Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 416
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 416 arrows at him by which he was mortally wounded. His family and friends rallied round him, but it was too late. He blessed God with his dying breath for the honour of martyrdom, and prayed his people to bury him by the side of the Muslims who had fallen at Hunain. When the tidings reached the Holy Prophet he lauded the memory of the martyr, observing, ‘He may be compared to the Prophet Yasin, who summoned his people to believe in the Lord, and they slew him. ’ The martyrdom of Urwah compromised the inhabitants of Taif, and forced them to continue the hostile course they had been pursuing. But they began to suffer severely from the attacks of Hawazin under Malik, who, according to his resolve, had maintained an u nceasing warfare against them. ‘We have not strength,’ they said among themselves, ‘to fight against the Arab tribes all round who have plighted their faith to Muhammad, and are bound to fight in his cause. ’ So they sent a deputation of six chiefs with som e twenty followers who reached their destination a fortnight after the return of the army from Tebuk. Mughira, nephew of the martyr Urwah, meeting the embassy in the outskirts of the city, hastened to announce their approach to the Holy Prophet, who receiv ed them gladly and directed that a tent be pitched for their accommodation close by the Mosque. Every evening he visited and instructed them in the faith. They freely communicated their apprehensions to him. As for themselves, they were quite ready at once to destroy their great idol, Lat; but the ignorant amongst them, and especially the women, were devoted to the worship and would be alarmed at its demolition. If the matter were postponed but for three years, and the people