Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 345
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 345 the pilgrims, Quraish were greatly excited. Joined by the surrounding tribes, they were quickly under arms, and took up ground on the Medina road, resolved to perish rather than permit the Muslims to enter. A body of 200 horse, under Khalid and Ikramah bin Abu Jahl, was pushed forward in advance. The Muslims had nearly reached Osfan, the second stage from Mecca, when the scout returned with the intelligence that Quraish were encamped at Dhu Towa, clothed in panthers’ skins. Their wives and little ones were with them, and they had sworn to die rathe r than let the Muslims pass. Shortly after the Meccan cavalry came in sight, and the Muslim horse went forward to hold them in check. Further advance on the high road was now impossible, so the Holy Prophet called a halt and, having procured a guide, turne d to the right by a route safe from the enemies’ horses and after a fatiguing march through devious and rugged pathways reached Hudaibiyya, an open space on the verge of the sacred territory encircling Mecca. Here his camel stopped and, planting her forele gs firmly on the ground, refused to stir another step. ‘She is weary,’ said the people as they urged her forward. ‘Nay,’ observed the Holy Prophet, ‘Qaswa is not weary, but the same hand restrained her as aforetime held back the Elephant’ – alluding to the invasion of Abraha. ‘By the Lord,’ he continued, ‘no request of Quraish this day, for the honour of the Holy House, shall be denied by me. ’ He then urged his camel forward and it obeyed his gesture. He directed her to the extreme end of the open space and there alighted near some wells. It was, however, found that they were choked with sand and there was little or no water in them. The Holy Prophet took an arrow from