Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 310
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 310 and marched them into the city. The siege had lasted for three weeks, during which period the Muslims had suffered the extremes of distress and fear, which had been intensified by the treachery of Banu Quraidha. At the bottom of the whole trouble were the treacherous leaders of Banu Nadh ir whom the Holy Prophet had mercifully permitted to withdraw from Medina. It was through their incitement that all principal tribes of Hedjaz and central Arabia had joined together in their bitter enmity towards Islam to invade Medina and destroy the Muslims root and branch. It is certain that if on this occasion the allied forc es could have contrived to enter Medina, not a single Muslim would have escaped alive, and the honour of no Muslim women would have been safe. Badr, Uhud and the Confederate invasion were major efforts towards the wiping out of Islam and the ruin of Muslims. On each occasion, the disparity between the opposing hosts in respect of numbers, arms, provisions and means of transportation was striking, the odds being overwhelmingly in favour of Quraish and their allies. At Badr, 1,000 well - armed and equipped Quraish were opposed by just over 300 half - famished and ill - armed Muslims. For a time during the actual fighting, the disparity told in favour of Q uraish, but finally the decisive stage was short and sharp. In single combat, Quraish had lost three of their foremost leaders, and in the general fight, the flower of Quraish chivalry and bravery was laid in the dust. Quraish’s arrogance and pride were hu mbled, and their spine was broken, never to be repaired and revived.