Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 344
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 344 pledge of national faith to leave them unmolested. On the other hand, should Quraish oppose their entrance, the blame would rest with them; and even so, the strength of the pilgrim band would secure its safety. So soon as this was resolved Emigrants and An sar responded eagerly to the call, and made haste to prepare themselves for the journey. The Arab tribes around Medina who had entered into friendly relations with the Holy Prophet were also summoned, but few responded to the call. When the arrangements for the journey were completed, the Holy Prophet mounted his camel, Qaswa, and led the cavalcade of 1,500 pilgrims to Dhul Haleefah, distant six miles from Medina and the first stage on the road to Mecca. Here a halt was made and the Holy Prophet directed that all of them should assume the pilgrims’ garb and called out the Talbeeh (‘Here am I, O Lord! Here am I!’). The sacrificial animals, seventy camels, were then set apart, ornaments were hung about their necks and a mark was affixed on their right sides. The Holy Prophet dispatched a scout, Busr bin Sufyan of Khuzaa, to proceed to Mecca and return with intelligence regarding the attitude of Quraish. A troop of twenty horse under the command of Abbad bin Bishr was directed to march in advance of the main body to give notice of danger. The pilgrims moved forward by ordinary stages. They carried no arms but such as are permitted by custom to a traveller, namely a sheathed sword, a bow and well - filled quiver. On this journey the Holy Prop het, peace be on him, was accompanied by his wife, Um Salama. Tidings of the Holy Prophet’s approach soon reached Mecca; and, notwithstanding the pious object and unwarlike attitude of