Thawr Cave

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Thawr Cave
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Thawr Cave is a cave located on Mount Thawr in the south of Mecca. This cave is the place where the Prophet (PBUH) sought refuge during the migration to Medina."

Hiding of the Prophet (PBUH)

The significance of Mount Thawr lies in the fact that the Prophet (PBUH), during the migration to Yathrib, concealed himself in a cave atop this mountain for three days. The polytheists, utilizing skilled trackers such as Kurz bin Alqamah, pursued him and traced his footsteps to the entrance of Thawr Cave. The nesting of birds, the weaving of spider webs, or the growth of a short-lived plant at the cave's entrance left the polytheists discouraged in their search for the Prophet. After a three-day stay in this cave, the prophet (PBUH) continued his journey to Yathrib.[1] Apparently, the passage along the route chosen by the Prophet (PBUH) for ascending the mountain during the migration posed difficulties, leading to bleeding in his feet during the ascent.[2]

Location

At the summit of Mount Thawr, there are two adjacent caves, both considered hiding places of the Prophet (PBUH) during the migration to Yathrib (Medina). Considering the companionship of Abu Bakr and also Amer bin Fuhayrah, the guide of the route, it can be said that the larger cave served as the place of concealment. The dimensions of this cave are 5.3 square meters in length and width, with a height of 1.3 meters.[3] Verse 40 of Surah At-Tawbah, in which Allah reports about the support of the Prophet and his companion, refers to this event and the cave.[4]

Visit to Thawr Cave

Thawr Cave has always been a focal point for Muslims, and many individuals throughout different periods have ascended the mountain to see it.[5] "Apparently, in the 14th century AH (20th century CE), it was customary for the people of Mecca to visit this mountain on Saturdays, while the rest of the days were for others to visit.[6] At that time, stone markers were placed along the path and on top of the mountain to guide visitors.[7]

Changes to the Cave Entrance

Kurdi (d. 1400 AH/ 1979-80) claimed, referring to a phrase from the Qamus al-Muhit and Abu Bakr's account of staying in the cave, that the entrance to the cave was originally at its upper section during the Prophet's time and that the current entrances were later created.[8]

Ibn Jubayr (d. 612 AH/1215-6) mentioned two entrances for the cave, with one of them being wider, and people mostly used that entrance to access the cave.[9] Based on this report, apparently, during those periods, the second entrance was created for the easy access of pilgrims to the cave. This was because the main opening of the cave, which was located on the Qibla side, was very narrow, requiring a specific skill to pass through. Around the year 800 AH/1397-8, the main entrance of the cave was slightly expanded by cutting rocks.[10]

"Nevertheless, subsequent reports still narrate the small size of the cave entrance. For instance, in the year 810AH/1407-8, the entrance to the cave was temporarily closed due to overcrowding.[11] "Another report indicates that during the time of Sharif Aun al-Rafi' (r. 1299 AH/ 1881-2), the Emir of Mecca ordered the expansion of the cave entrance.[12]

Gallary

Notes

  1. ↑ Ibn Saʿd, Al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 1, p. 177; Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf.vol. 1, p. 307; Maqrizī, Imtāʿ al-asmāʾ.vol. 1, p. 58.
  2. ↑ Fākihī, Akhbār Makka fī qadīm al-dahr wa ḥaīthih, vol. 4, p. 80.
  3. ↑ Qāʾidān, Tārīkh wa āthār-i Islāmī-yi Makka wa Madīna, p. 96.
  4. ↑ Ibn Kathīr, Al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya, vol. 6, p. 184.
  5. ↑ abbāgh, Taḥṣīl al-marām, vol. 1, p. 511-512.
  6. ↑ Ṣabrī Pāshā, Mawsūʿa mirʾāt al-ḥaramayn, vol. 2, p. 912.
  7. ↑ Ibrāhīm Rafʿat Pāshā. Mirʾāt al-ḥaramayn, vol. 1, p. 61.
  8. ↑ Kurdī, Al-Tārīkh al-qawīm li Makka wa bayt Allāh al-karīm , vol. 2, p. 394; Gāzī, Ifādat al-anām, vol. 2, p. 18.
  9. ↑ Ibn Jubayr, Riḥla Ibn Jubayr, p. 124-125; Warthīlānī, Al-Riḥla al- Warthīlānīyya, vol. 2, p. 475; Ibn Zahīra, Al-Jāmiʿ al-laṭīf fī faḍl-i Makka wa ahluhā wa bināʾ al-Bayt al-Sharīf, p. 300.
  10. ↑ Fāsī al-Makkī, Shifāʾ al-gharām bi akhbār al-balad al-ḥarām, vol. 1, p. 280-281; Ibn Fahd, Itḥāf al-warā bi akhbār umm al-qurā, vol. 3, p. 409.
  11. ↑ Fāsī al-Makkī, Al-ʿAqd al-thamīn fī tārīkh al-balad al-ʾamīn, vol. 3, p. 255; Ibn Fahd, Itḥāf al-warā bi akhbār umm al-qurā, vol. 3, p. 458-459.
  12. ↑ Kurdī, Al-Tārīkh al-qawīm li Makka wa bayt Allāh al-karīm, vol. 2; p. 395.

References

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