Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 309
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 309 head with his hand and prayed for him, and said to him, ‘Have no fear and be sure that God willing, you will be involved in no trouble. Slip quietly into the enemy camp, create no stir and do not interfere with anyone, and come back and report to me. ’ Hudh aifah has narrated: ‘When I started, I felt that the cold had left me entirely and it seemed to me as if I was passing through a warm room, and I lost all my anxieties. The night was utterly dark and I slipped quietly and fearlessly into the enemy camp. I saw Abu Sufyan standing warming him at a fire. I suddenly put an arrow to my bow and was about to shoot at him when I recalled the Holy Prophet’s admonition that I was not to interfere with anyone. I was so close to Abu Sufyan that if I had shot my arrow a t him, he could not have escaped. Abu Sufyan was urging his people to start on the march back. He mounted his camel while I was looking on and I returned to our camp. The Holy Prophet was then engaged in prayer; I waited till he had finished and made my re port to him. He expressed his gratitude to God and said, “This has not happened through any power or effort of ours; it is only the grace of God which has vanquished the allied forces. ” ‘ Thereafter, the news of the flight of the pagans spread throughout t he Muslim camp. It was probably on this occasion that the Holy Prophet observed, ‘They will not now advance upon us for battle; it is we who shall advance against them. ’ Quraish were so disheartened after their flight that they did not dare to advance upon Medina ever after and the prediction of the Holy Prophet was fulfilled literally. When the allied forces had retired and it became clear that their march back was not a ruse, the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, directed the Muslims to break camp