Quraishhad declared that whoever would seize Muhammad (Peace be upon
him) would receive a hundred camels as reward. This had spurred many
persons to try their luck. Among those who were on the lookout for the
Prophet (Peace be upon him) and his companion in order to win the
reward was Suraqah, the son of Malik. He, on receiving information
that a party of four, had been spotted on a certain route, decided
topursue it secretly so that he alone should be the winner of the
reward. He mounted a swift horse and went in hot pursuit of them. On
the way the horse stumbled and he fell on the ground. On drawing a lot
so as to divine whether he should continue the chase or not, as the
Arabs used to do in such circumstances, he found the omens
unpropitious.But the lust for material wealth blinded him altogether
and he resumed the chase. Oncemore he met with the same fate but paid
no heed to it. Again he jumped onto the saddle and galloped at a
break-neck speed till he came quite close to the Prophet (Peace be
upon him). Abu Bakr's heart agitated and he kept looking back while
the Prophet (Peace be upon him) remained steadfast and continued
reciting verses of the Qur'an.
The repeated stumbling of Suraqah's horse and his falling off awakened
him to the situation, andhe realized that it was a constant warning of
Allah for his evil design which he contemplated against the Prophet
(Peace be upon him). He approached the travelling group with a
penitent heart and begged of the Prophet (Peace be upon him)
forgiveness in all humility. He addressed the Prophet (Peace be upon
him) and his companion, saying:"Your people (the Quraishites) have
promised a generous reward to anyone who captures you." He added that
he offered them provision but they declined his offer. They only asked
him to screenoff their departure and blind the polytheists to their
hiding place. Then the Prophet (Peace be upon him) forgave him and
confirmed it with a token written by 'Amir bin Fuhairah on a piece of
parchment. Suraqah hurried back to Makkah and tried to foil the
attempts of those who were in pursuit of Muhammad (Peace be upon him)
and his noble companions. The sworn enemy was converted into an honest
believer.
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