النص المفهرس

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The Life of Muhammad
Abdullah Laythī killed him.1 While Maqīs was going into the
market place, he was captured and killed.2
7. 'Abdullah ibn Sa'd ibn Abī Surh. Previously he was one of
the scribes of Rasulullah . He used to record divine revelation
for Rasulullah . He became an apostate and joined the
unbelievers. He was the foster brother of 'Uthman 4%. On the
conquest of Makkah, he concealed himself in order to save his
life. 'Uthman 4% took him and presented him before Rasūlullah
who, at that time, was taking the pledge of allegiance from
the people. 'Uthman
said: "O Messenger of Allah!
'Abdullah is present here. Take the pledge of allegiance from
him as well." Rasulullah remained silent for some time.
Eventually, when 'Uthman 4% made this request several times,
Rasūlullah took the pledge from him and he embraced Islam.
After his life was saved, Rasulullah * said to the Sahabah
:
"There was none among you who was sharp enough - when I
held back my hand from accepting 'Abdullah's pledge, one of
you should have got up and killed him." Someone replied: "O
Messenger of Allah! Why did you not indicate to us [through
some subtle indication] at that time?" He replied: "It is not
permitted for a Prophet to make subtle indications."
On this occasion, 'Abdullah ibn Abī Surh embraced Islam with
sincerity and did not do anything contrary after this. He was
appointed as the governor of Egypt and other places during the
caliphate of 'Umar 4% and 'Uthman 45. During the caliphate of
'Uthman 4%, the conquest of Africa in 27 or 28 A.H. was
largely due to him. When the spoils of war were distributed,
each person received 3000 dinars. When there was much
internal strife, after the death of 'Uthman 4%, 'Abdullah
remained aloof from all this. He did not give his pledge of
1 Fath al-Bārî, vol. 8, p. 9.
2 Al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah, vol. 4, p. 298.

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allegiance to either 'Alī 4% or to Mu'awiyah 4%. He passed away
in 'Asgalan towards the latter part of Mu'awiyah's 4% caliphate.
There is a strange incident concerning his death. One morning,
he got up and made this supplication: "O Allah! Make it such
that my last deed is in the morning." He made his ablution and
performed the salah. At the end of the salah, he turned to his
right and was about to turn to his left when his soul left his
body. To Allah we belong and to Him is our return. May Allah
is be pleased with him.1
8. 'Ikramah ibn Abī Jahal. He was also from among those
people whom Rasūlullah % had permitted to be killed on the
conquest of Makkah. 'Ikramah was the son of Abū Jahal. Like
his father, he was a bitter enemy of Rasūlullah . After the
conquest of Makkah, he escaped to Yemen. His wife, Umm
Hakim bint Harith ibn Hisham embraced Islam. She presented
herself before Rasulullah and asked him for sanctuary for her
husband. The Mercy to the worlds and the embodiment of
pardon, Muhammad , immediately acceded to her request for
sanctuary for the son of Abū Jahal.
'Ikramah had escaped and reached the coast of Yemen. He
boarded a ship and no sooner he did so, fierce winds
encompassed the ship. 'Ikramah called out to Lat and 'Uzza
[two idols] for help. The people on the ship told him that Lat
and 'Uzza will be of no help to him now. He should rather call
out to one Allah. 'Ikramah said: "If none but Allah can come to
our help when we are out at sea, then you should understand
well that even on land none but Allah can come to our help."
He immediately made a true promise to Allah % by saying:
1 Al-Işābah, vol. 2, p. 316. Zurqānî, vol. 2, p. 313.

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The Life of Muhammad %
اللهم لك عهد إن عافيتني مما أنا فيه أن آتي محمدا حتى أضع يدي في يده فلأجدنه عفوا
غفورا کریما.
"O Allah! I make a promise to You that if You save me from
this calamity, I will certainly present myself before Muhammad
[4] and place my hand in his hand. I will certainly find him to
be pardoning, forgiving and kind." (Abū Dā'ūd, an-Nasa'ī)
In the meantime, his wife also reached there and called out:
يا ابن عم جئتك من عند أبر الناس وأوصل الناس وخير الناس لا تهلك نفسك إني قد
استأمنت لك رسول الله صلی الله علیه وسلم.
"O cousin! I have come to you from the most virtuous of
people, from the person who is most mindful of maintaining
family ties, and from the best of people. Do not destroy
yourself. I have certainly sought sanctuary for you from the
Messenger of Allah."
On hearing this, 'Ikramah joined Umm Hakim. On the way, he
desired to engage in intercourse with her. She replied: "You are
still an unbeliever while I am a Muslim." 'Ikramah said: "What
a great thing is stopping you." On saying this, he headed
towards Makkah. Before he could even reach Makkah,
Rasūlullah % said to the Sahabah:
يأتيكم عكرمة مؤمنا فلا تسبوا أباه فإن سب الميت يؤذي الحي
"""Ikramah is going to come to you as a believer. You should
therefore not speak ill of his father because speaking ill of a
dead person causes harm to the one who is living."
'Ikramah came in the presence of Rasulullah % and stood
before him. His wife was with him. She was veiled and stood
aside. He then said to Rasūlullah : "This is my wife. She has
informed me that you have given sanctuary to me." Rasūlullah

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replied: "She has spoken the truth. I give you sanctuary."
'Ikramah said: "What do you invite towards?" Rasūlullah
replied: "You should testify that there is none worthy of
worship but Allah, He is one, there is no deity apart from Him.
And I am His Messenger. That you establish salah and pay the
zakāh." Rasūlullah enumerated a few other things as well.
'Ikramah replied:
قد كنت لا تدعو إلا إلى الخير وأمر حسن جميل قد كنت فينا يا رسول الله قبل أن
تدعونا وأنت أصدقنا حديثا وأبرنا
"Without doubt you only invite towards good and to matters
that are good and liked. O Messenger of Allah! Even before
commencing this call you were the most truthful of us in
speech and the most virtuous of us."
He then said: "I bear witness that there is none worthy of
worship and that Muhammad is His servant and His
Messenger."
After saying this, 'Ikramah 4% said: "I make Allah , and all
those who are present over here witness that I am a Muslim, a
mujahid and a muhājir." O Messenger of Allah! I make this
request to you that you seek forgiveness for me. Rasūlullah
sought forgiveness for him. He then said: "O Messenger of
Allah! I take an oath in the name of Allah g that I am now
going to spend double the amount in inviting towards Allah as
opposed to what I spent in leading others away from Allah.
And that I am now going to fight double the amount for the
cause of Allah , as opposed to what I fought against Allah and
His Messenger . I am now going to go to all those places
where I had stopped people from going towards Allah , and
will now invite them towards Allah die."
1 Zurqānî, vol. 2, p. 314.

65
The Life of Muhammad %
When Abu Bakr 4% dispatched an army to fight the apostates,
he sent one battalion under the command of 'Ikramah 4%. In
short, he spent the rest of his life in waging jihad against the
enemies of Allah , and His Messenger . He was martyred
during the caliphate of Abu Bakr 4% in the battle of Ajnadayn.
His body suffered more than seventy sword and arrow
wounds.1
Umm Salamah radiyallāhu 'anhā narrates that on one occasion
Rasūlullah % saw in a dream that there was a place for Abū
Jahal in paradise. When 'Ikramah
embraced Islam,
Rasūlullah į said to Umm Salamah radiyallahu 'anhā that this
is the realization of that dream. (al-Isabah)
After embracing Islam, 'Ikramah
was such that when he
used to recite the Qur'an, he would cry profusely and fall
unconscious. He would repeatedly say: "This is the speech of
my Sustainer, this is the speech of my Sustainer."2
It is narrated in one Tradition that on the conquest of Makkah, a
Muslim was martyred at the hands of 'Ikramah 4%. When
Rasūlullah % was informed of this, he began smiling and said:
"The killer and the one who was killed are both in paradise."3
Rasūlullah was making reference to the fact that although
'Ikramah is an unbeliever at present, he will soon embrace
Islam.
9. Hubar ibn al-Aswad. His crime was that he used to impose
many difficulties and hardships on the Muslims. When
Rasūlullāh's % daughter, Zaynab radiyallāhu 'anhā, who was
married to Abu al-'As ibn Rabī', was emigrating from Makkah
1 Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, al-Istî'ab, vol. 3, p. 148.
2 Ihyā' 'Ulûm ad-Dîn, vol. 1, p. 253.
3 Madārij an-Nubûwwah, vol. 2, p. 393.

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The Life of Muhammad #
to Madinah, then this Hubar ibn al-Aswad together with some
of his cronies ambushed her and struck her with a spear on
account of which she fell onto a rock. She was pregnant at that
time. She lost her child and she herself passed away from the
illness that followed this fall.
On the conquest of Makkah, Rasulullah % announced that it
was permissible to kill him. When Rasulullah % returned from
Ji'irranah, Hubār presented himself before Rasūlullah . The
Sahabah 4% said: "O Messenger of Allah! Here is Hubar ibn al-
Aswad. Rasūlullah * replied that he saw him. One of those
who were present got up to strike Hubar. Rasulullah;
indicated to him to sit down. Hubar then stood up and said:
"Peace be upon you O Prophet of Allah. I bear witness that
there is none worthy of worship but Allah. I bear witness that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. I fled from you with the
intention of joining the non-Arabs. I then remembered how you
benefit others, how you maintain family relations, and how you
pardon those who act ignorantly towards you. O Prophet of
Allah! We were polytheists. Allah $ guided us through you
and saved us from destruction. So pardon me my ignorance and
whatever pain I may have caused you. I admit my evil ways
and acknowledge my sins." Rasūlullah % replied: "I have
pardoned you. Allah s has been kind to you in that He guided
you towards Islam. Embracing Islam wipes out all previous
sins."1
10. Wahshī ibn Harb. He was the one who had murdered
Hamzah 4%. Details concerning him were given under the battle
of Uhud. He fled to Ta'if. He then went to Madinah, presented
himself before Rasulullah, embraced Islam and sought
forgiveness for his sins.
1 Al-Işābah, vol. 2, p. 595.

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The Life of Muhammad #
When Abu Bakr 4
prepared an army in order to fight
Musaylamah - the impostor - Wahshi also joined this army.
The dagger which he had used to kill Hamzah 4% was with him.
He killed Musaylamah with that very dagger. He used to say:
"It was with this dagger that I killed the best of people and with
it I also killed the worst of people."1
11. Ka'b ibn Zuhayr. He was a famous poet. He used to
compose poems disparaging Rasūlullah
.According to
Hakim, he was also one of those persons whose killing
Rasūlullah % had permitted on the conquest of Makkah. He
fled from Makkah. Later on, he came to Madinah and embraced
Islam. He then wrote a collection of poems in praise of
Rasūlullah . This collection is popularly known as Banat
Su‘ād.2
12. Harith ibn Talatil. He used to speak ill of Rasūlullah . 'Alī
killed him on the day of the conquest of Makkah.
13. 'Abdullah ibn Zib'arī. He was a very powerful poet. He
used to compose poems disparaging and belittling Rasūlullah
. Sa'd ibn Musayyib 4% says that Rasulullah & ordered that he
be killed on the day of the conquest of Makkah. He fled to
Najran. He repented later, presented himself before Rasūlullah
, embraced Islam, and said the following poem in
forgiveness:
يا رسول المليك إن لساني - راتق ما فتقت إذ أنا بور
آمن اللحم والعظام بربي - ثم قلبي الشهيد أنت النذير
"O Messenger of Allah! My tongue will make up for that harm
which I caused you during my days of destruction and
1 Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, al-Istî'ab, on the biography of Wahshî ibn Harb.
2 Fath al-Bārî, vol. 8, p. 10. Also al-Istî‘āb, p. 297.

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The Life of Muhammad *
deviation. My flesh and bones have brought īman in my
Sustainer. My heart then bears testimony that you are a warner
[from Allāh]." (Sīrah Ibn Hisham)
14. Hubayrah bint Abī Wahb Makhzūmī. She was also from
among those poets who used to compose poems disparaging
Rasūlullah . On the conquest of Makkah, she fled to Najran
and passed away there as an unbeliever.1
15. Hindah bint 'Utbah. She was the wife of Abu Sufyan 4
.
She was the very same woman who, in the battle of Uhud,
removed the liver of Hamzah 4% and chewed it. She is also
among those women whom Rasulullah % ordered to be killed
on the day of the conquest of Makkah. She had caused untold
misery to Rasūlullah
.
She presented herself before
Rasūlullah %, sought forgiveness and embraced Islam. She
returned to her house and broke all the idols to pieces saying to
them: "By Allah! It was because of you that we were in
delusion."
These fifteen people were those criminals who could not have
been forgiven because their crimes were extremely serious.
Those who admitted their mistakes and presented themselves in
repentance were granted sanctuary. Those who remained in
their rebellion were killed.
We shall now relate how some of the senior and noble people
from the Quraysh embraced Islam consequent to the conquest
of Makkah.
Abu Quhafah embraces Islam
This is the incident concerning the father of Abu Bakr
embracing Islam. Rasulullah ¿ was in the Sacred Mosque when
Abu Bakr % brought his old father before Rasulullah _ and
1 Sîrah Ibn Hishām. Also, al-Isābah, vol. 4, p. 425.

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The Life of Muhammad *
made him sit in front of him. Rasūlullah % said: "Why did you
not leave this elderly person at home so that I would have went
personally to meet him?" Abu Bakr % replied: "O Messenger
of Allah! It is more proper that he comes to you than your
going to him."
Rasūlullah % then passed his blessed hand on the chest of Abū
Quhafah and made him read the kalimah. The latter embraced
Islam. Due to his old age, his entire facial hair and head were
white. Rasulullah % told him to dye his hair but emphasised
that he should not dye it black.1
'Allāmah Halabī rahmatullahi 'alayh writes that when Abū
Quhafah embraced Islam, Resulullah congratulated Abū
Bakr 4%. Abu Bakr 4% replied: "O Messenger of Allah! I take an
oath in the name of that Being who sent you with the truth that
had Abū Talib embraced Islam, I would have been more
pleased."2
Safwan ibn Umayyah embraces Islam
Safwan ibn Umayyah was from among the Quraysh leaders. He
was well known for his generosity. His family excelled in its
generosity and hospitality. His father, Umayyah ibn Khalaf,
was killed in the battle of Badr. On the day when Makkah was
conquered, Safwan fled to Jeddah. His cousin, 'Umayr ibn
Wahb, came before Rasūlullah ¿ and asked for sanctuary in his
favour. Rasūlullah % gave him sanctuary and in order to
demonstrate this, he gave his turban or his sheet as well.
'Umayr went to Jeddah and brought him before Rasulullah .
Safwan said to Rasūlullah : "This 'Umayr over here tells me
that you have given me sanctuary." Rasulullah % replied in the
affirmative. Safwan said: "Give me a respite of two months so
1 Raud al-Anif, vol. 7, p. 27.
2 Sîrah Halabîyyah, vol. 2, p. 212.

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The Life of Muhammad #
that I may think over the matter." Rasulullah % replied: "I give
you four month's respite." He did not embrace Islam
immediately. However, he accompanied Rasulullah % for the
battle of Hunayn. Rasūlullah % had borrowed some coats of
armour from him. On reaching Hunayn, he said: "I would
prefer someone from the Quraysh seeing to me than someone
from the Hawazin." On returning from Hunayn, Rasūlullah
gave him a large number of goats. On seeing this large number,
Safwan said: "I take an oath by Allah that none but a true
Prophet can be so generous." On saying this, he embraced
Islam. 1
Suhayl ibn 'Amr embraces Islam
He was from among the noblemen and leaders of Makkah. He
was popularly known by the title of Khatib Quraysh - the
orator from the Quraysh. When he came as an ambassador on
behalf of the Quraysh on the occasion of Hudaybiyah and
Rasulullah ¿ saw him coming, the latter addressed the Sahabah
% and said: "Your matter has now become a bit easy."
On the day of the conquest of Makkah, Suhayl sent his brother
'Abdullah to Rasulullah in order to ask him for sanctuary.
Rasulullah % gave him sanctuary and addressed the Sahabah
saying: "Whoever meets Suhayl should not stare at him in
anger. I take an oath on my life that Suhayl is an intelligent and
noble person. A person like Suhayl cannot remain ignorant of
Islam.
Suhayl did not embrace Islam immediately. He joined
Rasūlullah # for the battle of Hunayn and embraced Islam at a
place called Ji'irranah. He took an oath that just as he had
joined the polytheists in waging war against the Muslims, he
will now join the Muslims in waging jihad against the
1 Al-Istî'ab and Isabah on the biography of Safwan.

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The Life of Muhammad
polytheists. And that the amount of wealth that he spent on the
polytheists will now be spent on the Muslims.
On one occasion, there was a crowd of people at the door of
'Umar 4%. People were waiting to see him. Suhayl ibn 'Amr,
Abu Sufyan and other Quraysh leaders were also present. When
the guard was informed of this, Suhayb 4%, Bilal 4% and other
Sahabah & who had participated in the battle of Badr were
called inside. Suhayl, Abu Sufyan and the other Quraysh
leaders were left outside. Abu Sufyan said: "I have not come
across a day like this. Slaves are called inside while no
attention is paid to us." The intelligent and wise reply that
Suhayl gave is worthy of being inscribed on the hearts of
people. Suhayl addressed Abu Sufyan and the other Quraysh
leaders saying:
"O people! I take an oath by Allah that I see displeasure and
anger on your faces. Instead of showing anger at others, you
should be angry with your own selves. Those people were
invited towards Islam and so were you. On hearing this call,
they hastened towards it while you turned away and remained
behind. I take an oath that the honour and virtue that these
people have and you lack of this honour and virtue is far more
severe than your being deprived of the honour of gaining
entrance in this door [of 'Umar %] over which you are so
envious. O people! These people have surpassed you as you
can see right before your eyes. Now there is no way that you
can achieve this honour and virtue. If there is any way of
making up for this loss, it is only through waging jihad in the
cause of Allah s and laying your lives in the path of Allah de.
You should prepare for this. It is not unlikely that Allah &# will
bless you with the bounty of martyrdom."
Suhayl completed his heart-rending speech, dusted himself and
immediately stood up to wage jihad in the cause of Allah g. He
left for Syria together with his family members in order to fight

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the Romans. He was martyred in the battle of Yarmuk.
According to some, he passed away in the 'Amawas plague.
Nevertheless, he achieved his goal. Passing away in a plague is
also a death of martyrdom.1
'Utbah and Mu'tab embrace Islam
'Abbas 4% narrates that when Rasulullah entered Makkah in
order to conquer it, he asked me: "Where are your two
nephews, 'Utbah and Mu'tab, the two sons of Abū Jahal? I do
not see them." I replied: "They have also concealed themselves
with those Quraysh leaders who concealed themselves."
Rasūlullah % said: "Bring them to me." In accordance with his
instruction, I rode to a place called 'Urnah and brought both of
them to Rasulullah . He presented Islam to them. They both
embraced Islam and pledged allegiance to him. Rasūlullah
then stood up, held their hands and took them close to the door
of the Ka'bah. He remained supplicating for quite some time.
He then returned from their with his face beaming with
happiness. I said to him: "O Messenger of Allah! May Allah is
keep you happy forever for I see your face beaming with
happiness." He replied: "I had supplicated to my Sustainer that
he should give these two sons of my uncle, 'Utbah and Mu'tab
to me. Allah is has now given both of them to me."2
Mu'awiyah embraces Islam
Some scholars are of the opinion that Mu'awiyah 4% embraced
Islam on the conquest of Makkah. However, the more correct
opinion is that he did so on the occasion of the peace treaty of
1 Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, al-Istî'ab, on the biography of Suhayl ibn 'Amr.
2 Al-Khasā'is al-Kubrā, vol. 1, p. 264.

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The Life of Muhammad #
Hudaybiyah and that he concealed his Islam until the conquest
of Makkah.1
The Mother of the believers, Umm Habībah bin Abī Sufyan,
was the sister of Mu'awiyah. A mother's brother is known as
your maternal uncle. Mu'awiyah was thus the maternal uncle of
the believers. Just as it is incumbent on a believer to love the
family and close relatives of Rasūlullah , it is also incumbent
to love the in-laws and other such relatives of Rasulullah .
Abu Sufyan was the father of his wife, Umm Habībah
radiyallāhu 'anhā. Mu'āwiyah was her brother. To love them is
an incumbent duty. It is prohibited to bear malice and enmity
towards them. Whatever they may have done before embracing
Islam is all forgiven. It is also prohibited to mention and
enumerate all that they did before embracing Islam.
Small battalions are sent to destroy idols
After the conquest of Makkah, Rasūlullah % remained in this
city for about 15 days. The idols that were in the Ka'bah were
destroyed and this announcement was made: "Whoever
believes in Allah and the last day should not have any idol in
his house." When Makkah was purified of all idols and they
were all destroyed, small groups were sent to the outskirts and
surrounding areas to destroy all the idols.
'Uzzā and Suwa' are destroyed
On 25 Ramadan 8 A.H. Khalid ibn al-Walid 4% was sent with a
group of 30 riders to Nakhlah in order to destroy the idol by the
name of 'Uzza. This place was one night's journey from
Makkah. 'Amr ibn al-'Ās
es was sent to destroy the idol named
Suwa' which was about three miles from Makkah. When 'Amr
reached that place, the custodian of this idol asked him the
1 Al-Işābah, vol. 3, p. 433.

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The Life of Muhammad
reason for which he came. He replied: "I am following the
orders of Rasūlullah % to destroy this idol." On hearing this,
the custodian said: "You will never be able to do this. The god
of Suwa' will personally prevent you from doing this. 'Amr 4%
replied: "How sad that you are still holding on to such baseless
beliefs. Can this idol hear and see, that it will be able to stop
me?" On saying this, he struck it with one blow and reduced it
to pieces. He then addressed the custodian saying: "Did you see
what happened?" On seeing this, the custodian immediately
embraced Islam.
Manāt is destroyed
On the 26th of Ramadan, Sa'd ibn Zayd Ashhali was sent at the
head of 20 riders in order to destroy the idol named Manat
which was in the town of Mushallal. 1 In short, the entire
blessed month of Ramadan was spent in purifying the land of
Allah from the filth of unbelief and polytheism.
In the month of Shawwal, 350 Muhajirun and Ansar under the
command of Khalid ibn al-Walid4
were sent to the Banū
Judhaymah in order to invite them towards Islam. These people
used to live on the banks of a lake called Ghamīsa near the
town of Yalamlam. Khalid ibn al-Walid
invited them
towards Islam. These people, out of their excitement, could not
clearly state that they had already embraced Islam. Khalid ibn
al-Walid 4% did not consider what they said to be sufficient and
therefore killed some of them and captured some of them.
When he eventually went to Rasulullah % and informed him of
what happened, Rasūlullah & raised his hands and said the
following words two times:
اللهم إني أبرأ إليك مما صنع خالد
1 Zurqānî, vol. 2, p. 347.

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The Life of Muhammad
"O Allah! I absolve myself from what Khalid did."]
Rasulullah % then gave some money to 'Alī 4% and sent him to
the Banu Judhaymah in order to pay them blood money. 'Alī
went and paid this money. When he was fully satisfied that he
had paid every person his due, he distributed the left over
money among them. When he returned to Rasūlullah , he
related the entire incident to him. Rasūlullah % was extremely
happy with what he heard and said:
أصبت وأحسنت
"You acted correctly and you did well."2
1 Fath al-Bārî, vol. 8, p. 45.
2 Zurqānî, vol. 3, p. 3.

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The Life of Muhammad
The Battle of Hunayn
Shawwal 8 A.H.
Hunayn is the name of a place between Makkah and Ta'if
where the Hawazin and Thaqif tribes lived. These tribes were
very martial by nature and very good archers. After the
conquest of Makkah, it crossed the minds of these tribes that
Rasūlullah % might attack them. They therefore conferred with
each other and decided to attack the Muslims before they could
attack them. Their leader, Malik ibn 'Auf Nasrī left with an
army of 20 000 in order to attack the Muslims.
Darīd ibn Sammah, although being unable to move about
because of his extreme old age, was still taken with because of
his experience, expertise, and military skills. Moreover, they
could consult with him on various matters.
Malik ibn 'Auf emphasised upon all the soldiers that each one
should bring his wife and children with so that he would fight
with zeal and no one would leave his wife and children behind
and flee from the battlefield. When they reached the valley of
Autās, Darīd asked about the identity of this place. The people
replied that it was the valley of Autas. Darid replied that this
place was extremely suitable and appropriate for battle. The
ground is neither too hard, nor too soft whereby the feet would
sink in. He then asked: "What is this that I hear the sounds of
the camels, the braying of asses, the bleating of sheep and the
crying of children?"
The people replied that Malik ibn 'Auf had instructed them to
bring their wives, children, animals, etc. so that the people
would not flee from the battlefields. On hearing this, Darīd
said: "This is a serious mistake. Do those who are defeated ever
take back anything? Nothing but spears and swords are of use

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The Life of Muhammad
in battle. If you are defeated, it would be a cause of disgrace
and humiliation for all your families. It would be better to keep
all the families behind the actual army. If we are victorious, we
would all meet again. If we are defeated, our families will be
safe from the attacks of the enemy."
However, due to his youthful enthusiasm, Malik ibn 'Auf did
not give due regard to this advice. Instead, he said: "I swear by
Allah that I will not change my decision. This person has lost
his mind due to old age. If the Hawazin and Thaqif follow my
decision, well and good. If not, I will commit suicide right
now." All the people replied that they were with him.
When Rasulullah
heard of these conditions and
circumstances, he sent 'Abdullah ibn Abī Hadr in order to
establish and investigate the true situation. 'Abdullah learnt all
the conditions from a distant place and returned to inform
Rasulullah of all their military preparations. After
establishing all the facts, Rasūlullah % also made preparations
for war. He loaned 100 coats of armour from Safwan ibn
Umayyah.
Rasūlullah left Makkah on the 8th of Shawwal 8 A.H. with
12000 men and headed towards Hunayn. Ten thousand were
those devoted followers who had joined him from Madinah.
Some non Muslims also joined him. (Sirah Ibn Hisham)
When this fully equipped army of 12000 advanced towards
Hunayn, a person remarked:
لن نغلب اليوم من قلة
"Today we will not be defeated because of small numbers."
This remark smacked of pride and ostentation and was disliked
by Allah s. In this world of means, small numbers are also a
cause of defeat. Therefore, on seeing this large number, some
Sahabah made this statement that they will not be defeated

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The Life of Muhammad
because of small numbers. In other words, if they are defeated
on this occasion, it will not be because of small numbers.
Rather it will be from Allah %. Victory and help is from Him
alone. However, Allah , did not like this statement of theirs.
This is because it meant that success and victory are in large
numbers. Such a statement was unacceptable especially from
those who had traversed the stages of tauhid under the direct
instruction and training of Rasūlullah . It is not far fetched to
assume that this was the result of being in the company of those
new Muslims who embraced Islam after the conquest of
Makkah and in whose hearts īman was not firmly established as
yet.
It is stated in the Sunan of Imam Nasa'ī rahimahullah that on
one occasion Rasulullah * was performing the fajr salah and
commenced reciting Sūrah Rum when he became confused and
mixed-up about the recitation. On completing the salah he said:
ما بال أقوام يصلون معنا لا يحسنون الطهور وإنما يلبس أولئك علينا القرآن
"What is it with the people that they offer salah with us without
purifying themselves thoroughly. It is such people who cause
us to become confused in our recitation of the Qur'an."
It becomes clear from this Hadith that the cause of Rasūlullah's
confusion in the salah was the company of those people who
did not purify themselves thoroughly - who did not take into
account the proper etiquette and recommendations of purity.
Bear in mind, that no one among them was without ablution.
All of them had performed their ablution. However, beauty and
perfection were not found in their ablution. This therefore
affected the illuminated heart of Rasulullah . From this we
can gauge the effect and harm of the companionship of
polytheists, innovators, atheists and unbelievers.

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The Life of Muhammad
In explaining this Hadith, 'Allamah Tībī rahmatullahi 'alayh
writes that the blessings of following the Sunnah and etiquette
have an effect on others. And by abstaining from these, the
doors of unseen victories are shut. At times, this has an effect
on others as well in the sense that because of this person, the
second person is deprived of good, blessings and boons.
The Sahabah
reached a lofty state due to their
companionship of the source of all good and blessings -
Muhammad . However, because of this involuntary foreign
companionship, they unwittingly made this statement. In short,
this statement was not liked by Allah . And instead of
victory, they first had to see the face of defeat. Allah % says:
وَيَوْمَ حُنَيْنِ لا إِذْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ كَثْرِتُكُمْ فَلَمْ ثُغْنِ عَنْكُمْ شَيْئًا وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الأَرْضُ بِمَا
رَحُبَتْ ثُمَّ وَلَّيْتُمْ مُّدْبِرِيْنَ * ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ اللهُ سَكِيْنَتَهُ عَلَى رَسُوْلِهِ وَعَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَأَنْزَلَ جُنُؤْدًا
لَّ تَرَوْهَا وَعَذَّبَ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا ﴿ وَذلِكَ جَزَآءُ الْكَفِرِيْنَ *
"And on the day of Hunayn when you prided yourselves on
your large numbers, but they availed you nothing. The earth
closed in upon you despite its vastness. You then turned about
retreating. Allah then sent down His assurance to His
Messenger and to the believers, and He sent down armies
which you did not see, and He punished the unbelievers. Such
is the punishment of the rejecters." (Sūrah at-Taubah, verses
25-26)
The Muslim army reached the valley of Hunayn on Tuesday
evening. The Hawazin and Thaqif tribes were lying in ambush.
Malik ibn 'Auf had, at the beginning, ordered them to break the
sheaths of their swords and that when the Muslim army
approaches, the entire army of 20 000 should attack the
Muslims at once. When the Muslim army started to cross that
area in the darkness of the morning, 20 000 swords suddenly
attacked them. This completely scattered the Muslim army.

80
The Life of Muhammad %
Only 10-12 loyal and devoted Companions remained next to
Rasūlullah . Abu Bakr 4%, 'Umar 45, 'Alī 4%, 'Abbas 45, Fadl
ibn 'Abbas 4%, Usamah ibn Zayd 4% and a few others remained
at his side. 'Abbas
was holding on to the reins of
Rasūlullah's _ donkey while Abu Sufyan 4% was holding on to
the stirrup.
Those who had accompanied Rasulullah # from Makkah began
chit chatting among themselves. Abu Sufyan said that this
defeat cannot be stopped from beyond the sea. Kaldah ibn
Hambal began shouting out with joy and said: "The magic has
now come to an end."
Safwan ibn Umayyah, although he was still a polytheist at that
time, said: "Remain silent. May Allah seal your mouth. I would
prefer a person from the Quraysh to see to me and bring me up
than a person from the Hawazin tribe." Shaybah ibn 'Uthman
ibn Abī Talhah said: "Today I will avenge my father from
Muhammad." His father was killed in the battle of Uhud. When
he advanced towards Rasūlullah , he immediately fell
unconscious and was unable to reach him. He realized that he
was prevented by Allah from reaching Rasūlullah . He
embraced Islam later on.
In short, when the Hawazin and Thaqif tribes attacked from
their places of ambush and began raining down arrows on the
Muslims from all sides, the Muslims lost their footing. Only the
special Companions of Rasulullah remained with him.
Rasūlullah announced three times: "O people! Come towards
me. I am the Messenger of Allah. I am Muhammad ibn
'Abdillāh."
أنا النبي لا كذب - أنا ابن عبد المطلب
I am the true Prophet. The promises of help, victory, my
protection and defence that have been made to me are certainly