The Cave of Thawr and It’s Story

The Cave of Thawr

About 12 km south of Makkah is the much revered mountain of Thawr. It is a steep climb that leads to the top, from where you can see the city of Makkah. The views are particularly splendid during the night. From the top you can also see the cave of Thawr. Also known as the cave of Saur, Thawr cave is an important site according to the history of Islam. Pilgrims who have time and wish to see sites of religious importance, visit the mountain as well as the cave.

Cave of Thawr: Story Of The Prophet’s Refuge

It is in the cave of Thawr that the Prophet, along with Abu Bakr, took refuge from his enemies that belonged to the Quraish tribe. They stayed here for two days and hence the cave is considered a sacred place by Muslims. Here’s the story of their refuge and safety in detail.

In the early years of Islam, when the Prophet started public preaching, Muslims were treated with a lot of hostility and abuse by the Quraish. When abuse turned to persecution, the Prophet decided to move to the city of Yathrib, or the modern day Madinah. After most of the Muslims had moved to Madinah, the last ones to start their journey were the Prophet along with Abu Bakr, Ali and their families. When the Quriash noticed the deserted homes, they got suspicious and started searching for the emigrants. The Quraish then decided to assassinate the Prophet and his companions. Getting a hint about the plans of the Quraish tribe, two of the three holy men — the Prophet and Abu Bakr — started moving towards the south of Mecca and hid in a small cave in the Mount of Thawr. They stayed there for three consecutive days and nights as the Quraish assassins looked for them in all directions. Once the assassins lost hope of finding the two men, the Prophet and Hazrat Abu Bakr came out of the cave and instead moved towards Madinah. They reached the Quba village and started preaching Islam in Madina.

Miracles in the Cave of Saur

Besides what comes across as a historical fact, there are many beliefs about the miracles that occurred while the Prophet and Hazrat Abu Bakr stayed at the cave of Thawr or the cave of saur. It is believed that as the two entered the cave, Abu Bakr stepped in first to make sure that it was safe for the Prophet to enter. The Prophet then rested in the lap of his companion when a venomous insect came by and stung Abu Bakr. It is said that he did not move or make any noise and endured the excruciating pain from the sting. When the Prophet woke up, he realised that Hazrat Abu Bakr was a true and loyal companion.

While they stayed in the cave, Abu Bakr’s sons used to stay around to keep a check on the activities of the Quraish. Also, Abu Bakr’s maula used to bring his goats around the cave and secretly delivered milk to them. The legend has it that Allah saved both of them by spinning a spider web at the cave entrance. Also, two doves built a huge nest for their eggs at the very entrance. The web and the nest were the signs that there were no men hiding inside the cave. This is how Allah helped his two righteous men.

Cave of Thawr in the Quran

When Abu Bakr found the Quraish roaming so close to the cave, he got worried. Addressing his concern, the Prophet said, “How can you be apprehensive about two with whom is a third, especially when the third one is Allah?” This incident also finds mention in Surah Taubah in the Quran.

“If ye help not (your leader), (it is no matter): for Allah did indeed help him, when the Unbelievers drove him out: he had no more than one companion; they two were in the cave, and he said to his companion, “Have no fear, for Allah is with us”: then Allah sent down His peace upon him, and strengthened him with forces which ye saw not, and humbled to the depths the word of the Unbelievers. But the word of Allah is exalted to the heights: for Allah is Exalted in might, Wise.” [9:40]

There is another verse — Surah Taubah 9:40 that mentions the cave:

“If you will not aid him, Allah certainly aided him when those who disbelieved expelled him, he being the second of the two, when they were both in the cave, when he said to his companion: grieve not, surely Allah is with us. So Allah sent down His tranquility upon him and strengthened him with hosts which you did not see”

Reaching in the Cave of Thawr

The cave of Saur, also known as ghar-e-soor, is not very close to the Makkah and is not as popular as Jabal-e-Noor, hence fewer people visit here. It is nevertheless an important religious site. To reach the foothill of Thawr, one can take a taxi from Makkah. It is also quite a difficult climb. It takes about two to three hours to reach the top of the cave. If you can be here till the evening, the views of sunset and after that are extremely beautiful. You can see the city of Makkah glittering like stars in the night sky.

The above narrations are testimony to the fact that the cave of Thawr, Saur, or Soor, is a site of importance in Islam. Pilgrims try to visit Jabal-e-Thawr as a part of their ziyarat tour after completing the pilgrimage to Makkah, where the holy Kaaba is situated.