When studying the Prophet’s Migration in the Quran, we find that the Holy Book mentions these profound events in several places, including the Almighty’s saying:
“And [remember, O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you [from Makkah]. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.”(Al-Anfal 8:30)
It is also mentioned in His saying:
“If you do not aid the Prophet – Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.’ And Allah sent down his tranquility upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah – that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.” (At-Tawbah 9:40)
I always prefer that we read the events mentioned in the Quran directly from the Quran before anything else. This is because the Quran constantly connects events and rulings with the aspect of faith. There is a vast difference between reading the rulings of marriage, divorce, or trade in jurisprudence (Fiqh) books versus reading them in the Book of Allah. This means we need a conscious reading of the Holy Quran, taking what it says in its comprehensive entirety, which expresses not only the event itself but also the educational meanings that benefit the Muslim in their relationship with Allah the Almighty and with society. One can observe in the Quran the explanation of a command or ruling alongside the encouragement to act upon it through spiritual purification and faith.
“And they plan, and Allah plans”
The Conspiracy at Dar Al-Nadwah
In the Quran’s account of the conspiracy hatched by the polytheists in Dar Al-Nadwah to eliminate the Prophet ﷺ:
“And [remember, O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners” (Al-Anfal: 30), we notice at its conclusion Allah’s reassurance to His Messenger ﷺ.
Despite the polytheists’ attempt to arrest the Prophet ﷺ (“to restrain you”), eliminate him (“or kill you”), or exile him outside the city (“or evict you”)—which are methods both ancient and modern—Allah’s stabilization of His Messenger ﷺ arrives:
“But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.”
A Lesson in Steadfastness In this is a lesson for every believer in Allah the Almighty: as long as they are upon the truth, they must remain steadfast. If creation plots against them, the Creator protects them from all evil. This is what the Prophet ﷺ meant when he wanted to instill this truth in Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), saying to him:
“O young man, I shall teach you some words: Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the Nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with anything, they would harm you only with something Allah had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.”
“If you do not aid him – Allah has already aided him”
Divine Companionship in the Cave
In the other verse: “If you do not aid the Prophet – Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.’…”, we notice the Prophet’s ﷺ profound sense of Allah’s companionship.
Despite Abu Bakr’s fear of the polytheists, expressing it by saying, “O Messenger of Allah, if one of them were to look under his feet, he would see us,” the Prophet ﷺ replied to him: “O Abu Bakr, what do you think of two, of whom Allah is the third? O Abu Bakr, do not grieve; indeed, Allah is with us.”
A Muslim walking the path of Allah must feel that Allah is with them, which brings tranquility and peace to their heart. This is how Allah reassured Moses when he feared going to Pharaoh, pleading to Allah: “They said, ‘Our Lord, indeed we are afraid that he will hasten [punishment] against us or that he will transgress.’ [Allah] said, ‘Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.'” Moses learned this lesson when the Children of Israel feared Pharaoh as he pursued them with his horses and men. The Children of Israel cried: “Indeed, we are to be overtaken!” Moses confidently replied: “No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.”
Protection by the Angels
When a believer is on the truth, they should be certain that Allah will protect them just as He protects His righteous servants, for to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth. Allah protected His Messenger with His angels—not as mentioned in the weak narrations about the story of the two doves and the spider, which have mistakenly become hallmarks of the prophetic biography. The apparent text of the Quran states: “and supported him with soldiers you did not see,” which are the angels.
Allah protected His Messenger with His angels when he left his house and protected him in the cave. The angels were guarding the place, preventing the polytheists from reaching him, even though they had arrived at the location, and even though the Prophet ﷺ had taken all possible physical precautions. The ultimate protection, however, was by the angels of Allah.
Practical Application for Muslims
This is a teaching for Muslims: take the necessary means and exert all effort, and Allah guarantees protection from all evil. A person might be plotted against at work because they are sincere or because they fight corruption, with people ganging up and scheming against them. They must take the necessary means while seeking help from Allah, for Allah will protect them just as He protected His Messenger ﷺ.
“They protect him by the command of Allah”
One should not think that Allah’s protection of His Messenger ﷺ via angels was exclusive to him alone. One of the most important duties of the angels is to protect sincere believers. Allah says:
“For him [i.e., each one] are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah.”(Ar-Ra’d 13:11)
It is narrated that if a person recites Ayatul Kursi (The Verse of the Throne) before sleeping, a guardian from Allah remains over them until they wake up.
“And made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah – that is the highest”. The word of falsehood is always frail, and the word of truth is firmly established. Truth always carries within it the causes of its strength and continuity, while falsehood carries within it the causes of its collapse. No matter how great falsehood may appear, it is like the scum of a flood, churning in the sea without accomplishing anything.
In Every Hijrah, There is an Opening (Victory)
It is remarkable to see the connection between the Hijrah (migration) and the Fath (opening/victory), which we might glimpse in the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: “There is no migration after the Conquest [of Makkah].”
From this, it is understood that the Hijrah was a victory, and every “migration” a Muslim undertakes is followed by an opening from Allah. Thus:
- Whoever migrates away from unlawful earnings should expect the glad tidings of an opening from Allah with vast, lawful provision.
- Whoever leaves a job because it is unlawful, Allah will replace it with an opening: a better job.
- Whoever abandons unlawful relations, Allah grants them a righteous spouse, better than what they were engaged in, and so on.
This is because if a person leaves something for the sake of Allah, they are not more generous than Allah; Allah will replace it with something better. As He says:
“And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect.”(At-Talaq 65:2-3)
Conclusion
In the context of Hijrah, we need to be certain of Allah’s companionship with us, and to be certain that the angels are the soldiers of Allah, through whom He protects His righteous servants throughout the ages.
If Hijrah means “leaving something behind,” then every abandonment for the sake of Allah will be replaced by Allah with something better for His righteous servants. The proof of this is found in the experiences of the righteous in their jobs, and in their relationships with people—at home, on the street, in the mosque, at the university, in the field, and everywhere else.
By Masoud Sabri
