Jabal Thawr is a mountain in Saudi Arabia that is located in the lower part of Makkah south of the Misfalah district. The place is popular among people belonging to the Islamic religion as it houses the well-known Cave of Thawr. Also known as Ghar Thawr and Ghar e Soor, the Cave of Thawr has religious significance.
According to Islamic legends, this cave is where the Holy Prophet and his companion Abu Bakr al-Siddiq found shelter when fleeing from Quraish search parties. It is believed to be a sacred and holy site that was used as a hideout by Prophet Mohammad and his companions before Hijrat (migration), and took refuge here for three days and three nights. It is believed that in order to protect the two of them from the searching troops, Allah had a spider weave a web at the cave entrance on the third day of their stay. The web prevented the soldiers from finding them, and thus, saved them from getting caught.
Ghar e Soor History
Ghar e Soor history holds a special significance in Islam. When the Prophet denounced the idol worship and warned the idolaters of Makkah of the consequences of their disbelief, he was insulted and abused. Following this, the Prophet and his followers were treated terribly by the Quraish. As a result, they decided to migrate to Yathrib (now known as Madina). When the Prophet was about to migrate with his companion Hazarat Abu Bakr, he was fiercely chased by Quraish troops. The idolaters of Makkah had declared a bounty on the Prophet’s head and promised reward to anyone who caught him dead or alive.
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It was at this time when the Prophet was being surrounded by soldiers from all directions, he took refuge in the Cave of Thawr. The cave had a very narrow entrance such that one can only enter it by crawling. During this time, Abu Bakr’s son and daughter visited the cave to provide food and water to the refugees. And that’s why Ghar e Soor history is an important part of the history of Islam itself.
Miracles in the Cave Of Thawr
The stay at the cave in the Jabal Thawr mountain, also known as Ghar e Saur, was not easy for the Prophet and his friend. Still, the two of them managed to stay hidden and successfully ditched Quraish soldiers. During this time, several miracles took place at the cave that re-affirmed the faith of the people of Islam in the benevolence of Allah.
- Encountering the Snake
When the Prophet (ﷺ) and his friend decided to take refuge in a cave, Abu Bakr entered the cave first and cleaned it in order to ensure the Prophet’s safety. While doing so, he stuffed all the holes in the cave with pieces of clothes, except for one that he mistakenly left open. When the Prophet(ﷺ) entered the cave, he decided to rest in the lap of his friend.
During this time, a snake that was resting inside the open hole bit Abu Bakr’s leg. But, Abu Bakr did not move fearing that the Prophet(ﷺ) would get disturbed. However, the pain he felt because of the snake bite was so excruciating that tears escaped from his eyes and fell on the Prophet’s(ﷺ) face. Because of this, the Prophet(ﷺ) woke up, and upon witnessing the cause of Abu Bakr’s tears, he took his saliva and applied it on the wound. Miraculously, the saliva healed the snake bite and subsided the pain. Thus, Abu Bakr was saved!
- Saved by the spider’s web
On the third day of their refuge, it so happened that the Quraish troops closed in on the Prophet(ﷺ) and almost reached the cave. Following this, Abu Bakr panicked and was comforted by the enlightening words of the Prophet(ﷺ), who said that Allah was their third companion and he will save them. And, that is exactly what happened.
When the soldiers were getting near, a spider knit a web and a pigeon laid some eggs near the entrance of the cave. It gave the impression that no man had entered the cave for quite some time. Due to this, the soldiers turned away and failed at finding the Prophet(ﷺ) even when they were so close. The complete act of Allah, saved the Prophet(ﷺ) and Abu Bakr from death. As a consequence, they fled to Madinah, gathered strength, and were able to raise a loyal following of Muslims resting their faith in Islam. The whole journey was a decisive factor in the battle of Badr where the army of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emerged out victorious.
Pilgrims from around the world travel to Makkah and visit the Cave of Thawr along with the Cave of Hira to witness these auspicious caves for the numerous miracles that happened in them. Further, the caves also present spiritual environment to focus on Allah and his blessings.
How to reach Jabal Thawr?
The Cave of Thawr is not very far away from the holy city of Makkah. It is located at a distance of about 12 km south of the holy city, on the Jabal Thawr mountain and offers a panoramic view of the cityscape to the visitors.
As a place of religious importance, the Cave of Thawr is visited by several people of Islamic faith round the year. It is a popular tourist spot and receives heavy footfall from people visiting Makkah for performing Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages. Located in the mountains surrounding the Makkah valley, the Cave of Thawr is a symbol of hope and faith for Muslims.
Jabal Thawr Cave FAQs
What is the location of the Cave of Thawr?
Jabal Thawr is a mountain in Saudi Arabia that is situated in the lower part of Makkah, south of the Misfalah region.
What is the significance of the Cave of Thawr?
It is accepted to be a holy and sacred site that was utilized as a safe-house by Prophet Mohammad and his mates before Hijrat (movement) where they took asylum here for three days and three evenings. To shield both of them from looking through troops, Allah had a bug weave a web at the cavern entrance on the third day of their visit. The web kept the fighters from tracking down them, and accordingly, saved them from getting found out.
How to reach the Cave of Thawr from Makkah?
The Cave of Thawr is not very far away from the holy city of Makkah. It is located at a distance of about 12 km south of the holy city, on the Jabal Thawr mountain and offers a panoramic view of the cityscape to the visitors.
What are the popular miracles that happened in the Cave of Thawr?
The stay at the cave in the Jabal Thawr mountain was not easy for the Prophet and his friend. Still, the two of them managed to stay hidden and successfully ditched Quraish soldiers. During this time, several miracles took place at the cave that re-affirmed the faith of the people of Islam in the benevolence of Allah.
How far is the Cave of Thawr from Madinah?
The Cave of Thawr is around 452 km from the holy city of Madinah.
How old is Thawr Cave?
The real age of the cave is unknown. However, as it is a natural cave it is likely to be thousands of years old.
How long did Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr stay in Thawr Cave?
As per the scholars, Prophet Muhammad and Abu Bakr took shelter in the cave for three days and three nights.
Is Thawr Cave open to the public?
Yes, the cave is open for public to learn and know more about the history of Islamic traditions.
