IMAM ABU AL-EIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATHiR 161Some biographers state that when Aho Bakr said that the Prophet (SAAS)
replied, "If they were to come to us from here, we would leave that way."
Aba Bakr then saw that the cave had opened up on its other side and it was
now connected to the sea, and there was a boat tied up beside it.
This tradition is not objectionable in the sense of this being beyond the divine
power. However, it does not have a chain of authorities that is strong; nor is it
weak. We cannot assert anything purely by ourselves. We do, however, stand by
tradition considered authentic and with chains of authority that are good. But
God knows best.
The @j+z Aha Bakr d-BazzZr stated, "Al-Fad1 h. Sahl related to us, quoting
Khalaf h. Tamim, quoting Mnsa h. Murayr al-Qurashi, from his father, from Aha
Hurayra, that Aha Bakr said to his son, 'If some disturbance should break out
among the people, go to the cave where you saw me hide with the Messenger of
God (SAAS). Stay there and you will receive sustenance morning and evening."'
Al-Bazzar then said, "We know of no one else but Khalaf h. Tamim who
related this hadith."
My own comment is that Mosn h. Mufayr quoted here is a weak source of low
regard; Y&ya h. Macin gave the lie to him, and traditions from him are not
accepted.
Yanus h. Bukayr stated, from Muhammad h. Ishnq, that Aha Bakr, having
entered the cave and behaved as related, and after the matter concerning Suraqa,
which is still to he told, spoke some poetry, a part of which follows:
"The Prophet said to reassure me, though I was not
concerned, when we were in the dark of the shadows of the
cave,
'Fear nothing, for God is our third, and he has
guaranteed to me victory from Him."'Aha Nu'aym related this ode through Ziyad, from Muhammad h. Ishaq. He
quoted it at great length along with another poem. But God knows best about
these.
Ihn Lahi'a related, from Aha d-Aswad, from Wrwa h. al-Zuhayr, who said,
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) remained in Mecca after the pilgrimage in
which the anjar, 'the Helpers', pledged themselves to him, for the remainder of
Dba al-Hijja, al-Muharram and Safar.
"Then the polytheists of Quraysh joined together and plotted to kill the
Messenger of God (SAAS) or to imprison or exile him. And so God gave him
foresight of this and revealed the words, 'And when those who disbelieved were
scheming to imprison you' (swat al-Anfal; VIII, v.30). He then gave orders to
CAli to sleep on his bed while he and Aha Bakr left. Next morning Quraysh went
off searching for them everywhere."
Masn h. Wqha related it thus in his work on the military campaigns and stated
that they went to the cave by night.