until he reached the shoreline below ‘Usfān; from there he took the route through Amaj. He continued on with the two of them until he intersected the main road after passing Qudayd, then entered al-Kharrār, crossed the mountain pass of al-Murrah, traveled through Naqʿ along the night path of Thaqīf, descended into the night path of Maḥāj, then into the depression of Murajjaḥ Dhī al-ʿAṣwīn. He next crossed al-Qāḥah, came down to al-ʿArj, took the pass of al-Ghābir to the right of Rukūbah, descended the valley of Riʼm, and at last arrived at Qubāʾ from the direction of al-ʿĀliyah.
Muslim ibn Ibrāhīm reported: ʿAwn ibn ʿAmr al-Qaysī told us, saying, “I heard Abū Muṣʿab al-Makkī remark: ‘I lived to meet al-Mughīrah ibn Shuʿbah, Anas ibn Mālik, and Zayd ibn Arqam, and I heard them relate that on the night of the cave Allah commanded a tree, and it immediately sprouted in front of the Prophet ﷺ and concealed him. He commanded a spider, and it spun its web and concealed him. And He commanded two wild doves, and they settled at the mouth of the cave. Meanwhile the youths of Quraysh approached with their clubs and swords. One man came forward, then returned to the others and said, “I saw two doves at the mouth of the cave, so I knew there was no one inside.”’”
Israel narrated from Abū Isḥāq, from al-Barāʾ, who said: “Abū Bakr bought a saddle from ʿĀzib for thirteen dirhams. Abū Bakr said to ʿĀzib, ‘Tell al-Barāʾ to carry it to my baggage.’ ʿĀzib replied, ‘Not until you recount for us what you and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did when you both set out and the idolaters were in pursuit of you.’
He said: ‘We set out from Mecca by night, travelling through the whole night and the following day until midday heat overtook us. I scanned the horizon, searching for any shade to which we might retreat, and there I saw a rock. I went to it and found a patch of shade that I smoothed out. I then spread a fur cloak for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, “Lie down, O Messenger of Allah.” He lay down, and I set off circling the area to see whether any of the pursuers were near. Suddenly I saw a shepherd driving his flock toward…’