In the Footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad

CHAPTER EIGHT

Hfjrah

The Prophet Muhammad was neither fatalistic nor reckless. His trust in
God was absolurc, but that had never caused him to drift with the tide of
events. Revelation had reminded him that he must never forget to say "in
sha Alloh" (if G od so wills) when he planned to act, and that the m:mo-
ry of God must be associat ed with humility (especially in regard to his
own powers as a human being). Still, this by no means implied thar he
should forget to show responsibility and foresight in his choices in the
world of human beings. T hus, Muhammad had been planning an emigra-
tion to Medina (hiJrah) for almost two years, and nothing had been left to
chance. Only after making intelligent and thorough use of his human
powers had he trusted himself to the divine will, thereby clarifying for us
the meaning of at-tawakkul alo Allah (reliance on God, tr usting oneself to
God): responsibly exercising all the qualities (in tellectual, spiritual, psy-
chological, sentimental, etc.) each one of us has becn grantcd and humbly
remembering that beyond what is humanly possible, God alone makes
things happen. Indeed, this teaching is the exact opposite of the tempta-
tion of fatalism: God will act only after humans have, at their own level,
sought out and exhausted all the potentialities of action. That is the pro-
found meaning of this Quranic verse: "Verily never will G od change the
condition of a people until they change what is in themselves."l

With Abu Bakr

Muhammad and Abu Bakr decided to leave 1fecca duting rhe night and
head roward Yemen to avoid attracting attention. Abu Bakr provided