The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 476
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 476 Quraiẓah said, “It is true that Na‘īm has given us good advice in that the Quraish and Ghaṭafān do not hold good intentions. ” In this manner, the intelligent strategy of Na‘īm managed to create rift and dissent within the disbelieving camp. 1 This is the strategy which was employed by Na‘īm, but the most remarkable aspect of this was that even in such a sensitive mission, insofar as possible, Na‘īm did not say anything in particular which could be classified as falsehood. As far as the use of tactical strategy is concerned in order to carry out a plan, or to formulate a design by which one may be safeguarded from the mischief of an enemy is concerned, this is not objectionable at all. In fact, it is a very beneficial part of the art of war, by which a cruel enemy can be frustrated and defeated and the unnecessary chain of bloodshed and carnage can be brought to an end. It was possible that the peaceful efforts of Na‘īm bin Mas‘ūd may have been wasted and after a temporary stumble and shaking, the disbelievers may have regained their unity and steadfastness. However, by God’s design, it so happened that after these occurrences, fierce winds struck at night, 2 and as the encampment of the disbelievers was situated in an open plain, this resulted in a fierce storm. Tents were uprooted and their coverings flew off, cooking vessels were overthrown 3 and a rain of sand and pebbles began to fill the ears, eyes and noses of the people. Then, more than anything else, the national fires, which were kept alight during the night with great formality according to the ancient Arab custom, began to blow out here and there, like lose debris. 4 These spectacles shocked the superstitious hearts of the disbelievers, which were already shaken due to the hardship of this prolonged siege and the bitter experience of mutual distrust among the confederates, that they were unable 1 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 631, Ghazwatul-Khandaqi Fī Shawwālin Sanata Khamsin, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) 2 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 631, Ghazwatul- Khandaqi Fī Shawwālin Sanata Khamsin, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 55, Ghazwatul-Khandaqi Wa Hiyal-Aḥzābu, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 3 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 285, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhi sa Al-Khandaqa Wa Hiyal-Aḥzābu, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 4 * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 55, Ghazwatul-Khandaqi Wa Hiyal-Aḥzābu, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan, Volume 1, p. 491, Ghazwatul-Khandaqi, Mu’assasatu Sha‘bān, Beirut