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

42 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
"And they did leave him alone."
'A'isha went on, "Aha Bakr used to have a mosque at the gate of his home
among the Bana Jum& and there he would pray. He was a very sensitive man
and would shed tears when reciting the Qur'm. Young men, slaves and women
would stand nearby astonished at his hehaviour.
"Some Quraysh men went to Ibn Daghina and told him, LO Ibn Daghina,
surely you didn't protect this man to harm us? When he prays and recites what
Muhammad brought he is moved (to tears) and he then attracts attention; we
fear that he may influence our young men, women and the weak. Go and tell him
to go inside his house, where he can do as he wishes."'
She went on, "So Ibn d-Daghina did go to Aba Bakr and told him, 'I didn't
give you protection so that you could do your people harm. They take offence at
the place you attend and feel that you are harming them. Go inside your house
and do there whatever it is you want.'
"(Aha Bakr asked) 'So shall I give you back your protection and rely on God?'
"'Do return my protection.'"
"'Consider it returned.'"
"Ihn al-Daghina then stood and stated, '0 Quraysh, the son of Aba Quhafa
has given me hack my protection over him. Do with him whatever you
wish."'
The Imm al-Bukhiiri alone gives an account of this hadith and his account is
nicely expanded. He stated, "Yahya b. Bukayr related to me, quoting al-Layth,
from Wqayl, Ibn Shiab stated, and Wrwa h. d-Zubayr informed me, that 'A'isha,
the wife of the Prophet (SAAS) said, 'I have no consciousness of my parents
not actively participating in the faith. Not a day would pass for us without the
Messenger of God (SAAS) coming to us, either early in the day or late.
"'And when the Muslims were being persecuted Aba Bakr left, travelling in
the direction of Abyssinia. When he reached Bark al-Ghimd, he was met by Ibn
d-Daghina, who was chief of the @ra. The latter asked hi where he was
heading. Aha Bakr replied, "My people expelled me, and so I want to travel in
the land praying to my Lord."
"'Ibn al-Daghina commented, "But men like you, Aba Bakr, neither leave nor
are expelled. You are charitable, maintain family ties, make sacrifices for others,
are hospitable, and help out in times of disaster. I shall he your protector. So go
hack and worship your Lord in your own land."
"'So he went hack and Ibn d-Daghina travelled with him. At evening Ihn
al-Daghina made the rounds of the Quraysh chiefs and told them, "The like of
Abn Bakr does not leave, nor is he expelled! Would you exile a man who is
charitable, maintains family ties, makes sacrifices for others, is hospitable to
guests, and helps out in times of disaster?"
"'Quraysh did not deny Ihn d-Daghina's right to give protection, but asked
him, "Tell Abii Bakr to worship his Lord inside his house; there he can recite