The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 428
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 428 arrow was shot by a man from their tribe. 1 When the Holy Prophet sa witnessed their hostility, he ordered the Companions to fight as well. For some time both sides exchanged a shower of arrows, upon which the Holy Prophet sa ordered the Companions to launch a sudden attack. As a result of this sudden assault the disbelievers lost their footing. The Muslims surrounded them so skillfully that their entire tribe became surrounded and was forced to throw in their arms. With only ten casualties among the disbelievers and one from among the Muslims, this war, which could have taken on a dangerous form, came to an end. 2 At this instance, it is also necessary to mention that there is a narration regarding this Ghazwah in Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, where it is related that the Holy Prophet sa attacked the Banū Muṣṭaliq at a time when they were unaware and giving water to their animals. 3 However, if one contemplates, this narration is not in contradiction to the account related by historians. Rather, both these narrations relate to two different times. That is to say, when the Muslim army reached close to the Banū Muṣṭaliq, at the time, since they were unaware that the Muslims had reached so close (even though they were definitely aware that the Muslim army was about to arrive), they were still at ease in an unorganised state. It is this very state to which Bukhārī has made mention. However, when they received news that the Muslims had arrived according to their previous preparation, they immediately aligned in battle array and prepared to fight. The historians have alluded to this second state. ‘Allāmah Ibni Ḥajar and other research scholars have reconciled these two varying narrations in this very manner, and it is this elucidation which seems to be correct. 4 At the end of this war, the Holy Prophet sa remained in Muraisī‘ for a few days. However, during this stay an untoward incident took place, which almost led to the outbreak of civil war between the weaker Muslims. However, the wisdom and magnetic influence of the Holy Prophet sa saved the Muslims (1996) 1 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 7, 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) 3 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-‘Itq, Bābu Man Malaka Minal-‘Arabi Raqīqan. . . . . , Ḥadīth No. 2541 4 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, pp. 8-9, Ghazwatul-Muraisī‘, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)