An Outline of Early Islamic History — Page 53
53 reached there after fifteen days, long journey. He found the miscreants had fled. There was peace there after that. A famine raged in Mecca the same year. The Prophet sent to help their poor. Abu Sufiyan visited the Prophet in Medina. He requested him to pray that the famine might be lifted. The Prophet gave away in marriage to Zaid bin Harith, a freed slave, his own cousin Zainab. Muslim women were ordered to cover their faces. Jews and Muslims The same year another army made ready to attack Medina. Banu Khaza and the Muslims joined battle at Marisi. First the Prophet invited them to peace. They answered back with an arrow. A general attack was ordered. Muslims surrounded the enemy force. When th e Banu Khaza found their retreat cut off, they sued for peace. One Muslim was killed. Ten men of the enemy fell in the battlefield. All Tribes Attack The Jews who had left Medina were now free to make trouble. They visited the Quresh and several other tribes. Soon they had them on their side. It was agreed to mount an all - tribes attack on Muslims. A force twenty thousand strong took to the field with Abu Sufiyan as the ir commander. When the news reached Medina, the Prophet decided to dig a ditch to make the city safe. The Prophet and his companions worked hard for many days together.