The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 351
VIII - Blow of a Misfortune, Law of Inheritance, Prohibition of Alcohol, Treachery of the Disbelievers and Two Tragic Incidents 351 informed of these events, he immediately announced that the Muslims should prepare, but along with this he also ordered that except for those people who had participated at Uḥud, no one else should set out with them. 1 As such, the warriors of Uḥud, most of whom were wounded, tied up their wounds and betook to the company of their Master. It is written that on this occasion, the Muslims set out with such joy and zeal, as if they were a triumphant army which sets out in pursuit of the enemy. After travelling a distance of eight miles, the Holy Prophet sa reached Ḥamrā’ul-Asad, 2 where the dead bodies of two Muslims were found laying on the plain. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that these were the two spies whom the Holy Prophet sa had sent in the footsteps of the Quraish. Upon finding an opportunity, the Quraish had executed them. The Holy Prophet sa instructed that a single grave be dug, and both of them were buried together. Now that it was evening time, the Holy Prophet sa instructed that camp be set up at this very location. He further instructed that fires be lit at different places throughout the plain. As such, in no time, 500 fires were lit in the plain of Ḥamrā’ul-Asad, which struck awe into the heart of any spectator from afar. 3 Most probably, on this occasion, an idolatrous chief of the Khuzā‘ah tribe named Ma‘bad presented himself before the Holy Prophet sa and offered his condolences for those who had fallen at Uḥud, whereafter he continued on his way. On the following day when he reached Rauḥā’, lo and behold, he found the army of the Quraish encamped there and that preparations were underway to return to Madīnah. Ma‘bad went to Abū Sufyān at once and said: “What are you about to do? By God, I have just let behind the army of Muḥammad [sa] at Ḥamrā’ul-Asad, and never before have I seen such an awe- inspiring army. They are so passionate due to their regret for the defeat at Uḥud that they shall reduce you to ashes on sight. ” 1 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 546, Ghazwatu Ḥamrā’il- Asad, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 274, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhi sa Ḥamrā’al- Asad, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 2 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 274, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhi sa Ḥamrā’al- Asad, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 3 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 274, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhi sa Ḥamrā’al- Asad, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)