Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 210
210 "Release the reins of my mule, Abu Bakr," said the Prophet. Saying, this, he spurred the animal forward into the gorge on both sides of which were enemy ambuscades from where the archers were shooting. As the Prophet spurred his mount, he said, "I am a Prophet. I am no pretender. I am a son of ‘Abdul-Muttalib. " 237 These words spoken at a time of extreme danger to his person are full of significance. They stressed the fact that the Prophet was really a Prophet, a true Messenger of God. By stressing this, he meant that he was not afraid of death or of the failure of his cause. But if, in spite of being overwhelmed by archers he remained safe, Muslims should not attribute any divine qualities to him. For he was but a human being, a son of ‘Abdul-Muttalib. How careful was the Prophet ever to impress upon his followers the difference between faith and superstition. After uttering these memorable words, the Prophet called for ‘Abbas. ‘Abbas had a powerful voice. The Prophet said to him, "‘Abbas, raise your voice and remind the Muslims of the oath they took under the tree at Hudaybiyyah, and of what they were taught at the time of the revelation of the Surah al-Baqarah. Tell them, the Prophet of God calls them. " ‘Abbas raised his powerful voice. The message of the Prophet fell like thunder, not on deaf ears but on ears agog. It had an electric effect. The very Companions who had found themselves powerless to urge their mounts towards the battlefield, began to feel they were no longer in this world but in the next, facing God on the Judgement Day. The voice of ‘Abbas did not sound like his own voice but the voice of the angel beckoning them to render an account of their deeds. There was nothing then to stop them from turning to the battlefield again. Many of them dismounted and with only sword and shield rushed to the battlefield, leaving their animals to go where they liked. Others dismounted, cut off the heads of their animals and rushed back on foot to the Prophet. It is said that the Ansar on that day ran towards the Prophet with the speed with which a mother-camel or a mother-cow runs to her young on hearing its cries. Before long the Prophet was surrounded by a large number of Companions, mostly Ansar. The enemy again suffered a defeat. The presence of Abu Sufyan on the side of the Prophet on this day was a mighty divine Sign, a Sign of the power of God on the one hand and of the purifying example of the Prophet on the other. Only a few days before, Abu Sufyan was a bloodthirsty enemy of the Prophet, commander of a bloodthirsty army determined to destroy the Muslims. But here, on this day the same Abu Sufyan stood by the side of the Prophet, a friend, follower and Companion. When the enemy camels stampeded, Abu Sufyan, a wise and seasoned general, saw that his own horse was likely to run wild. Quickly he dismounted and, holding the stirrup of the Prophet’s mule, started going on foot. Sword in hand, he walked by the side of the Prophet determined not to let anyone come near the Prophet’s person without first attacking and killing him. The Prophet watched this change in Abu Sufyan with delight and astonishment. He reflected on this fresh evidence of the power of God. Only ten or fifteen days before, this man was raising an army to put an end to the Movement of Islam. But a