Suraqa ibn Malik

Suraqah pursued Muhammad when he was on his way to Medina for the Hijrah (migration).[1] The former eventually reached Mount Thawr.

The Quraysh announced a reward of 100 camels for anyone who tracked Muhammad and Abu Bakr. Suraqah was enticed. Suraqah bin Malik was a clever and patient tracker who trailed people by their footprints on the sand, the excreta of the camels and horses. He asked his slave woman to saddle securely his agile mare and lead her well away from Mecca while he slipped out the back door of his house so that no one would know what he was about to do.

He tracked down the two-man caravan of Muhammad on their journey to Madinah, but as soon as Muhammad caught sight of the duo, he made the following prayer, "O Allah, protect us from him by whatever means You will.”[2] As a result, his mare got stuck in the sand, and nothing could extricate her. The Prophet and Abu Bakr were visible within range of his arrow, but as he lifted his bow to shoot them, his hands became paralyzed. He cried out, "O Muhammad, pray for me in order that my mare could get out of this mess. I promise I will retrace my steps and give up the pursuit."

In the narration of Ahmad, Suraqah said, "O Muhammad, I know that this is because of you; pray to Allah to save me from my predicament, and by Allah I shall divert away from you any one who is behind me of those who are seeking you. Here is my quiver, take one arrow. You are going to pass by some camels and sheep of mine in such and such a place, take whatever you need from there." Muhammad said, "I have no need of it." Then he prayed for him as requested.

After he prayed for him, Suraqah's mare freed herself from the sand. Such was the size of the reward, however, that Suraqah went back on his word and resumed pursuit of the duo. As he approached Muhammad, the mare got stuck into the sand again. Suraqah again prayed: ‘O Prophet, if I was released again, I would surrender my arms and return to Mecca never to pursue you. I would dissuade even others from pursuing you.’

Muhammad prayed again, and the mare again freed herself. Suraqah then declared that Muhammad’s religion would prevail one day and requested Muhammad to hand him a written promise that he would be honoured whenever Muhammad became the head of the Islamic state. Abu Bakr wrote the promise at the behest of Muhammad on a bone and handed it over to Suraqah. Even as he began to return, Muhammad told him that he would one day wear the bracelets of Khusrow II of Persia. He asked in wonderment if Muhammad meant the bracelets of Khusrow bin Hormuz (or Khosrow II, son of Hormizd IV), the Persian king. Muhammad nodded in acknowledgment.

Suraqah encountered several contingents of Quraysh who were looking for Muhammad and persuaded them to get back to Mecca as he had found no trace of the pair on the route to Madinah. The only person whom he told of his encounter was Abu Jahl, who reproached him for his cowardice.

Within eight years of his migration to Madinah, Muhammad entered Mecca at the head of a vast army and declared a general amnesty. Suraqah entered the court of Muhammad and declared the shahadah (testimony of faith). Suraqah always rued the day he pursued Muhammad for the reward of 100 red camels. He was struck with profound grief the day Muhammad died but remembered the promise of Muhammad that he would one day receive the bangles of Khosrow II of Persia.

Years passed. At one time Suraqah became ill and was dying. His house prepared for his death (643 CE/22 AH). All of a sudden Suraqah opened his eyes and inquired what his family was doing. They told him that they are preparing for his burial because they did not think he would survive. He ordered them not to worry about him because he would not die. The family members were surprised and asked him how he was so sure. He said that Muhammad had assured him of Khusrow's bangles and that he had not gotten them yet.

Sassanid Persia was conquered during the caliphate of second caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab. Umar received a missive from Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, commander of the Islamic forces during the Islamic conquest of Persia. A fifth of the booty was sent to Umar in Madinah. It contained the famed crown of Khosrow studded with rubies, a gold belt studded with pearls and the gold bracelets. Umar was looking at each of the items sent by the commander of the forces. Suddenly Umar called Suraqah to him and put the crown on his head, helped him don the gold embroidered dress and gold bracelets.[3]

Suraqah felt uncomfortable in the royal outfit. He raised his hands towards the sky and prayed: ‘O my Lord, how could I put on something which your Prophet deserved far more than I? I smell the air of punishment in it."

He then turned towards Umar and asked him to distribute all those royal appendages among the Muslims.