and He lowers and raises; He sees from above the seven heavens and He hears; He knows what is hidden and what is manifest; He does whatever He wills, is described with every perfection, and is exalted above every flaw. Not a particle moves—nor anything larger—without His permission; no leaf falls but that He knows it; no one may intercede with Him except by His leave; and apart from Him His servants have neither protector nor intercessor.

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When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ accepted the Pledge of ʿAqabah (1), he ordered his Companions to emigrate to Madinah. Quraysh then realized that his followers had become many and would protect him, so they set their minds to contriving schemes: some proposed imprisonment, others exile, until they finally agreed upon assassination.

A courier then came with news from heaven, instructing the Prophet to leave his bed. ʿAlī (2) spent the night in his place, while al-Ṣiddīq prepared to accompany him on the journey.

Once they had left the houses of Makkah, caution seized al-Ṣiddīq. At times, remembering the sentinels, he would walk ahead of the Prophet; at other times, mindful of the pursuers, he would fall back behind him; then he would move to his right, and then to his left—until they reached the cave.

Al-Ṣiddīq insisted on entering first so that he could shield the Prophet if anything harmful were inside. Allah caused a tree, which had not been there before, to spring up and cast its shade over the one being sought while misleading the seekers. A spider came to the mouth of the cave and wove its web like a curtain of concealment, sealing the opening so perfectly that the tracker’s search was confounded. And Allah sent two doves