The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 331
VIII - Blow of a Misfortune, Law of Inheritance, Prohibition of Alcohol, Treachery of the Disbelievers and Two Tragic Incidents 331 Zubair ra relates: “On this occasion, I inquired of Abū Dujānah, ‘What happened? First you raised your sword, but then lowered it. ’ He responded, ‘My heart could not come to terms with the fact that I should use the sword of the Holy Prophet sa against a woman; and then such a woman, who at the time had no male protector. ’” Zubair ra relates, “It was then that I understood how Abū Dujānah ra in fact did justice to the sword of the Holy Prophet sa and that I could perhaps not have done the same, and thus, the misgiving in my heart was dispelled. ” 1 Therefore, after the flag-bearer of the Quraish had been slain, both armies collided with one another and brutal carnage ensued, and for a period in time, this killing and bloodshed continued. At last, slowly but surely, the army of the Quraish began to lose their footing in the face of the Muslim army. The renowned British historian, Sir William Muir writes: “Pressed by the fierce ardour of the Muslims, the Meccan army began to waver. Their horse sought repeatedly to turn the left flank of Moḥammad; but they were each time forced back by the galling archery of the little band which Moḥammad had posted there. The same daring contempt of danger was displayed as at Bedr. The Meccan ranks might be seen to quiver as Abū Dujana, distinguished by a red kerchief round his helmet, swept along the enemy’s ranks, and with a sword given him by Moḥammad, dealt death on every hand. Hamza, conspicuous from his waving ostrich feather; ‘Ali, known by his long white plume, and Az-Zubeir, by his bright yellow turban, like heroes of the Iliad, - carried confusion wherever they appeared. Such were the scenes in which were reared the great leaders of the Muslim conquests. ” 2 Hence, battle was waged, and fierce indeed it was, and for quite a while, victory remained obscure. Eventually, however, by the Grace of God, 1 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 526, Taḥrīḍu Hinda Wan- Niswati Ma‘ahā, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 2, pp. 405-407, Ghazwatu Uḥud, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan, Volume 1, p. 425, Gharībatu Uḥud , Mu’assasatu Sha‘bān, Beirut 2 The Life of Mahomet, By Sir William Muir, Chapter XIV (Battle of Ohod), Coreish are pressed and waver, p. 269, Published by Smith, Elder & Co. London (1878)