Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 62
62 marched out with them. * This heterogeneous body ⎯ it scarcely deserved the designation “force” ⎯ was united only by the common bond of faith and the determination to die in defence of that faith. Although it included some of the older Meccan Muslims who were experienced fighters, the greater number were young men, some still in their teens, who had had little, if any, combat experience. Their devotion to their faith and their zeal in its support were their only qualifications. Ill-armed, in poor physical condition because of the privations they had been enduring, and with but two horses and a few camels, they presented a pitiful contrast to the Meccan army, which consisted of at least a thousand tried warriors who were well- armed and well-mounted. Those who accompanied the Prophet as he set forth from Medina knew that they had been called out to take up arms in defence of their faith, but they were not aware of their exact objective. There had been rumours both of the trade caravan with its armed escort passing near Medina, and of the Meccan army marching north, but the Prophet had said nothing about them. Some of those with the Prophet hoped that if there were to be a clash it would be with the caravan rather than with the army (8:8). Not till the party was two days’ march out of Medina did the * The exact number was 313.