The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 427
IX - Repeated Treachery of the Jews, Compilation and Sequence of the Holy Qur ’ā n, Marriage of Ḥaḍrat Zainab ra , the Great Calumny and Mischief of the Hypocrites 427 Amīr of Madīnah, and set out in the name of Allāh from Madīnah in Sha‘bān 5 A. H. 1 There were only thirty horses in the army, albeit, camels were available in a somewhat greater number. The Muslims travelled on these horses and camels in turns. During the course of this journey, the Muslims happened to find a spy of the disbelievers, who was taken captive and presented to the Holy Prophet sa. After questioning him, when the Holy Prophet sa was assured that he was actually a spy, the Holy Prophet sa attempted to probe him for information relevant to the disbelievers, but he refused. Furthermore, since his attitude was suspicious, according to the customary law of warfare, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra executed him. 2 After this, the Muslim army continued to advance. When the Banū Muṣṭaliq found out about the imminent arrival of the Muslims, and received news that their spy had been killed, they became very fearful. Their actual intention was to somehow attack Madīnah unexpectedly, but now the tables had turned. They became immensely awe-stricken and the other tribes who had come out to join them in support became so fearful due to the power of God, that they immediately left their side and returned to their homes. 3 However, as for the Banū Muṣṭaliq, the Quraish had so deeply intoxicated them with enmity towards the Muslims that they still did not hold back from war, and remained fully bent upon fighting the Muslim army with full force. When the Holy Prophet sa reached Muraisī‘ close to where the Banū Muṣṭaliq were present, which is a place situated between Makkah and Madīnah near the coast of the sea, the Holy Prophet sa ordered the setup of camp. After arranging the ranks and the distribution of flags, etc. , the Holy Prophet sa instructed Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar ra to move forward and announce to the Banū Muṣṭaliq that even now if they refrain from their enmity towards Islām and accepted the rule of the Holy Prophet sa , they would be given peace, and the Muslims would return. However, they vehemently refused and prepared for war. 4 It is even written that the first 1 * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 281, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhi sa Al-Muraisī‘, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 4, Ghazwatul-Muraisī‘, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 2 * Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 281, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhi sa Al-Muraisī‘, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 6, Ghazwatul-Muraisī‘, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 3 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 281, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhi sa Al-Muraisī‘, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 4 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, pp. 6-7, Ghazwatul-Muraisī‘, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition