Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 153
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 153 journey in security to Syria. ’ Umayya tried to soothe S’ad and asked him not to shout at Abul Hikam, to which S’ad retorted, ‘Umayya, do keep out of this. I tell you I cannot forget the prophecy of the Holy Prophet that one day you will perish at the hands of the Muslims. ’ Umayya was much perturbed and when he returned home he related to his wife what he had heard from S’ad and said, ‘I swear that I shall not go forth from Mecca against the Muslims. ’ But he went forth, albeit reluctantly, to the battle of B adr and was killed at Badr. About the same time Waleed bin Mughirah, father of Khalid, fell ill, and when he perceived that his end was near he began to weep. Some of the chiefs of Mecca who were present with him were surprised and asked him why he wept. Waleed said, ‘Think not that I weep for fear of death. I weep at the apprehension lest the faith of Muhammad might spread and his authority might extend to Mecca. ’ Abu Sufyan bin Harb sought to comfort him with, ‘Grieve not. So long as we are alive, that cannot happen. We give you a g uarantee. ’ On their side, the Muslims in Medina were not unaware of the designs of Quraish. They had full trust in divine promises of security, but, naturally, they were fearful and anxious over the misery that might be inflicted upon them. In the beginning they were so apprehensive that they were not able to sleep much at night, not knowing when they might be attacked. The Holy Prophet, peace be on him, was most anxious as he bore the responsibility for the safety of the Muslims. It is recorded by Nasai that in his e arly days in Medina, the Holy Prophet slept but little at night. Bokhari and Muslim have recorded: ‘Late one