Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 394
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 394 The Truce of Hudaibiyya had been now nearly two years in force. Acting on the discretion allowed by the treaty, Khuzaa and Bani Bakr, inhabiting Mecca and its neighbourhood, declared their adhesion, the former to the Holy Prophet, the latter to Quraish. Th ere had been sanguinary feuds of old standing between them, and, though these paled before the excitement of the war with the Muslims, the blood which had been shed on either side caused hatred still to rankle in their breasts. The Truce of Hudaibiyya allo wed Bani Bakr again to brood over their wrongs, and they sought opportunity to make reprisals. Aided by a party of Quraish, they attacked by night an unsuspecting encampment of Khuzaa, and slew several of them. A deputation of forty men from the injured tr ibe, mounted on camels, hastened to Medina, spread their wrongs before the Holy Prophet, and pleaded that the treacherous murders be avenged. Quraish, hearing of this deputation, were thrown into great alarm. They dispatched Abu Sufyan to Medina to procure a reconfirmation of the compact of peace. On his way he met Budail, chief of Khuzaa, returning from Medina after his interview with the Holy Prophet. Abu Sufyan was not able to procure any reassurance from the Holy Prophet. He departed home and reported his failure to Quraish, but assured them that he had observed no hostile preparations in Medina. In response to the appeal of Khuzaa, the Holy Prophet resolved to march against Quraish, but the design was kept secret as long as it was possible. Meanwhile, he summoned his allies from amongst the Bedouins to join him at Medina, or at certain convenient points on the road, but he did not disclose their