Uthman Ibn Qasim reported that when Hadhrat Umme Aiman migrated, evening fell at the last part of Rauha. She felt thirsty but she had no water and she was fasting. Her thirst was causing her much anguish. Suddenly a bucket was suspended towards her from the sky with a white rope. She took it and drank water from it until her thirst was fully quenched. She would say, “After this occurrence I never felt thirsty, although I would be fasting often during the hottest days of the summer. I came to the stage where I would wish to feel thirsty but after this day I never felt thirsty again” (Hayatus Sahabah).
CHAPTER IV ALI AS A PROTECTOR & DISCIPLE OF THE PROPHET
Hijrat and the conspiracy to murder Nabi Pak
The Quraish, beholding with alarm the exodus of the followers of the Prophet and dreading the consequences of the new alliance of Nabi Pak and his followers with the people of Yathrib, formed a strong conspiracy to prevent his escape to Yathrib, under any circumstances. They kept close watch over the movements of the Prophet and took measures to secure his person in order to put him to death. They held council to discuss how they should do away with Nabi Pak. One opined that he should be imprisoned in a cell having but a little hole, through which he should be given scanty food till he dies. Another suggested that he should be banished. These proposals were rejected by others as too mild lest he should find means to escape and seek revenge. At length they decided to kill him by forcing into his dwelling in the night; they appointed one man from each of their families to join in the murderous attack upon Nabi Pak. This was a ruse to trap the Hashimites into avenging themselves on at least one family which would give their enemies enough provocation and justification for a fight.
This conspiracy was hardly at work when the angel Gabriel appeared to the Prophet, informed him of the
scheme against him, and communicated to him the permission of Allah to his Hijrat or emigration from Mecca to Yathrib that very night. This is mentioned in the Quran thus:
“And when the Infidels plotted against thee, that they might detain thee (as prisoner) or put thee to death, or turn thee out; and they plotted (against thee) but God laid a plot (against them); and God is the best layer of plots. (i. e. God’s watchfulness. outwits the wicked in frustrating their designs against the virtuous).” Sura VIII-30.
Migration of the Prophet from Mecca
By the time the murderers began to assemble before the dwelling of the Prophet, he apprised his favourite cousin, Ali, of the impending danger, and of his intention to leave the house at once for good. He directed Ali to lie down on the bed in his place and cover himself with his (the Prophet’s) well known green mantle. Unhesitatingly Ali carried out the instructions and Nabi Pak. repeating the ninth verse of Sura Ya Seen of the Holy Book, sallied forth unobserved by the assailants as if they were stricken with blindness.
“And We have set a barrier before them, and a barrier behind them;
and We have covered them with darkness; wherefore Sura XXXVI-9. they shall not see.”
His heart swelling with love and gratitude at being selected for such a dangerous task, Ali asked his Master,
“If I sleep here in your bed in your stead, will you be safe?” “Yes,” said the Holy Prophet. He then instructed Ali to remain behind at Mecca for some time in order to discharge for him certain trusts and charges and bequests which were incumbent on the Prophet. He instructed Ali to look after the women and children and send them to Medina quietly.
The task Nabi Pak entrusted to Ali was a major one, and no small an undertaking for a youth of hardly twenty three years; but the way in which he carried it out, showed Ali’s astonishing capacity. He was called upon to deputise for Nabi Pak at the risk of his own life, for it was highly probable that the mob would kill Ali taking him to be Nabi Pak, or else would get furious at being foiled of their chief objective, and in that case would also kill him instead of the Prophet.
When all the assassins had been assembled, they (in the words of W. Irving) paused at the door and looking through a crevice, beheld, as they thought, Nabi Pak wrapped in his green mantle, and lying asleep on his couch. They waited for a while consulting whether to fall on him while sleeping or wait until he should go forth. At length they burst open the door and rushed towards the couch. The sleeper started up, but instead of Nabi Pak, Ali, son of Abu Talib stood before them. Amazed and confounded they demanded, “Where is Nabi pak?” “I know not,” replied Ali sternly, and walked forth, nor did any one venture to molest him.
John Davenport describes the incident in the following words “After surrounding the house, the assassins then forcibly entered it, but finding instead of their purposed victim, the youthful Ali, calmly and resignedly awaiting the death intended for his Chief. So much devo- tedness excited the pity even of those men of blood, and Ali was left unharmed.”
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 