The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 133
IV - Battle of Badr, Establishment of the Islāmic Empire and Destruction of the Chieftains of the Quraish 133 individual who was able to fight would participate himself, while every such individual who was unable to participate due to a constraint, would arrange for another person to be sent in his place. The chieftains of the Quraish were at the forefront of this proposal. There were only two individuals who hesitated in participating, and they were Abū Lahab and Umayyah bin Khalf. However, the reason for this hesitation was not due to any sympathy for the Muslims. Rather, Abū Lahab feared the dream of his sister ‘Ātikata bintu ‘Abdil-Muṭṭalib, which she saw only three days prior to the arrival of Ḍamḍam, indicating the destruction of the Quraish. Umayyah bin Khalf feared the prophecy of the Holy Prophet sa about his being slain, which he had learned of from Sa‘d bin Mu‘ādh ra , in Makkah. However, since there was a concern that if these two renowned chieftains had remained behind this would have a negative effect on the disbelieving masses, the other chieftains of the Quraish provoked their passion and jealousy, and ultimately compelled them to agree. In other words, Umayyah became prepared himself and Abū Lahab paid a hefty sum to someone else to stand in his place. In this manner, after a preparation of three days, 1 an army of over 1,000 fearless warriors was prepared to go forth from Makkah. This army was still in Makkah when a few chieftains from among the Quraish thought that since relations between the people of Makkah and the Banū Bakr, which was a branch of the Banū Kinānah, were not favourable, there was a risk that in their absence they might take advantage of the situation and attack Makkah. Due to this thought, various people from among the Quraish began to waver. However, a chieftain of the Banū Kinānah named Surāqah bin Mālik bin Ja‘sham, who was in Makkah at the time, assured them saying, “I guarantee that no attack will be waged upon Makkah. ” As a matter of fact, Surāqah was so vehement in his enmity towards Islām that in support of the Quraish, he even accompanied them all the way to Badr himself. However, when he saw the Muslims there, he was so awe-stricken that before the war began, he left his companions and fled. It is believed that the following verse of the Holy Qur’ān makes reference to this very occurrence: 1 * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By ‘Allāmah Shihābuddīn Qusṭalānī, Volume 2, p. 263, Bābu Ghazwati Badril-Kubrā, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * As-Sīratul-Ḥalabiyyah, By Abul-Faraj Nūruddīn ‘Alī bin Ibrāhīm, Volume 2, pp. 198-201, Bābu Dhikri Maghāzīhi sa / Bābu Ghazwati Badril-Kubrā, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon (2002)