The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

156 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
day listening to what people were saying about them and then to bring them
whatever news there might be. And he told 'Amir b. Fuhayra, his freed-man, to
tend his flock during the day and then to bring them to the cave in the evening.
"'Abd All& b. Aba Bakr would spend the day among Quraysh listening to
their planning and what they were saying regarding the Messenger of God
(SAAS) and Aba Bakr. He would then visit them in the evening and report to
them.
"'Amir b. Fuhayra would tend his flock in the pasturage of the people of
Mecca and in the evening he would bring them to Abii Bakr who would milk and
slaughter them. When next morning 'Abd All&, Abn Bakr's son would leave
them to return to Mecca, 'Amir would follow him down with the flock in order
to efface his footprints."
The following account from al-Bukhari will give evidence of this.
Ibn Jarir related from various sources that the Messenger of God (SAAS) preceded
Aha Bakr in leaving for the cave on Mt. Thawr and that be told 'Ali to guide
his (Aba Bakr's) path to join him, and that he did so on the way. This account is
strange and contradicts what is well known, that they travelled together.
Ibn Ishaq continued, "Each evening Asma', daughter of Aba Bakr, may God be
pleased with her, would bring them food to restore them.
"Asma' said, 'When the Messenger of God (SAAS) and Aba Bakr had left, a
group of Quraysh, including Abn Jahl b. Hishm, came and stood at Aba Bakr's
door. I went out to them and they asked, "Where is your father, 0 Daughter of
Aba Bakr?" I replied that I did not know, whereupon Abii Jahl, an evil and
uncouth man, raised his hand and slapped me so hard on the cheek that my earring
fell off. They then left.'
"Yahya b. CAbbad h. 'Abd Allah b. al-Zubayr related to me that his father told
him, that his grandmother Asma' said, 'When the Messenger of God (SAAS)
left, along with Aba Bakr, the latter took all his cash with him, some 5,000 or
6,000 dirhams. My grandfather, Aba Quhafa, whose sight was gone, came in
thereafter and commented, "I swear, he's put you all into some difficulty by taking
his money with him."
'"I replied, "No, father, he left us plenty." I then took some stones and placed
them in a space in the house where my father used to put his money and placed
a cloth over them. Then I took my grandfather's hand and told him, "Put your
hand on this money." He did so and said, "Not bad at all. He did well by leaving
you all this. This will be enough money for you."
"'But in fact he had left us nothing; I just wanted to reassure the old man."'
Ibn Hishm stated, "A certain scholar told me that al-Hasan h. Aba al-Hasan
al-Basri said, 'The Messenger of God (SAAS) and Aba Bakr, went to the cave at
night. Aba Bakr went in first and searched the cave to ensure there were no snakes
or lions inside, thus using himself to protect the Messenger of God (SAAS).'"