How could my anguish ever subside, how could the tears (1) stop flowing from my eyes, were I to be in the City of Emigration while my little boy was still in Mecca and I had no news of him?!

Some people saw the grief (2) and sorrow that tormented me; their hearts softened at my plight. They spoke to the Banu ‘Abd al-Asad on my behalf (3) and pleaded with them … so they returned my son Salama to me.

****

I had no wish to linger in Mecca until I found someone to travel with, for I feared that something unforeseen might arise and prevent me from catching up with my husband.

So I acted at once: I prepared my camel, set my child in my lap, and started out for Medina to reach my husband—without a single soul from among Allah’s creation accompanying me.