Excerpts from lecture by Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Shafee Okarvi [Rahmatul Laah Alaieh]
Jumua’h Lecture
Friday 21st Jamaadi ul-Awwal 1396 / 21st May 1976
Allaah [Ta’aalaa] says in the Holy Qur'aan, in the 9th Soorah,
At-Taubaah
سُورة التَّوْبَة, Verse 40:
ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لاَ تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللّهَ مَعَنَا ْ
When they were in the cave, when he was saying to his companion "Do not grieve; indeed Allaah is with us"; then Allaah caused His calm to descend upon him and helped him with armies you did not see, and disgraced the word of the disbelievers; and Allaah’s Word is supreme; and Allaah is the Almighty, the Wise-Soorah Taubaah-Verse-40
إِلَّا تَنْصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
When the Unbelievers drove him out: he had no more than one companion [Sahaabah]: they two were in the Cave, and he said to his companion, "Have no fear for Allaah[Kareem] is with us"
Respected audience, the Holy Prophet Muhammad [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam] came as a model, example and mercy for all mankind. Every aspect of his blessed life ushers in some guidance for human beings of different categories in different situations. For example, those Muslim who are oppressed by the unbelievers and cannot take Allaah [Ta’aalaa’s] name or worship Him freely and openly, find solace in that aspect of the Holy Prophet’s e life that he migrated from oppression and settled in a place where he could freely mention Allaah [Ta’aalaa]’s name and worship Him.
The Holy Prophet [Peace be upon Him] and his companions was tired of the oppression of the unbelievers….Allaah [Ta’aalaa] ordered him to migrate so as to make migration a Sunnah for the Community (Ummah).So he decided to migrate [Hijrat] to the city of Madeenah. When the Holy Prophet Muhammad [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam] left his home, Hazrat Alee [Radiyal Laahu Anhu] was with him. Hazrat Alee slept on the bed of the Holy Prophet Muhammad [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam] by his orders, when the Holy Prophet left his home to commence his migration. The unbelievers were keeping a watch on the house of the Rasoolul Laah and were waiting with swords drawn, to ensure that he does not escape alive.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam], left his home whilst reciting Soorah Yaa Seen سُورة يٰس and Allaah [Ta’aalaa] did not permit the unbelievers to see him. Allaah [Ta’aalaa] said to the Holy Prophet, ‘O My Beloved! Do not hide and leave your home. Recite the Holy Qur'aan and leave. For every aspect of your life, every saying and action of yours will be recorded to serve as a model for all future generations.’ So the Holy Prophet [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam] left home reciting Soorah Yaa Seen سُورة يٰس. He went to the home of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq [Radiyal Laahu Anhu] whom he found awake with a lamp lit in his home. The Holy Prophet Muhammad [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam] asked. ‘O Abu Bakr! You are awake and waiting as if you knew I was coming?’
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique [Radiyal Laahu Anhu] replied, ‘O Rasoolul Laah!
Some time back, within your discourse, you had stated that we will have to migrate from here, and you gestured towards me saying I would be your companion on this journey. I have not slept at night from that time. I thought what if, you, my Master, were to come at night with the enemy on your heels and I would be asleep. The period in which you would wake me could prove fatal, and you could be harmed. So my Master, I have not slept at night from that day on waiting for you.”
The Holy Prophet Muhammad [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam] said, ‘Allaah [Ta’aalaa] has granted us permission to migrate. So let us leave.’
You have heard this incident being related previously. The Holy Prophet Muhammad [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam] left with Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq [Radiyal Laahu Anhu] About 6 miles from Makkah, there, is a mountain named Jabl e Saur, containing a cave called Ghaar e Saur. It is said that, ‘Witnessing has greater merit than merely being informed’. I have climbed this mountain and seen the cave that is located at a height of 3 miles. It is a difficult and hazardous climb, especially in the dark of night. Presently the kings of Turkey have made the climb less difficult by cutting the rock into a step. At that time it was very difficult to climb history records the belief, love and service of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq, who said, ‘Master, climb onto my shoulders and I will carry you up.’ He carried the Holy Prophet Muhammad [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam]
.Imagine what esteem the Holy Prophet [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam] must have held for Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq at that time. What a state Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique [Radiyal Laahu Anhu] must have been in? When they reached the cave Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique did not even mention that he was tired and desired rest but on the contrary he went inside and cleared up the cave.
You may know that there was a snake in that cave that had been informed that the beloved Prophet of Allaah [Ta’aalaa] would come into this cave hence it had made that cave its home with the desire of seeing the Prophet [Peace be upon Him]. After entering the cave, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq noticed that there were many holes in it. He tore up his clothing and sealed the holes and ran out of cloth to seal one. He put his toe into that hole with the intention that any creature may bite him, and even if he dies no discomfort must reach the Holy Prophet Muhammad [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam].
Then he offered his lap as pillow for the Prophet to rest his head on..
Behold the scene in the cave, who is sitting with the Leader of the Universe on his lap, may Allaah [Ta’aalaa] be well pleased with him, Our Guide, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq [radiyal Laahu Anhu]
After the Prophets, the greatest human,
He put his toe into the hole of the snake and absorbed the effect of the poisonous bite, out of love, in his heart
All this for his beloved, Rasool [Sallaal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam]
The effect of the poison brought tears into the eyes of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq and the Holy Prophet asked him as to what was bothering him. He said, ‘O Master! A snake is continuously putting its poisonous fangs into my toe in this hole.’
The Holy Prophet [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam] asked him to remove his toe from the hole, to which he replied, ‘O Master! If I do so, it will trouble you’. The Holy Prophet replied, ‘don’t be concerned, the snake loves me, it only wishes to see me.’ Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq [Radiyal Laahu Anhu] removed his foot and the Holy Prophet Muhammad [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam] applied his blessed saliva on the snakebite. This brought immediate relief to Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq. The danger passed and the poisonous effect was dispelled with the order of Allaah [Ta’aalaa].
The snake came out of the hole and fulfilled its desire of seeing the Holy Prophet[Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam].He asked the snake, ‘Why did you bite my friend?’ It replied, ‘Master! Such a long period has passed in this cave with the desire that when you arrive I will see you. He had closed all avenues for me to come out. As much as I did not wish to harm him but I was forced to do so for I also love you and desired to see you.’ The snake then left. Why did the snake bite Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique [Radiyal Laahu Anhu]? The wisdom behind it was that he also might gain the rank of a martyrdom. In his last days he died of the effects of this same poisonous bite. Remember, he also is counted amongst the martyrs.
He carried the Holy Prophet [Sallal Laahu Alaieh Wa Sallam]on his shoulders to the cave, sacrificed his life, bore the effects of the poisonous snake bites and let his beloved sleep on his lap. Did the Rasoolul Laah recompense him for this service? Yes he did. Listen!....to be continued. In Shaa Allaah.
