Authored by: Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Anwar Zāhid (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Abū Nuʿaym reports that Abū Muṣʿab (رضي الله عنه) said:
I had the companionship of Anas bin Mālik, Zayd bin Arqam, and Mughīrah bin Shuʿbah (رضي الله عنهم), and I heard this narration from all three of them:
When the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) entered the cave, by the command of Allah ﷻ, a tree sprouted at the mouth of the cave and covered its entrance. Also, by divine command, two wild doves made a nest at the cave’s opening.
Meanwhile, some young men of the Quraysh, each representing a different tribe, set out in search of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), armed with sticks, spears, and swords. While searching, they reached near the cave—only about forty cubits away from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
One of them looked towards the cave and said:
"I see a nest of doves at the mouth of the cave. It seems no one has ever entered this cave—otherwise the nest would have been broken."
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard this statement and realized that Allah ﷻ had protected them through those doves.
He then made duʿāʾ for those doves, asking Allah ﷻ for good for them and that the best of rewards be destined for their action. Hence, their descendants reside in the Ḥaram of Makkah to this day.
Chain of narration: Weak
All chains of transmission for this narration are weak.
[Dalāʾil al-Nubuwwah by Abū Nuʿaym al-Iṣfahānī, pg. 294 (translated)]
[Al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā, Vol. 1, pg. 229]
[Kashf al-Asṭār by al-Hayshamī, Vol. 2, pg. 299, report no. 30]
❖ Origin of the Doves of the Ḥaram
Abū Nuʿaym reports that Abū Muṣʿab (رضي الله عنه) said:
I had the companionship of Anas bin Mālik, Zayd bin Arqam, and Mughīrah bin Shuʿbah (رضي الله عنهم), and I heard this narration from all three of them:
When the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) entered the cave, by the command of Allah ﷻ, a tree sprouted at the mouth of the cave and covered its entrance. Also, by divine command, two wild doves made a nest at the cave’s opening.
Meanwhile, some young men of the Quraysh, each representing a different tribe, set out in search of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), armed with sticks, spears, and swords. While searching, they reached near the cave—only about forty cubits away from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
One of them looked towards the cave and said:
"I see a nest of doves at the mouth of the cave. It seems no one has ever entered this cave—otherwise the nest would have been broken."
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard this statement and realized that Allah ﷻ had protected them through those doves.
He then made duʿāʾ for those doves, asking Allah ﷻ for good for them and that the best of rewards be destined for their action. Hence, their descendants reside in the Ḥaram of Makkah to this day.
❖ Ḥadīth Authentication:
Chain of narration: Weak
All chains of transmission for this narration are weak.
[Dalāʾil al-Nubuwwah by Abū Nuʿaym al-Iṣfahānī, pg. 294 (translated)]
[Al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā, Vol. 1, pg. 229]
[Kashf al-Asṭār by al-Hayshamī, Vol. 2, pg. 299, report no. 30]
