At the Tent of Umm Ma’bad
The Noble Prophet ﷺ supplicated, and as soon as he made the supplication, the legs of Hazrat Suraqah رضي الله عنه’s mare came out of the ground.
As soon as the mare’s legs came out, Suraqah رضي الله عنه mounted it again and moved toward the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ supplicated:
«“O Allah, keep us safe from him.”»
As soon as he made this supplication, the mare sank into the ground up to its belly.
He then said:
«“O Muhammad! I swear by Allah, save me from this trouble. I will prove myself to be your well-wisher.”»
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
«“O earth! Release him.”»
As soon as he said this, his mare came out of the ground.
Some books of Tafsir mention that Suraqah رضي الله عنه broke his promise seven times, and the same thing happened each time. Some narrations state that it happened three times.
Eventually, Hazrat Suraqah رضي الله عنه understood that he could not reach the Prophet ﷺ. He therefore said:
«“I will not pursue you anymore. If you wish to take anything from my belongings, please take it. It will be useful to you during the journey.”»
The Noble Prophet ﷺ refused to take anything from him and said:
«“You should simply keep yourself away from us and do not allow anyone to reach us.”»
The Prophet ﷺ also said to Suraqah رضي الله عنه:
«“O Suraqah! What will your condition be when you are made to wear the bracelets of Kisra?”»
Hearing this, Suraqah رضي الله عنه was astonished and said:
«“What did you say? I will be made to wear the bracelets of Kisra, the king?”»
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
«“Yes, that is how it will be.”»
This was an astonishing prophecy of the Noble Prophet ﷺ, because at that time there was absolutely no apparent possibility of such a thing happening, even remotely.
But then a time came when Hazrat Suraqah رضي الله عنه accepted Islam. During the caliphate of Hazrat ‘Umar رضي الله عنه, when the Muslims achieved victory after victory and the Persian king Kisra suffered a decisive defeat, the bracelets of Kisra were among the spoils of war.
Hazrat ‘Umar رضي الله عنه made Hazrat Suraqah رضي الله عنه wear those bracelets. At that moment, Suraqah رضي الله عنه remembered that the Noble Prophet ﷺ had said to him at the time of the Hijrah:
«“O Suraqah! What will your condition be when you are made to wear the bracelets of Kisra?”»
Suraqah رضي الله عنه describes the details of his acceptance of Islam in the following words:
«“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had finished with the campaigns of Hunayn and Ta’if, I set out to meet him. I met him at the place of Ji‘ranah.
I moved through the ranks of the Ansari horsemen toward the part of the army where the Prophet ﷺ was seated on his she-camel.
When I came near, I said:
‘O Messenger of Allah! I am Suraqah.’
He said:
‘Come closer.’
I came closer and then accepted Islam.”»
When Hazrat ‘Umar Siddiq رضي الله عنه made Suraqah رضي الله عنه wear the bracelets of Kisra, he said:
«“All praise belongs to Allah Almighty, Who took these things away from Kisra ibn Hurmuz, the king of Persia, who used to say, ‘I am the lord of mankind.’”»
After Suraqah رضي الله عنه had received forgiveness from the Noble Prophet ﷺ, he turned back. On the way, whenever he met anyone who was coming in search of the Prophet ﷺ, he would turn them back by saying:
«“I have just come from that direction. I did not find anyone there. And people already know how well I know these routes.”»
Thus, this caravan continued traveling throughout the entire night. They kept moving until the following day, when it became midday.
There was no one to be seen anywhere in the distance. Then they saw a large rock rising before them. Its shadow stretched a considerable distance.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ intended to stop there for a while.
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه got down from his ride and began clearing the ground with his own hands so that the Prophet ﷺ could sleep in the shade of the rock.
After cleaning the place, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه spread his leather garment there and said:
«“O Messenger of Allah! Please sleep here. I will stand guard.”»
The Noble Prophet ﷺ went to sleep.
While he was sleeping, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه saw a shepherd approaching the rock. Perhaps he also wanted to rest in its shade.
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه immediately turned toward him and asked:
«“Who are you?”»
He replied:
«“I am a shepherd from Makkah.”»
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه asked:
«“Is there any milk-producing goat among your goats?”»
He replied:
«“Yes, there is.”»
Then he brought one of the goats forward, milked it into a container, and gave the milk to Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه.
Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه took the container of milk and came to the Prophet ﷺ, who was sleeping at that time. He did not consider it appropriate to wake him. So he continued standing there with the container of milk until the Prophet ﷺ woke up.
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه poured some water into the milk so that it would cool. Then he presented it to the Prophet ﷺ and said:
«“Please drink this milk.”»
The Prophet ﷺ drank the milk and then asked:
«“Has the time to depart arrived?”»
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه replied:
«“Yes, it has.”»
The caravan then set off again.
They had traveled only a short distance when they saw a tent. A woman was sitting outside the tent.
She was Umm Ma‘bad رضي الله عنها, who at that time had not yet received the invitation to Islam. Her name was ‘Atikah. She was a brave and noble woman.
She also noticed the travelers. At that time, Umm Ma‘bad رضي الله عنها did not know who these people in this small caravan were.
As they came closer, the Prophet ﷺ saw a goat standing near Umm Ma‘bad رضي الله عنها. It was an extremely weak and thin goat.
The Prophet ﷺ asked Umm Ma‘bad رضي الله عنها:
«“Does it have any milk in its udders?”»
Umm Ma‘bad رضي الله عنها replied:
«“How could there be milk in the udders of this weak and emaciated goat?”»
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«“Will you allow me to milk it?”»
Umm Ma‘bad رضي الله عنها said:
«“But it is not even a milk-producing goat at this time. Just think for yourself, how could it possibly give milk? You have my permission. If you can obtain milk from it, then please milk it.”»
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه brought the goat to the Noble Prophet ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ passed his blessed hand over its back and udders and supplicated:
«“O Allah! Grant blessing for us in this goat.”»
As soon as the Prophet ﷺ made this supplication, the goat’s udders filled with milk, and milk began dripping from them.
Seeing this, Umm Ma‘bad رضي الله عنها was left astonished.