The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 326
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 326 he took a firm stance at attention in the likeness of warriors, so that he could appear strong and tall. As such, this plan succeeded and the Holy Prophet sa granted him permission to ride along. Upon this, another child by the name of Samurah bin Jundub ra , who had been ordered to return, went to his father and said, “If Rāfi‘ has been granted permission, then I should be permitted as well, because I am stronger than Rāfi‘ and can put him down in a bout of wrestling. ” The father was over-joyed at the sincerity of his son; both father and son presented themselves before the Holy Prophet sa and the father presented the desire of his son. The Holy Prophet sa smiled and said, “Alright then, let Rāfi‘ and Samurah wrestle one another, so that we may determine who is the stronger of the two. ” Thus, the competition took place; Samurah ra took hold of Rāfi‘ ra and threw him to the ground in an instant. The Holy Prophet sa granted Samurah ra permission to come along as well and this innocent child was delighted. 1 Now that evening had arrived, Bilāl ra called the Adhān , and all of the Companions offered their Ṣalāt behind the Holy Prophet sa. Then, the Muslims set up camp for the night at this very place. The Holy Prophet sa appointed Muḥammad bin Maslamah ra to arrange security for the night; alongside a group of fifty Companions he circled the Muslim army and stood guard all night long. 2 The following day, on the 15th of Shawwāl 3 A. H. 3 or the 31st of March 624 A. D. 4 on Saturday, before dawn, the Muslim army marched forward and offering their Ṣalāt en-route, reached the foot of mount Uḥud at the start of the morning. It was on this occasion that the evil ‘ Abdullāh bin Ubayy bin Sulūl, chief of the hypocrites betrayed the Muslims, and separating himself along with 300 followers, returned to Madīnah saying, “Muḥammad [sa] did not pay heed to my advice, and being swayed by inexperienced youngsters has come out of Madīnah. Hence, I cannot remain with him and fight. ” Some people admonished him of their own accord, saying that such betrayal was uncalled for, but he would not 1 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 524, Ghazwatu Uḥud, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Tārīkhur-Rusuli Wal-Mulūk (Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī), By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī, Volume 3, p. 64, Thumma Dakhalatis-Sanatuth-Thālithatu Minal-Hijrah / Ghazwatu Uḥud, Dārul- Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002) 2 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 269, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhi sa Uḥudan, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 3 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 521, Amru Muḥayyiṣata Wa Ḥuwayyiṣata / p. 542, Sha’nu ‘Āṣimibni Thābit, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) 4 At-Taufīqātul-Ilhāmiyyatu Fī Muqāranatit-Tawārīkhil-Hijriyyati Bis-Sinnīnal-Ifrankiyyati Wal- Qibṭiyyah, By Muḥammad Mukhtār Pāshā, p. 35, Al-Mu’assasatul-‘Arabiyyah, First Edition (1980)