Ibn Lahiʿa narrated—through Abū al-Aswad—from ʿUrwah, who said: “After the Farewell Pilgrimage the Messenger of Allah ﷺ remained in Mecca for the rest of Dhu al-Ḥijjah and the months of Muḥarram and Ṣafar. During that time the polytheists of Quraysh jointly resolved and schemed to seize the Messenger of Allah ﷺ—either to kill him, imprison him, or banish him. Allah informed him of their plot in His words: ‘And [remember] when those who disbelieved plotted against you: to restrain you, or to kill you, or to expel you…’ (Al-Anfal 8:30). Accordingly, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Abū Bakr set out under the cover of night toward the cave on Mount Thawr, while ʿAlī lay down on the Prophet’s bed, concealing him from prying eyes.
Mūsā ibn ʿUqbah reported the same but added: ‘Quraysh spent the night coming and going, consulting over who would pounce upon the occupant of the bed and bind him. At daybreak they discovered ʿAlī—may Allah be pleased with him—and questioned him about the Prophet ﷺ. He replied that he knew nothing of his whereabouts, whereupon they realized that the Prophet had escaped them. They mounted their rides and searched in every direction for him.’
Ibn Isḥāq likewise said: ‘When Quraysh became certain that Muḥammad ﷺ had been pledged allegiance to, and when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed the Companions who were still in Mecca to join their brothers in Medina, they conspired among themselves, saying, “Now is the time. Decide what to do about Muḥammad. By Allah, it is as though he is already upon you with men. So detain him, kill him, or expel him.”’
They gathered for this purpose in Dār al-Nadwah, determined to kill him. As they entered, Satan confronted them in the guise of a handsome man from Najd, wrapped in a cloak. He said, ‘May I come in?’ They asked, ‘Who are you?’ He replied, ‘A Najdi who has heard of the matter for which you have assembled; I wish to attend your meeting—perhaps you will not be deprived of sound counsel from me.’ They said, ‘Yes, come in.’ Once inside, some of them said to the others, ‘The affair stands as you know; agree upon a plan concerning this man.’ One proposed, ‘My opinion is that you imprison him.’ The Najdi said: