Pledge:
    • Listening and obeying in all circumstances.
    • Spending in both abundance and scarcity.
    • Enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong.
    • Participation in jihad and truthfulness.
    • Defense of the Messenger as they would defend their own.

Migration to Madinah

  • Muslims migrated to Medina, warmly welcomed by the Ansar. Only few remained in Mecca, including the Prophet, Abu Bakr, and Ali due to various reasons.
  • Migration Event:
    • The Prophet, peace be upon him, left for Medina with Abu Bakr on the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal, in the 13th year of his mission.
    • Ali was instructed to sleep in the Prophet's bed and return trusts left with him.
  • Cave of Thawr:
    • The Prophet and Abu Bakr hid here for three nights to avoid pursuers.
    • Asma bint Abu Bakr supported them with food even using her clothing for wrapping.
    • A shepherd, Amir ibn Fuhayrah, provided them with milk daily.
    • They set out for Medina on Monday after eight days of travel, reaching Quba on September 23, 622 CE.

Arrival in Medina

  • The people of Ansar awaited the Prophet's arrival, showing great enthusiasm.
  • Quba:
    • The Prophet stayed in Quba for four days, establishing the Quba Mosque.
    • Upon entering Medina, a spontaneous competition arose amongst the locals to host him, ultimately staying with Abu Ayyub al-Ansari until his mosque was built.

Morals and Lessons from Migration to Madinah

  1. Love for Homeland:
    • The Prophet's farewell to Mecca exemplified love for one’s homeland.
    • Quote: "What a fine town you are… Were it not that my people expelled me, I would live nowhere else."
  2. Teaching Patriotism:
    • Importance of instilling sincere patriotism for the development of homeland.
    • Reference: Surat Al-Qasas 57 - Blessings of Mecca’s safety.
  3. Value of Virtues:
    • The pledges reflect values like faith, honesty, and obedience.
  4. Trustworthiness:
    • Consistent commitment to trust even amid adversity; left Ali to return deposits.
  5. Tolerance:
    • Associated with guidance provided by non-Muslim Abdullah ibn Arqat during the migration.
  6. Religion as a Unifying Message:
    • Emphasis on peace and unity through Islam's call among the people of Yathrib.
  7. Companionship:
    • Importance of relationships as foundational to human unity, shown through Abu Bakr's supportive presence.
    • Reference: Surat At-Tawbah 40 praises their companionship.
  8. Development of Virtues through Companionship:
    • The positive impact of companionship on social relationships and virtue cultivation highlighted by Abu Abdulrahman Al-Salami.