Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 125
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 125 Abbas, admonished Ansar that in returning to their camp they should be very careful and should take every precaution that Quraish should not suspect that they had met the Holy Prophet, lest their proceedings of the night might become known and create diffi culties. The Holy Prophet also directed them that they should return to their camp singly or two together. Abbas bin Nadhalah Ansari submitted, ‘Messenger of Allah, we have no fear of anyone. If you will let us, we would attack Quraish in the morning and p unish them for their persecution of the Muslims. ’ But he forbade any such design and told them to return silently to their camp, just as they had come. They slipped away accordingly and the Holy Prophet returned to Mecca with his uncle, Abbas. Quraish heard a rumour that some secret conclave had been held during the night. Early in the morning, a delegation of Quraish arrived in the camp of the people from Yathrab and said to them: ‘We have had good relations with you over a long period and we d o not desire that anything should happen which might create any misunderstanding between us. We have heard that last night you have come to a secret understanding with Muhammad and we should like to know whether there is any truth in this. ’ As the main bod y of Aus and Khazraj were not aware of the secret meeting, they assured the delegation that nothing of the kind had taken place. Abdullah bin Ubayy was among them and he said, ‘It is not possible that the people of Yathrab should embark on something import ant and I should not know about it. ’ The delegation went back satisfied and shortly after the men of Yathrab started on their return journey. Soon after they left