The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 143
IV - Early Life 143 Muḥammad sa , he requested his companion, who was also a partner in grazing goats saying, “Tend to my flock so that I may go to the city in order to view the nightly gathering of the people”. In those days, it was a custom of the Arabs to gather at a single location whereafter they would relate stories and share various forms of poetry. On various occasions, the whole night would be devoured by these gatherings. In his childhood curiosity, Muḥammad sa also ventured out to observe one of these spectacles. However, God the Almighty disliked the idea that His Khātamun-Nabiyyīn , 1 partake of such nonsense. Therefore, on one occasion, Muḥammad sa departed for such a gathering but fell asleep en- route and remained in a state of sleep until dawn. The young Muḥammad sa intended to witness a similar gathering a second time; however, the unseen hand prohibited him this time also. During the time of his prophethood, the Holy Prophet sa said, “I intended only twice, in the entirety of my life, to observe such a gathering, but I was restrained both times. ” 2 Ḥarb-e-Fijār The Arabs were an excessively combatant nation and it was considered an honour to fight to death. It was due to this very reason that the sword was instantly unsheathed even upon trivial differences. Whenever such an occasion would arise, the Arabs would fill a large goblet with blood and dip their fingers in it whilst taking oath that they may die on the battlefield but shall never retreat from combat. There existed constant enmity between various tribes as every tribe considered it absolutely incumbent to safeguard its reputation and grandeur. In carnivals, etc. , where diverse types of people gathered together, quarrelling and fighting was nothing out of the ordinary. It was during the childhood of Muḥammad sa that on the occasion of the ‘ Ukāẓ Carnival, which would be held in a pleasant valley situated to the east of Makkah at a distance of approximately three days, provocation was spurred between the tribes of the Qais ‘Ailān and Banū Kinānah. During that period, the various tribes of the Qais ‘Ailān resided to the south-east, between Makkah and Ṭā’if. For some time, the tribal leaders of both parties successfully managed to avert warfare. In history, this war is known as Ḥarb-e-Fijār , which means ‘The Unlawful War’ , because this war was commenced in the sacred month 1 Seal of the Prophets (Publishers) 2 Tārīkhuṭ- Ṭabarī, By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Al-Jarīr Ṭabarī, Volume 2, p. 207, Bābu Dhikri Rasūlillāhi sa wa Asbābihī, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, (2002)