Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 121
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 121 guarded him against all danger. He is now thinking of leaving Mecca and of going over to you. If you desire that he should go over to you, you will have to undertake to guard him against his enemies. If you are prepared to undertake this responsibility, we ll and good; but if not, you should say so frankly. ’ Braa bin Ma’roor, who was an aged and influential person among the Muslims of Yathrab, replied to him, ‘Abbas, we have heard you, but we wish that the Messenger of Allah should also speak to us himself a nd tell us what responsibility he would wish us to undertake. ’ Thereupon the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, as was his practice, recited a few verses of the Holy Quran and made a brief exposition of the teachings of Islam and the obligations due to Allah a nd to one’s fellow beings, and concluded with, ‘As to myself, all I require of you is that if need arises you would behave towards me in the same manner as you would behave towards your near relations. ’ When he had finished, Braa bin Ma’roor took hold of h is hand, according to Arab custom, and said: ‘Messenger of Allah, we call to witness God Who has sent you with truth and righteousness, that we shall guard you as we guard our own lives. We have grown up under the shadow of swords …. ’ He was interrupted by Abul Haitham bin Teehan, who said: ‘Messenger of Allah, we have had close relations with the Jews of Yathrab since a long time. If we take up with you, those relations will be sundered. We are apprehensive lest when God bestows supremacy upon you might le ave us and return to Mecca and we may be left in an awkward situation. ’ The Holy Prophet smiled and said, ‘No, no, that will not be. Your blood will be my blood, your friends will be my friends, and your enemies will be my