Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) remained concealed within the cave of Thowr for three days, and the disbelievers continued to search for him during this period. When the disbelievers eventually lost hope of finding him, they sat down in frustration. Despite their announcements that the person who captures Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and brings them both will receive the reward of one hundred camels for each head, they remained unsuccessful. At this time, exasperated by their lack of success, the intensity of their search subsided. This is when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) left the cave and set out for Madinah Munawwarah along the coastal route.

Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was more recognized among the people compared to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Thus, whenever they encountered anyone en-route who asked Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “Who is this man who is seated in front of you on the animal?” then he would reply, “This is the man showing me the way.” When saying this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would intend, in his mind, that this is the man showing me the road to goodness and to the Hereafter.

Date of Departure

Approximately three months after the pledge of Aqabah, on Thursday, 1st Rabee’-ul-Awwal, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) set out from Makkah Mukarramah for the cave of Thowr. He remained in the cave of Thowr for three days. He left the cave of Thowr on Monday, departing for Madinah Munawwarah, and he arrived in Madinah on a Monday as well.

Hazrat Asma bint Abi Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anha) says, “After the departure of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), some people – including Abu Jahal - came to my father’s home. When he asked me about the whereabouts of my father, I responded, ‘By Allah! I do not know.’ Abu Jahal then slapped my face with such force that my ear-ring fell off.”