The surrounding of the home of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, on the night of the Hijrah was part of a Quraysh plot to eliminate the Prophet and stop the spread of his message.
The leaders of Quraysh had gathered at Dar al-Nadwah, where they discussed how they could deal with the Prophet and ultimately agreed on a plan to kill him.
According to the narration, eleven prominent men from Quraysh participated in surrounding the Prophet’s home.
The Quraysh Leaders Who Surrounded the Prophet’s Home
The names mentioned in the narration include:
- Abu Jahl, Amr ibn Hisham
- Al-Hakam ibn Abi al-As
- Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'ayt
- Al-Nadr ibn al-Harith
- Umayyah ibn Khalaf
- Zum'ah ibn al-Aswad
- Tu'aymah ibn Adi
- Abu Lahab, the Prophet’s uncle
- Ubayy ibn Khalaf
- Nabih ibn al-Hajjaj
- Munabbih ibn al-Hajjaj, Nabih’s brother
Their purpose was to carry out the Quraysh plot against the Prophet and prevent him from leaving Makkah and continuing his mission.
What Happened on the Night of the Hijrah?
After the Quraysh leaders surrounded the Prophet’s home, Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was able to leave without them realizing that he had passed through their ranks.
The narration states that he recited the verse:
“And We have placed before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and covered them, so they do not see.”
[Quran 36:9]
He then continued on his way while the men who had gathered outside remained unaware of his departure.
How Did the Prophet Escape the Quraysh Plot?
The Quraysh had carefully prepared their plan and surrounded the Prophet’s home, intending to kill him.
However, Allah’s plan prevailed over theirs.
The Prophet left Makkah and traveled with Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, eventually taking refuge in the Cave of Thawr before continuing toward Madinah.
The incident marked the beginning of one of the most important journeys in Islamic history.
Why Did the Quraysh Leaders Meet at Dar al-Nadwah?
Dar al-Nadwah was a place where the leading men of Quraysh gathered to discuss major affairs concerning their community.
As the Prophet’s message continued to spread, Quraysh became increasingly concerned about its influence.
Their leaders therefore met to discuss how to stop the Prophet, eventually deciding to surround his home and kill him.
Their plan failed, however, and the Prophet left Makkah safely by the permission of Allah.
What Can We Learn From the Night of the Hijrah?
The events of the night of the Hijrah demonstrate the seriousness of the persecution faced by the Prophet and the believers in Makkah.
They also illustrate the importance of trusting Allah while taking the necessary precautions.
Despite the strength of the Quraysh plot, the Prophet escaped Makkah with Abu Bakr and began the journey that would lead to Madinah and transform the course of Islamic history.
Conclusion
According to the narration, eleven prominent Quraysh leaders surrounded the Prophet’s home on the night of the Hijrah.
They included Abu Jahl, Al-Hakam ibn Abi al-As, Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'ayt, Al-Nadr ibn al-Harith, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, Zum'ah ibn al-Aswad, Tu'aymah ibn Adi, Abu Lahab, Ubayy ibn Khalaf, Nabih ibn al-Hajjaj, and Munabbih ibn al-Hajjaj.
Despite their carefully organized plot, Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, escaped Makkah and began his historic migration to Madinah with Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq.
How many Quraysh leaders surrounded the Prophet’s home?
The narration mentions eleven men from the prominent leaders of Quraysh.
Who was among the most prominent men in the group?
The group included Abu Jahl, Abu Lahab, Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'ayt, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, and Al-Nadr ibn al-Harith, among others.
Why did the Quraysh surround the Prophet’s home?
They intended to carry out a plot to kill the Prophet and prevent the spread of his message.
Where did the Prophet go after leaving Makkah?
He traveled with Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq and first took refuge in the Cave of Thawr before continuing toward Madinah.
