Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 199
199 thoughts, he appeared stupefied to outside observers. The Prophet saw this agitated Meccan leader. He told ‘Abbas to take him away and entertain him for the night, promising to see him in the morning. Abu Sufyan spent the night with ‘Abbas. In the morning they called on the Prophet. It was time for the early morning prayers. The bustle and activity which Abu Sufyan saw at this early hour was quite unusual in his experience. He had not known—no Meccan had known—such early risers as Muslims had become under the discipline of Islam. He saw all the Muslim campers turned out for their morning prayers. Some went to and fro in quest of water for ablutions, others to supervise the lining up of worshippers for the service. Abu Sufyan could not understand this activity early in the morning. He was frightened. Was a new plan afoot to overawe him? "What can they all be doing?" he asked in sheer consternation. "Nothing to be afraid of," replied ‘Abbas. "They are only preparing for the morning prayers. " Abu Sufyan then saw thousands of Muslims lined up behind the Prophet, making the prescribed movements and devotions at the bidding of the Prophet—half prostrations, full prostrations, standing up again, and so on. ‘Abbas was on guard duty, so he was free to engage Abu Sufyan in conversation. "What could they be doing now?" asked Abu Sufyan. "Everything the Prophet does, is done by the rest. " "What are you thinking about? It is only the Muslim prayer, Abu Sufyan. Muslims would do anything at the bidding of the Prophet—give up food and drink for instance. " "True," said Abu Sufyan, "I have seen great courts. I have seen the court of the Chosroes and the court of the Kaiser, but I have never seen any people as devoted to their leader as Muslims are to their Prophet. " 227 Filled with fear and guilt, Abu Sufyan went on to ask ‘Abbas if he would not request the Prophet to forgive his own people—meaning the Meccans. The morning prayers over, ‘Abbas led Abu Sufyan to the Prophet. Said the Prophet to Abu Sufyan. "Has it not yet dawned upon you that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah?" "My father and my mother be a sacrifice to you. You have ever been kind, gentle and considerate to your kith and kin. I am certain now that if there were anyone else worthy of worship, we might have had some help against you from him. " "Has it not also dawned upon you that I am a Messenger of Allah?" "My father and my mother be a sacrifice to you, on this I still have some doubts. " While Abu Sufyan hesitated to acknowledge the Prophet as Messenger of God, two of his companions who had marched out of Mecca with him to do reconnoitring duty for the Meccans, became Muslims. One of them was Hakim bin Hizam. A little later, Abu Sufyan also joined, but his inner conversion seems to have been deferred