The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 138
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 138 him to remain. 1 The Muslim army was a little over 310, among whom a little over 60 constituted the Muhājirīn , and the rest were the Anṣār. 2 However, the state of destitution was such that throughout the entire army there were only 70 camels and 2 horses, and the Muslims would ride on them in turns. Even the Holy Prophet sa did not have his own mount, and he was forced to mount and demount in turn with others. The Companions of the Holy Prophet sa emphatically insisted that, “We shall walk, but his Holiness should remain mounted. ” The Holy Prophet sa did not agree, and smiled saying, “I am as much able to walk as you, nor am I less eager than any of you in attaining spiritual reward. Why then should I not take my turn?” 3 Throughout the army, only six or seven people were clad in armour and even their remaining military equipment was meagre and defective. Therefore, after he had made his inspection and such, the Holy Prophet sa marched on. The Holy Prophet sa had only proceeded a small distance, when an individual who was an idolater, presented himself before the Holy Prophet sa and submitted, “I desire to march with you and participate in war. ” Upon seeing him, the Companions were immensely delighted, because this individual was particularly renowned for his bravery and valour. However, the Holy Prophet sa turned him back saying, “On this occasion, I do not wish to employ the services of an idolater. ” After some time, that same person returned, but was met with the same answer. He presented himself a third time and offering his services said, “I believe in Allāh and His Messenger. ” Upon this, the Holy Prophet sa said, “Now you are most welcome to accompany us. ” 4 Upon departing from Madīnah, the Holy Prophet sa appointed ‘Abdullāh bin Ummi Maktūm ra as the Amīr of Madīnah in his absence. However, when the Holy Prophet sa reached close to Rauḥā’, which is situated at a distance of 36 miles from Madīnah, perhaps in the consideration that ‘Abdullāh ra was a blind man, and news of the imminent arrival of the army of the Quraish demanded that in his own absence the administration of Madīnah should remain strong, the Holy Prophet sa appointed Abū Lubābah bin Mundhir ra as the Amīr of Madīnah and sent him back. It was ordered that ‘Abdullāh bin Ummi Maktūm ra would only remain to be the Imāmuṣ-Ṣalāt , while Abū Lubābah 1 Al-Iṣābatu Fī Tamīziṣ-Ṣaḥābah, By Aḥmad bin ‘Alī bin Ḥajar Al-‘Asqalānī, Volume 4, p. 603, ‘Umair bin Abī Waqqāṣ, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon (2005) 2 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābu ‘Iddati Aṣḥābi Badr, Ḥadīth No. 3956-3957 3 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 259, Ghazwatu Badr, Dāru Iḥyā’it- Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 4 Ṣaḥīḥu Muslim, Kitābul-Jihād Was-Siyar, Bābu Karāhatil-Isti‘ānati Fil-Ghazwi Bi-Kāfir, Ḥadīth No. 4700