At that time he was the chief of the Aḥābish. He asked, “Where are you going, Abu Bakr?”
Abu Bakr answered, “My people have driven me out, harmed me, and made life tight for me.”
He said, “Why so? By Allah, you are an adornment to the clan, you stand with people in their calamities, you perform good works, and you provide for those who have nothing. Go back, for you are under my protection.”
Abu Bakr returned, and when he entered Mecca Ibn al-Dughnnah stood up and proclaimed, “People of Quraysh! I have granted protection to Ibn Abī Quḥāfah; let no one approach him except with good.”
So they left him alone.
ʿĀʾishah said: Abu Bakr had set up a small place of prayer at the door of his house among the Banū Jumah, where he used to pray. He was a tender-hearted man, and whenever he recited the Qur’an he would weep. Children, slaves, and women would gather around him, amazed at what they saw of his state.
Then some men of Quraysh went to Ibn al-Dughnnah and said, “Ibn al-Dughnnah, we did not grant this man protection so that he could trouble us. When he prays and recites what Muhammad has brought he is moved to tears, and he has a powerful presence. We fear he may influence our children, our women, and our weak ones. Go to him and tell him to stay inside his house and do there whatever he wishes.”
Ibn al-Dughnnah went to him and said, “Abu Bakr, I did not grant you protection so that you might offend your people. They dislike the place you have chosen and are distressed by it. Go into your house and do there whatever you like.”
Abu Bakr replied, “Shall I then return your guarantee to you and be content with the protection of Allah?”
He said, “Return my guarantee to me.”
Abu Bakr said, “I have returned it to you.”
Ibn al-Dughnnah then stood and announced, “People of Quraysh! Ibn Abī Quḥāfah has returned my guarantee; deal with your companion as you see fit.”
Imām al-Bukhārī alone transmitted this ḥadīth, adding several fine details. He said: “Yahyā ibn Bukayr related to us; al-Layth related to us from ʿUqayl; Ibn Shihāb said: ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr informed me that ʿĀʾishah, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, said: ‘I do not recall a time when my parents were not practicing the religion, and no day ever passed without the Messenger of Allah ﷺ coming to us at both ends of the day—morning and evening. When the Muslims were tried, Abu Bakr set out as an emigrant toward the land of Abyssinia. When he reached Bark al-Ghimād he was met by Ibn al-Dughnnah, who was the chief of al-Qārah. He asked, “Where are you going, Abu Bakr?” Abu Bakr replied, “My people have driven me out …”’”