The System of Mushawarat in Jama'at-e-Ahmadiyya — Page 13
T he S ystem of M ushawarat in J ama 4 at - e -A hmadiyya that did not succeed in breaking the enemy defences. The Holy Prophetsa was also advised to destroy the vine yards o f the Banu Thaqif so that they could easily be subjugated, but the Holy Prophetsa rejected this proposal, although it was used as a threat. While the Companions were offering all sorts of suggestions to overcome the enemy, some men who had deserted the Banu Thaqif presented themselves before the Holy Prophetsa. They informed him that the enemy had a large stockpile of food and it could last them for up to a year. The Holy Prophetsa consulted Naufal bin M u‘awia Delira, who said, “The fox has gone into its den. If you continue to exert pressure, you can catch it, but if you leave it where it is, it can do you no harm. ” The Holy Prophetsa then decided to lift the siege and went back to the valley of Hunayn where people were waiting for him to distribute the spoils o f war. [Hayat-e-Muhammad, pp. 543-544; Al-Rahlq-ul-Makhtum, pp. 664-667] As soon as the Holy Prophetsa had disposed o f the spoils, some men, who had accepted Islam from among the tribe o f Hawazin, sought his audience. They humbly re quested him to return to them their families and their property, for they had been encouraged by the kindness which the Holy Prophetsa had shown towards Hadrat Shima bint Harithra. The Holy Prophetsa said to them, “What do you love more, your families or your posses sions?” They said: “O Prophet of Allah, there is nothing dearer to us than our wives and children. ” “All right,” 13