The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 477
X - Siege of Madīnah and Delicate State of the Muslims, Failure of the Disbelievers and Reality of Miracles 477 to regain themselves thereafter. Before dawn, the horizon of Madīnah was cleansed of the dirt and dust of the disbelieving army. Hence, it so happened that when the storm took on strength, Abū Sufyān summoned the nearby chieftains of the Quraish and said, “Our difficulties are increasing. It is no longer appropriate for us to stay here. It is better for us to return and as for me, I am off. ” Upon issuing this command, he ordered his men to retreat and then took to his camel. However, the state of his fear was such that he even forgot to untie the forelegs of his camel. After he had mounted and noticed that the camel was not moving, he remembered that the camel was yet to be untied. 1 At this time, Ikramah bin Abū Jahl was standing beside Abū Sufyān, and in somewhat of a bitter tone he said, “Abu Sufyān! You are the commander of the army yet you flee from the army leaving it behind and do not even care for the others. ” Abū Sufyān was embarrassed at this and dismounted from his camel saying, “There you are, I am not going anywhere yet, but you should quickly prepare and leave here as quickly as possible. ” 2 Hence, people quickly became engaged in preparations and shortly thereafter, Abū Sufyān mounted his camel and set off. Until that time, the Banū Ghaṭafān and the other tribes had no knowledge whatsoever of the Quraish’s intent to flee. However, when the encampment of the Quraish began to quickly vacate, the others also found out about this. As a result, the others became fearful as well and announced a retreat. 3 The Banū Quraiẓah also retired to their fortresses. 4 Along with the Banū Quraiẓah, the chief of the Banū Naḍīr, Ḥuyayy bin 1 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 632, Ghazwatul- Khandaqi Fī Shawwālin Sanata Khamsin, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 284, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhi sa Al-Khandaqa Wa Hiyal-Aḥzābu, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Tārīkhur-Rusuli Wal-Mulūk (Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī), By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī, Volume 3, p. 105, Thumma Kānatis-Sanatul-Khāmisatu Minal-Hijrati / Dhikrul-Khabari ‘An Ghazwatil-Khandaqi, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002) 2 * As-Sīratul-Ḥalabiyyah (Insānul-‘Uyūni Fī Sīratil-Amīni Wal-Ma’mūn), By ‘Allāmah Abul-Farj Nūruddīn ‘Alī bin Ibrāhīm bin Aḥmad Al-Ḥalabiyy, Volume 2, p. 436, Bābu Dhikru Maghāzīhi sa / Ghazwatul-Khandaqi, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2002) 3 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 632, Ghazwatul- Khandaqi Fī Shawwālin Sanata Khamsin, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) 4 * Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan, Volume 1, p. 492, Ghazwatul-Khandaqi, Mu’assasatu Sha‘bān, Beirut * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)