IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA?L IBN KATHiR 163'Abd Allith, Aha Bakr's son. He was a bright and intelligent lad and would leave
them at dawn and be down among Quraysh by morning, as if he had spent the
night there. He went back to them as soon as night fell with all the information
he had gleaned of plans against them. 'Amir h. Fuhayra, Abii Bakr's freed-man,
cared for a flock of sheep, which he would bring them after night fell; they would
eat foods made with the milk they provided. Before dawn 'Amir b. Fuhayra
would call the flock together and leave; he did this each one of those three nights.
'"The Messenger of God (SAAS) and Aha Bakr hired a man of the Bana
al-Dil, from the Bana 'Ahd b. 'Ad& a skilled guide, a khirrit. This man, though
a follower of the faith of the Quraysh polytheists, had sworn an oath to the family
of al-'As h. Wit'il alSahmi. They had thus placed their trust in him and handed
over to him their two riding camels and made an arrangement with him to meet
at the cave on Mt. Thawr three nights thereafter; he was to bring their mounts
on the following morning. This guide and 'Amir b. Fuhayra did set off with the
two men, conducting them along the coastal route."'
Ibn Shihzb stated, "'Abd al-Ra-n h. Maik al-Mudliji, he being the son of
Sufiqa's nephew, related that his father told him that he heard Surzqa h. Maik
b. Ju'sham say, 'Messengers from the Quraysh polytheists came to us putting a
price on the head of either the Messenger of God (SAAS) or Aba Bakr for any-
one who killed or captured either.
"'While I was sitting at a meeting being held by my people, the Bana Mudlij,
one of their men arrived and stood there, while we sat, and said, "Surnqa, I've
just seen some human forms in the distance towards the coast, and I think them
to be Muhammad and his companions."
'"Surnqa said, "I knew they would be them, but I told him, 'They are not
them. You saw so-and-so and so-and-so whom we saw leave with our own eyes."'
"'I remained for a while there in that meeting, then got up and went inside. I
told my servant girl to bring over my mare which was behind a hillock and to
keep it there for me. Then I took my spear and went out the rear of the house. I
made marks with its head on the ground and kept its shaft down low until I
reached my horse. I rode off on it and it took me ahead until I drew close to them.
Suddenly my horse stumbled and I came off it. I got up and stretched my hand
out to my quiver and took out my divining arrows. I sought guidance from them
whether or not I should harm them. It came out as I did not want. But I got hack
on my horse, disobeying the arrows.
"'My horse drew me ever nearer to them until I could hear the Mcsscngcr of
God (SAAS) reciting, without looking around, while Aha Bakr looked around
constantly. Then two of my horse's legs sank deep into the ground, right up to
the knees, and I was again thrown. I scolded her and she stood up, though
scarcely able to pull her legs out. When standing upright there was dust coming
up like smoke into the sky from the impression left by her legs. Again I sought
advice from the divining arrows and it again came out against my wish.
"'I called out to them, reassuring them, and they stopped. I rode my horse up