Life of Muhammad — Page 159
sa 159 "Who can they be?" he asked. "They are the An sa r ra and the Muh a jir i n surrounding the Prophet sa ," replied ‘ Abb a s ra. "No power on earth could resist this army," said Ab u Sufy a n ra , and then, addressing ‘ Abb a s more specifically, " ‘ Abb a s ra , your nephew has become the most powerful king in the world. " "You are still far from the truth, Ab u Sufy a n ra. He is no king; he is a Prophet sa , a Messenger of God," replied ‘ Abb a s ra. "Yes, yes, let it be as you say, a Prophet sa , not a king," added Ab u Sufy a n ra. As the Muslim army marched past Ab u Sufy a n ra , the commander of the An sa r, Sa‘d bin ‘ Ub a da ra happened to eye Ab u Sufy a n ra and could not resist saying that God that day had made it lawful for them to enter Mecca by force and that the Quraish would be humiliated. As the Prophet sa was passing, Ab u Sufy a n ra raised his voice and addressing the Prophet sa said, "Have you allowed the massacre of your own kith and kin? I heard the commander of the An sa r, Sa‘d ra and his companions say so. They said it was a day of slaughter. The sacredness of Mecca will not avert bloodshed and the Quraish will be humiliated. Prophet sa of God, you are the best, the most forgiving, the most considerate of men. Will you not forgive and forget whatever was done by your own people?" Ab u Sufy a n's ra appeal went home. Those very Muslims who used to be insulted and beaten in the streets of Mecca, who had been dispossessed and driven out of their homes, began to entertain feelings of mercy for their old persecutors. "Prophet sa of God," they said, "the accounts which the An sa r have heard of the excesses and cruelties committed by Meccans against us, may lead them to seek revenge. We know not what they may do. " The Prophet sa understood this. Turning to Ab u Sufy a n ra , he said, "What Sa‘d ra has said is quite wrong.