Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 137
137 revealed to him. The spots at which they were to drop dead were also revealed. They died as they were named and dropped where it had been foretold. In the battle itself this little party of Muslims displayed wonderful daring and devotion. One incident proves this. One of the few Generals which the Muslim force included was ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf, one of the chiefs of Mecca and an experienced soldier in his own way. When the battle began, he looked to his right and to his left to see what kind of support he had. He found to his amazement, that he had only two lads from Medina on his flanks. His heart sank and he said to himself, "Every General needs support on his sides. More so I on this day. But I only have two raw boys. What can I do with them?" ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf says he had hardly finished saying this to himself when one of the boys touched his side with his elbow. As he bent over to hear the boy, the latter said, "Uncle, we have heard of one Abu Jahl, who used to harass and torment the Prophet. Uncle, I want to fight him; tell me where he is. " ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf had not yet replied to this youthful inquiry, when his attention was similarly drawn by the boy on the other side, who asked him the same question. ‘Abdur-Rahman was not a little amazed at the courage and determination of these two boys. A seasoned soldier, he did not think that even he would select the commander of the enemy for an individual encounter. ‘Abdur- Rahman raised his finger to point at Abu Jahl—armed to the teeth and standing behind the lines protected by two senior Generals, with drawn swords. ‘Abdur- Rahman had not dropped his finger, when the two boys dashed into the enemy ranks with the speed of an eagle, making straight for their chosen target. The attack was sudden. The soldiers and guards were stupefied. They attacked the boys. One of the boys lost an arm. But they remained unnerved and unbeaten. They attacked Abu Jahl, with such violence that the great commander fell to the ground, mortally wounded. From the spirited determination of these two boys, one can judge how deeply the followers of the Prophet, both old and young, had been stirred by the cruel persecution to which they and the Prophet had been subjected. We only read about them in history, but yet are deeply stirred. The people of Medina heard of these cruelties from eye-witnesses. The feelings they must have had, can well be imagined. They heard of Meccan cruelties on the one hand and of the forbearance of the Prophet on the other. No wonder their determination mounted high to avenge the wrongs done to the Prophet and to the Muslims of Mecca. They looked only for an opportunity to tell the Meccan tormentors that if the Muslims did not retaliate, it was not because they were powerless; it was because they had not been permitted by God to do so. How determined this small Muslim force was to die fighting can be gauged from another incident. Battle had not yet been joined when Abu Jahl sent a Bedouin chief to the Muslim side to report on their numbers. This chief returned and reported that the Muslims were three hundred or more. Abu Jahl and his followers were glad. They thought the Muslims easy prey. "But," said the Bedouin chief, "my advice to you is—Don’t fight these men, because every one of them seems