Life of Muhammad — Page 70
sa 70 would achieve but little. If they died guarding the Prophet's sa person, they would have served both God and man. They believed that in sacrificing their families they served mankind and they served their God. In inviting death for them they secured life everlasting for mankind at large. The Prophet sa collected the wounded and the dead. The wounded were given first-aid and the dead were buried. The Prophet sa then learnt that the enemy had treated the Muslims most savagely, that they had mutilated the bodies of the dead Muslims and cut off a nose here and an ear there. One of the mutilated bodies was that of H amza ra , the Prophet's sa uncle. The Prophet sa was moved, and said, "The actions of disbelievers now justify the treatment which we so far thought was un- justified. " As he said this, he was commanded by God to let the disbelievers alone and to continue to show them compassion. RUMOUR OF PROPHET'S sa DEATH REACHES MEDINA The rumour of the Prophet's sa death and the news of the dispersal of the Muslim army reached Medina, before the remnants of the Muslim force could return to the town. Women and children ran madly towards U h ud. Many of them learnt the truth from the returning soldiers and went back. One woman of the tribe of Ban u D i n a r went on until she reached U h ud. This woman had lost her husband, father and brother in the battle. According to some narrators, she had also lost a son. A returning soldier met her and told her that her father had died. She said in reply, "I do not care for my father; tell me about the Prophet sa. " The soldier knew the Prophet sa was alive, so he did not answer her query at once, but went on to tell her of her brother and husband who had also died. At each report she remained unmoved and asked again and again, "What has the