The Excellent Exemplar - Muhammad — Page 45
THE EXCELLENT EXEMPLAR — MUHAMMAD 45 When the news reached the Prophet, he held a council to determine how this new threat should be met. He had had a dream, part of which he interpreted as meaning that it would be better for them to stay in Medina and await the enemy’s attack. However, the y ounger men, particularly those who had not taken part in the previous battle, were eager to meet the foe before they could enter the town. Finding that a majority of those present were in favor of meeting the enemy outside Medina, the Prophet adopted their suggestion and marched out of the town at the head of approximately one thousand men. The Muslims took up their position at the foot of a range of hills a few miles east of Medina. The Meccan army coming up from the south had veered to the east, intending to attack the town from that direction. The Prophet discovered that a certain number o f Jews from Medina had also joined his following, and asked them to go back, saying that they had no obligation in respect of the defense of Medina that involved fighting outside the town. Abdullah bin Ubayy took umbrage at this, and announcing that the Mu slims were no match for the force the Meccans had brought up, withdrew with three hundred of his supporters, leaving seven hundred men at the Prophet’s disposal. Of these, the Prophet posted fifty to guard a gap in the range of hills at the rear, with inst ructions that they were not to leave their post until ordered to do so. The disparity between the opposing forces was even more striking now than it had been the previous year. Against three thousand well - armed Meccan warriors, seven hundred of whom were in armor and two hundred mounted on horses, there were only six hundred a nd fifty Muslims (excluding those guarding the