Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 332
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 332 store of silver and some of those who guarded it as prisoners. Among these was Abul Aas, son - in - law of the Holy Prophet. He was a nephew of Khadija and was a prosperous trader in Mecca. While declining to embrace Islam, he had equally resisted the bidding of Quraish to abandon his wife, Zainab, daughter of the Holy Prophet, and choose one of their daughters in her stead. ‘I will not separate from my wife,’ he said, ‘neither do I desire any other woman from amongst your daughters. ’ The Holy Prophet much appr eciated his faithfulness to Zainab. The attachment was mutual, for when the family migrated to Medina; Zainab remained behind at Mecca with her husband. In the battle of Badr, Abul Aas had been amongst the captives, and when Quraish deputed men to ransom their prisoners, Zainab sent by their hands such property as she had for her husband’s freedom. Among these things was a necklace, which Khadija had given to her on her marriage. The Holy Prophet, seeing this touching memorial of Khadija, was deeply moved, and said to his Companions, ‘If it seems right in your eyes, let my daughter’s husband go free, and send these trinkets back. ’ All agreed, but as the con dition of his freedom, the Holy Prophet required of Abul Aas that he should at once send Zainab to Medina. Accordingly, on his return to Mecca, he sent her away mounted on a camel - litter in charge of his brother Kinana. Certain of the baser sort, however, from amongst Quraish, went in pursuit, determined to bring her back. The first that appeared was Habbar, who struck her camel with his spear, and so a frightened Zainab as to bring on a miscarriage. Kinana at once made the camel sit down, and by the mere s how of his bow and