An Outline of Early Islamic History — Page 40
40 attack. Muslims fell on the enemy like lightning. The Quresh fled. Seventy were taken prisoner and as many lay dead. Among them were 24 leading chiefs. Umaiyya bin Khalaf was on the casualties. Thus was cut off the root of Meccan strength. The dead Quresh were buried in one pit. The Prophet addressing the dead enemy, said, “Did you find true the promise God had made to you? Well, I found His promise to me true. ” Then he said, “O ye who lie in the pit, you were bad relations of your Prophet. You rejected me, others accepted me. You turned me out of my home, others gave me shelter. You made war on me, others aided me. ” Grief in Mecca Only fourteen Muslims were slain in the battle. There was great joy in Medina. There was great grief in Mecca. The star of the Prophet was up. The name of the Quresh was mud. They felt the disgrace keenly. They forbade all mourning and pledged to wipe out their shame with revenge. They will then and only then mourn their dead. But many had lost their sons, many their brothers, many their fathers and many their husbands. They could not bear the grief in silence for long. It is said that a man named Aswad onc e heard a woman weep. He had lost two sons and a grandson in Badr. He asked his servant to enquire if mourning had been permitted. He said, if it was so, he would like