Horse of Suraqah

Having stayed at the home of Umm-e-Ma’bad, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم resumed his journey. A famous horseman of Makkah, known as Suraqah Bin Maalik Bin Ja’sham, appeared, galloping towards them, chasing. He came near and wanted to attack them but his horse stumbled and he fell down. However, greedy for 100 camels huge reward, he moved forward with the intention of attacking them, but the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم prayed and the foot of his horse sank into the stony ground up to its leg. Witnessing this Mu’jizah [miracle], Suraqah trembled with fear and terror and called out, ‘Give me refuge! Give me refuge!’ The Nabi of Rahmah صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم was like the ocean of mercy and benevolence. Seeing him in helplessness and in tears, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم prayed and the foot of his horse became free. Suraqah then humbly said, ‘Grant me a piece of writing for protection.’ He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم ordered Sayyiduna ‘Aamir Bin Fuhayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ to write a protection note and give it to him. The order was carried out. Putting the note in his quiver, Suraqah then returned. Whoever asked him about the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم on the way, he would tell him, ‘I went far and wide searching for him thoroughly but I could not find him. He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم has not gone this way.’ At the time of returning, Suraqah also offered some provisions to the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم but he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم did not accept them.

Although Suraqah did not accept Islam at that time, he felt great respect and reverence for the Greatest Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم in his heart and was sure that Islam was a true religion. After Makkah was conquered and the battles of Taif and Hunayn ended, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم stayed at Ji’ranah [جِعْرَانَە]. So Suraqah came to the court of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم with the same note of protection. He then accepted Islam along with a large number of his tribesmen and women.

It should be kept in mind that the Revered and Renowned Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم gave the news of Ghayb about Suraqah Bin Maalik, saying, ‘O Suraqah! What will be the condition of yours when you are made to wear both the bracelets of the Iranian king – Kisra.’ After many years, Iran was conquered in the reign of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ and the bracelets of Kisra were brought in the court of the caliph. So the leader of believers Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ made him wear the bracelets, saying, ‘O Suraqah! Say that praise is for Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ who has made the Iranian king Kisra lose these bracelets and has enabled Suraqah, a Bedouin, to wear them.’ Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ made him wear the bracelets so that what the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم had said would come true. Sayyiduna Suraqah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ passed away in 24 AH during the reign of Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ.