Truth About the Split — Page 15
15 Only a few men were left with Moses as and the idea of a forcible entry into the promised land had to be abandoned. In contrast with this, we find that when the Holy Prophet sa came to Medina the covenant which he received from the Ansar (the citizens of Medina) was to the effect that only in case an enemy attacked him in Medina, would they (the Ansar) be bound to protect him. The covenant was sworn by the Ansar as the Oath of ‘Aqba tendered to the Holy Prophet sa some time before the Hijra. The famous historian Ibni Hisham writes that the Ansar had made the following covenant with the Holy Prophet sa. "O Prophet sa ! we shall not be responsible for your safety so long as you are outside Medina. Our responsibility will commence with your arrival in that city. We will protect you from all such enemies and by all such means as we protect our wives and children. " This meant that just as they sacrificed their lives in order to protect their wives and children from death and imprisonment, even so they would do to protect the Holy Prophet sa. After this covenant, when the time came for the battle of Badr , and the Holy Prophet sa decided to meet the foe some distance outside the city