Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 334
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 334 is your right to keep it. ’ They all with one consent agreed to let the prisoner go free, and returned to him his property. This generosity, and the continued attachment of Zainab, so wrought on Abul Aas, that when he had adjusted his affairs at Mecca, he m ade profession of Islam and rejoined her at Medina. Their domestic happiness, however, was not of long duration, for Zainab died the following year from the illness caused by the attack of Habbar at Mecca. About the same time Medina was early one morning startled by a cry of alarm from the adjoining height of Sal’a. The chieftain Oyeina, with a troop of Fezara horse, came down upon the plain of Ghaba, within a few miles of Medina, fell upon the camels of the Holy Prophet which were grazing there, drove them off, and having killed the keeper, carried off his wife. An Ansari, early on his way to the pasture lands, saw the marauding band and gave the alarm. Troops of horses were dispatched at once in pursuit, an d the Holy Prophet himself with some 600 men followed shortly after. The advance party hung daringly upon the rear of the marauders, slew several of them, and recovered half of the plundered camels. On the side of the Muslims only one man was killed. The H oly Prophet, with the main body, marched onwards as far as Dhu Qarad, in the direction of Khaibar; but by this time, the robbers were safe away in the desert. The wife of the keeper of the camels effected her escape on one of the plundered camels which she vowed to offer up as sacrifice of thanksgiving on reaching her home in safety. On mentioning her vow to the Holy Prophet, he rallied her on the ingratitude of seeking to slay the animal which had saved her life, and which was not hers to offer