Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 395
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 395 destination. At the last moment he ordered the Muslims in the city to arm themselves, announced his project, and enjoined on all that no hint regarding it should, by any possible way, reach Mecca. Notwithstanding this injunction, Hatib, a devoted Muslim, s ecretly despatched a female messenger with a letter to Mecca containing intimation of the intended project. Information of this reaching the Holy Prophet, he sent Ali and Zubair in pursuit. They overtook the messenger and recovered the letter from her. Hat ib excused himself by his natural desire to safeguard his unprotected family in Mecca; and the plea, in view of his former services, including his participation with the Muslims in the battle of Badr, was graciously accepted. On 1 January 630 the army commenced its march. It was the largest force Medina had ever seen. The tents of the auxiliaries darkened the plain for miles around, and heavy contingents joined the Holy Prophet on the line of march. Two of these, Muzeina and Su leim, contributed as many as 1,000 men each. The Holy Prophet now found himself at the head of 10,000 men. Zubair with 200 men led the van. The march was made with such rapidity that within a week the army encamped at Marraz Zahran, but a single stage from Mecca. The Holy Prophet’s uncle, Abbas, joined the Muslims on the road and was welcomed by the Holy Prophet with favour and affection. The Holy Prophet commanded everyone to kindle a fire that night on the heights above the camp. No certain information of the march from Medina had yet reached Quraish, and uneasy at the portentous calm, broken only by vague reports, they sent forth Abu Suf yan to reconnoitre. In the evening, accompanied by