Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 202
202 commander of the Ansar, Sa‘d and his companions say so. They said it was a day of slaughter. The sacredness of Mecca will not avert bloodshed and the Quraysh will be humiliated. Prophet of God, you are the best, the most forgiving, the most considerate of men. Will you not forgive and forget whatever was done by your own people?" Abu Sufyan’s appeal went home. Those very Muslims who used to be insulted and beaten in the streets of Mecca, who had been dispossessed and driven out of their homes, began to entertain feelings of mercy for their old persecutors. "Prophet of God," they said, "the accounts which the Ansar have heard of the excesses and cruelties committed by Meccans against us, may lead them to seek revenge. We know not what they may do. " The Prophet understood this. Turning to Abu Sufyan, he said, "What Sa‘d has said is quite wrong. It is not the day of slaughter. It is the day of forgiveness. The Quraysh and the Ka‘bah will be honoured by God. " Then he sent for Sa‘d, and ordered him to hand over the Ansar flag to his son, Qays. 228 The command of the Ansar thus passed from Sa‘d to Qays. It was a wise step. It placated the Meccans and saved the Ansar disappointment. Qays, a pious young man, was fully trusted by the Prophet. An incident of his last days illustrates the piety of his character. Lying on his deathbed, Qays received his friends. Some came and some did not. He could not understand this and asked why some of his friends had not come to see him. "Your charity is abundant," explained one. "You have been helping the needy by your loans. There are many in the town who are in debt to you. Some may have hesitated to come lest you should ask them for the return of the loans. " "Then I have been the cause of keeping my friends away. Please announce that no one now owes anything to Qays. " After this announcement Qays had so many visitors during his last days that the steps to his house gave way. When the Muslim army had marched past, ‘Abbas told Abu Sufyan to hasten for Mecca and announce to the Meccans that the Prophet had come and explain to them how they could all have peace. Abu Sufyan reached Mecca with this message of peace for his town, but his wife, Hind, notorious for her hostility towards Muslims, met him. A confirmed disbeliever, she was yet a brave woman. She caught Abu Sufyan by the beard and called on Meccans to come and kill her cowardly husband. Instead of moving his townsmen to sacrifice their lives for the defence and honour of their town, he was inviting them to peace. But Abu Sufyan could see that Hind was behaving foolishly "That time is gone," said he. "You had better go home and sit behind closed doors. I have seen the Muslim army. Not all Arabia could withstand it now. "