“A little while later, I got up from my place and instructed my slave girl to take my horse to a certain hillock and wait for me there. I then took my spear and crept out from the back of my house. On reaching my horse, I mounted it and began to gallop with speed.”
As Suraaqah drew close to the place where Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) were, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) caught sight of him. Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was filled with concern and said, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Now we will be captured! This man is coming in our pursuit!” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) responded:
لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللهَ مَعَنَا
“Do not worry! Certainly, Allah is with us!”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then cursed Suraaqah. He barely uttered the curse when Suraaqah’s horse sunk into the rocky ground right up to its knees. Suraaqah exclaimed, “I am certain that this happened to my horse because of your curse! I beseech both of you to make du‘aa to Allah Ta‘ala for me. By Allah! I promise that I will turn back any person who is hunting for you.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made du‘aa for him, and the ground immediately released Suraaqah’s horse.
Suraaqah says:
“From this, I understood that Allah Ta’ala will undoubtedly grant Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) dominance. I then informed Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) regarding the Quraish announcing the reward of one hundred camels for the person who kills or captures him. I also offered him whatever food provisions I had on me, but he declined to accept it. However, he requested me not to disclose his condition and whereabouts to anyone.
“For further precaution, I requested Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to write out a note of security for me. With the instruction of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Aamir bin Fuhayrah wrote out a note of security on a piece of leather. After giving the note to me, they set forth, and I also departed with my note of security.
“Whenever I came across anyone searching for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), I would turn him back saying, “There is no need for you to go this way. I have already searched this area.””
It is in regard to this incident, that Hazrat Suraaqah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) later on addressed Abu Jahal with the following couplets of poetry:
أبا حكم واللّٰه لو كنت شاهدا لأمر جوادي حين ساخت قوائمه
O Abu Hakam (Abu Jahl)! I take a qasm by Allah Ta‘ala that had you witnessed the spectacle when my horse’s legs sunk into the ground.
علمت ولم تشكك بأن محمدا نبي ببرهان فمن ذا يقاومه
You would have surely realised without any doubt that Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is the messenger of Allah Ta‘ala with clear proof. So, who will be able to oppose him?”
Note: This miracle of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was similar to the miracle of Nabi Musa (‘alaihis salaam). Just as Qaaroon was sunk into the earth through the curse of Nabi Musa (‘alaihis salaam), similarly Suraaqah’s horse sank into the ground through the du‘aa of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
Nevertheless, after this incident with Suraaqah transpired, they resumed their journey without any fear or concern.
As they drew close to Madinah Munawwarah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) met Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) who was returning with a trade caravan from Syria. Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) presented a gift of white clothing to both Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
According to the narration of Musannaf Ibnu Abi Shaibah, Hazrat Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also offered some clothing as a gift to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/392-395)