Life of Muhammad — Page 68
sa 68 again to fight this savage horde. Not receiving a reply from the Muslims, Ab u S ufy a n ra became certain the Prophet sa was dead. He followed his first cry by a second and said, "We have also killed Ab u Bakr ra. " The Prophet sa forbade Ab u Bakr ra to make any reply. Ab u Sufy a ra n followed by a third, and said, "We have also killed ‘ Umar ra. " The Prophet sa forbade ‘ Umar ra also to reply. Upon this Ab u Sufy a n ra cried that they had killed all three. Now ‘ Umar ra could not contain himself and cried, "We are all alive and, with God's grace, ready to fight you and break your heads. " Ab u Sufy a n ra raised the national cry, "Glory to Hubal. Glory to Hubal. For Hubal has put an end to Islam. " (Hubal was the Meccans' national idol. ) The Prophet sa could not bear this boast against the One and Only God, Allah, for Whom he and the Muslims were prepared to sacrifice their all. He had refused to correct a declaration of his own death. He had refused to correct a declaration of the death of Ab u Bakr ra and of ‘ Umar ra for strategic reasons. Only the remnants of his small force had been left. The enemy forces were large and buoyant. But now the enemy had insulted Allah. The Prophet sa could not stand such an insult. His spirit was fired. He looked angrily at the Muslims who surrounded him and said, "Why stand silent and make no reply to this insult to Allah, the Only God?" The Muslims asked, "What shall we say, O Prophet sa ?" "Say, ' Allah alone is Great and Mighty. Allah alone is Great and Mighty. He alone is High and Honoured. He alone is High and Honoured. ' " The Muslims shouted accordingly. This cry stupefied the enemy. They stood chagrined at the thought that the Prophet sa after all had not died. Before them stood a handful of Muslims, wounded and exhausted. To finish them was easy enough. But they dared not attack again. Content with the sort of victory they had won, they returned making a great show of rejoicing. In the Battle of U h ud, Muslim victory became converted into a defeat. Nevertheless, the battle affords