The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 11
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J ama 4 at - e -A hmadiyya Muslims. Their hearts were full o f joy and their tongues were filled with the praise o f Allah. But, at that very time, the other two famous tribes o f the non-believers Banu Hawazin and Banu Thaqlf o f T a’if were preparing to take revenge upon the Muslims. They had decided that before the Muslims could launch another attack, they would themselves attack the Muslims and destroy them. They quickly mobilized a formidable army, headed by a head-strong and youthful chief from Banu Hawazin, by the name o f Malik bin ‘Auf. The peculiar strategy they adopted was to take their cattle and families along with them, so that, instead o f taking to their heels, the fighters should fight to their last, defending their children. They also carried with them on a howdah an aged person who, in his prime, had been a genius in the art o f warfare, so that they could benefit from his knowledge and experience. But when this old man listened to the grunting o f the camels, the bleating of the goats and the crying and shouting o f women and children, he asked what it was all about. When the facts were revealed to him, he advised Malik bin ‘A uf not to make the mistake o f taking all the cattle and children with him, for it would amount to their slaughter. “Lodge them at some safe place,” he said, “and they can join you if you are victorious. But if you take them with you and are defeated, you shall suffer great humiliation because o f them. ” [SIrat Ibn-e-Hisham, voL II, pp. 523-524; Shan-e-Muhammad by Mian ‘Abid Ahmad, pp. 469-470] 11