Ghar e Soor, the cave that played a crucial role in the history of Islam! This cave is also known as the Cave of Thawr (Thour Cave) (غار ثور). It is a site of immense religious and historical significance for Muslims worldwide. It is a symbol of faith, divine protection, and hope!
Today we will learn more about Ghar e Soor in Quraan and its location. Moreover, we will explore the events within its walls during the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ migration from Mecca to Madinah. Ready to know more about Ghar e Soor and why it holds such a special place in Islamic history? Let’s get started!
What religious importance does Ghar e Soor hold?
Ghar e Soor is the place where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companion Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) (may Allah be pleased with him) sought refuge during their migration (Hijrah) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE.
The Quraysh tribe opposed the Prophet; they wanted to stop his journey and kill him. As they pursued him, the Prophet and Abu Bakr took shelter in Ghar e Soor.
Ghar e Soor in the Quran
The cave of Thawr itself isn’t mentioned directly by name in the Quran. But Ghar E Soor’s story is well-known and deeply significant in Islamic history. In the Quran, Allah mentions this event in Surah At-Tawbah:
إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍۢ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ❁
If you do not aid the Prophet – Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Mecca] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, “Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.” And Allah sent down his tranquility upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah – that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. (Quran 9:40)
This highlights how Allah protected and assured the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr in their moments of vulnerability. It also teaches us that, in the face of challenges and fears, we should stay patient and only ask Allah SWT for help and guidance.
Today, many people who perform Hajj or Umrah visit Ghar e Soor. It reminds them of the challenges faced by the early Muslims and the unwavering trust they placed in Allah.
So where is Ghar e Soor located, and can you visit it? Keep reading to find out.
Where is Ghar e Soor located?
Ghar e Soor is near the summit of Jabal al-Thawr (جبل ثور) which is south of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. In Arabic, it means the mountain of the bull, and it is a 750-meter rocky mountain. The cave is relatively small, with a narrow entrance and a confined interior. It was so hard to access this entrance that the prophet and Abu Bakr had to crawl to get into Ghar e Soor. However, the entrance was expanded over the years
To reach the cave, you must take a hike up Jabak Al Thawr on foot. This can be quite challenging, as it is steep and rocky. Yet, many pilgrims take the journey to experience the historical and spiritual significance of Ghar e Soor. Who wouldn’t want to see the amazing cave that protected the prophet and his companion? What’s more, when you climb to the top of the mountain, the Cave of Thawr offers breathtaking panoramic views of the valley.
Keep reading to know the full history of Ghar e Soor.
What is the history of the Cave of Thawr?
The history of Ghar e Soor is deeply intertwined with the Prophet’s migration and the early years of Islam. Ghar e Soor didn’t only witness the protection of Allah for his messenger. but also the great friendship and loyalty of Abu Bakr. Let’s dig deeper into the history of Ghar e Soor.
How the migration lead to Ghar e Soor
When the prophet PBUH started to spread the words of Allah in Makkah publicly, Quraysh started to abuse him. They throw trash at him as he walks or even at prayers and spread thorns on his trails. They even started to persecute him. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told his companions to move to Madinah and join their fellow Muslims, the Ansar. Meanwhile, the Prophet ﷺ himself remained in Makkah, awaiting Allah’s permission to migrate.
The Prophet, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhafah, and their families were the last ones to leave. When Quraysh noticed the empty houses, they knew something was wrong. They started to search and plan to murder the Prophet and his companions. They even declared a bounty on the Prophet’s head and promised a reward to anyone who caught him dead or alive.
Knowing this, Ali slept in the bed of the Prophet ﷺ . On that night, Allah SWT commanded the Prophet Muhammad to migrate to Yathrib (Madinah) to escape this persecution.
Allah veiled the sight of the assassins waiting to kill him so he could leave the house and Abu Bakr joined him.
As the Prophet and Abu Bakr started moving south, they hid in a small cave on Jabal Thawr.
When they arrived at the cave of Thawr, Abu Bakr entered first. He wanted to ensure it was clean and safe before the Prophet Muhammad entered.
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, said:
“… then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and Abu Bakr headed towards a cave on the mountain of Thawr, and they hid in it for three nights, during which ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Abi Bakr, who was a smart young lad, stayed with them at night, then left just before dawn (at the end of the night) so that he would be among Quraysh in Makkah when morning came as if he had spent the night among them. He used to listen out to see what they were planning, then he would bring news of that [to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and Abu Bakr] when darkness came.” al-Bukhaari (3905)
So the son of Abu Bakr listened to Quryash’s plans and then returned to the prophet and Abu Bakr at night. He tells them their scheming and then comes back to pretend he has been there all night.
Moreover, Amir bin Fuhayra (رضي الله عنه), would graze Abu Bakr’s (رضي الله عنه) goats near the cave so they could drink fresh milk. Then he would drive the goats back to Makkah along the same route that Abu Bakr’s son took, to obscure his footprints.
So despite the hardships they faced running from murders. Allah never left them stranded.
Ghar E Soor Miraculous saving
The event that took place in Ghar e Soor was not only mentioned in the Quran but also in Hadith.
For instance, in Sahih Bukhari, it is narrated by Anas bin Malik:
“Abu Bakr said, ‘I said to the Prophet (peace be upon him) when I was in the Cave (of Thawr): If any of them (i.e., the enemy) should look under his feet, he would see us.’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two (persons) the third of whom is Allah?'” “قال أبو بكر: قلت للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأنا في الغار: لو أن أحدهم نظر تحت قدميه لأبصرنا، فقال: يا أبا بكر ما ظنك باثنين الله ثالثهما.”
On the third day of their hiding in the cave, the Quraysh army closed in and almost reached Ghar e Soor. Abu Bakr became fearful. But Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) comforted him. He said Allah SWT was their third companion, so He would protect them. Indeed, Allah protected the prophet and his companion miraculously.
According to narrations from Anas bin Malik, Zayd bin Arqam, and al-Mughirah bin Shu’bah M, on the Night of the Cave, Allah commanded a tree to grow right in front of the Prophet ﷺ, concealing him. Additionally, the most famous story is that Allah ordered a spider to spin a web over the entrance of Ghar a Soor. That was not all; a pair of wild pigeons nestled and laid eggs between the spider and the tree.
When the Quraysh people arrived and saw this, they assumed the cave to be empty. It simply looked like no one could have entered the cave recently. because that would require breaking the spider web or destroying the pigeon’s nest. Thus, they moved on. This miraculous protection from Allah SWT allowed the Prophet and Abu Bakr to stay undetected.
In other stories, angels concealed the entrance to the cave with their wings. Details are debatable; some scholars consider such ahadith authentic (Hassan), while others are weak (dhaeef).
Whether it was a spider that weaved a web at the entrance or the angels who covered the Ghar E soor with their wings, the point is that Allah protected the prophet and Abu Bakr.
After three days, the Prophet and Abu Bakr left Ghar e Soor. Asma (رضي الله عنها), the daughter of Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) came to them bringing food for the journey. However, she couldn’t find anything to tie it to their saddles. So she undid her waistband, tore it in half, wore half, and tied the food with the other half. This fast thinking and ready solution won her praise from the Prophet (ﷺ). Therefore, he named her ‘She of the two waistbands’. And after that, the Muslims knew her by that name.
Leaving Ghar e Soor, they safely resumed their journey to Madinah. They reached the Quba village on Monday, the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal.
Conclusion
Ghar e Soor, the Cave of Thawr, is not only a historical site but a symbol of faith, divine protection, and trust in Allah. Its significance in Islamic history is profound. It reminds Muslims of the hardships the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and early Muslims suffered. It also serves as a symbol of faith and reliance on Allah.
We hope you now know the full history of Ghar E Soor and how it played a crucial part in the prophet’s migration journey. May we all get to visit Jabal Al Thawr and witness this spiritual place personally, Ameen.
Jabal Thawr Cave FAQs
- What is the location of the Cave of Thawr?
- The cave is located on Jabal Thawr, a mountain in Saudi Arabia in the lower part of Makkah, south of the Misfalah region.
- Is Thawr Cave open to the public?
Yes, the cave is open to the public to learn more about the history of Islamic traditions. - Who was in the Cave of Thawr with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)’s close friend and companion, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (RA), was with him (PBUH) in Ghar E soor - How Long Did Prophet Muhammad (PBIH) Spend in the Jabal Al Thawr?
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Abu Bakr (RA) spent three consecutive nights and days inside Ghar e Soor.
