Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 350
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 350 his life. But the older section intervened and he returned to the Islamic camp. Not content with this demonstration, a party of about fifty men was dispatched by Quraish to Hudaibiyya with instructions to watch around the Islamic camp and to take advantage of any opportunity of inflicting damage upon the Muslims. The Muslims were, however, on the alert and the whole party of Quraish was taken captive. But the Holy Prophet directed that they should be released so that the pending negotiations should not be d isrupted. This incident is referred to in the Holy Quran as follows: ‘He it is Who held back their hands from you and held back your hands from them in the Valley of Mecca, after He had granted you victory over them’ (48:25). Thereafter the Holy Prophet thought of sending someone who belonged to Mecca and was connected with a respectable family of Quraish. He desired Umar to go as his emissary. Umar excused himself on account of the personal enmity of Quraish towards him, and a lso on the ground that he had no influential relative in the city who could shield him from danger. He submitted that Uthman, who belonged to one of the most powerful families in Mecca, would be a fitter envoy. Uthman consented and the Holy Prophet provide d him with a written statement addressed to the leaders of Quraish in which he explained his purpose and assured Quraish that they only intended to perform Umra in peace, and having offered their sacrifices they would return to Medina. He also instructed U thman to try to make contact with the poor Muslims in Mecca and to reassure them that God would soon open some way for them and that they should continue steadfast.