The Prophet wiped his hand over his sight, and he was veiled once more from what the Messenger of Allah—may His glory be exalted—had shown him. His bowels then overcame him out of fear and distress, and he defecated in eleven holes within the cave.

It has been narrated [elsewhere] that there was a crack or a breach in the cave through which the light of day entered, and Abu Bakr placed his heel in it to block it, whereupon a viper bit him on his heel—though it did not poison him—and he panicked, causing the defecation. However, this [latter version] is not correct; rather, the first account of the events is more authentic.

The polytheists set out in pursuit to track the footprints of the she-camel. When they reached the entrance of the cave, they looked at the place where the she-camel had knelt, but Allah had veiled the camel from them so they could not see her. They said: "These are the tracks of Muhammad's camel and its kneeling place at the door of the cave." They moved to enter, but found the spider's web overshadowing the entrance. They said: "Woe to you! Do you not see this spider's web over the mouth of this cave? How could Muhammad have entered?" Thus, Allah turned them away from him, and they returned.

The Messenger of Allah—may His glory be exalted—then emerged from the cave and migrated to Medina.