“A man like you should neither leave nor be driven out” (1).

No one among Quraysh or others (2) is known to have found fault with Abū Bakr, disparaged him, or treated him with contempt, as they did the vulnerable believers. The only fault they found in him (3) was his faith in Allah and His Messenger. Likewise, Quraysh had never found any fault or deficiency in the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, nor had they ever reproached him for anything. Rather, they held him in high esteem for his family and lineage, and he was known for his noble character, truthfulness, and trustworthiness. Likewise, his greatest champion of the truth had no fault in their eyes.

Ibn al-Daghinnah was the chief of al-Qārah, one of the Arab tribes. Quraysh held him in high esteem and honoured the protection he granted others because of his standing among them.

The two Sahīh collections relate that, when the Muslims suffered persecution, Abū Bakr set out to emigrate to Abyssinia. When he reached Bark al-Ghimād, Ibn al-Daghinnah, the chief of al-Qārah, met him and asked, “Where are you heading, Abū Bakr?”

He replied, “My people have driven me out, so I intend to travel through the land and worship my Lord.”

Ibn al-Daghinnah said, “A man like you should neither leave nor be driven out. You supply people with what they lack, maintain ties of kinship, bear others’ burdens, offer hospitality to guests, and help others face hardships in worthy causes. I will grant you protection, so return and worship your Lord in your own land.”

Abū Bakr returned, and Ibn al-Daghinnah travelled with him. That evening, Ibn al-Daghinnah went around to the leading men of Quraysh and said to them, “A man like Abū Bakr should neither leave nor be driven out. Would you drive out a man who supplies