The Message of Islam — Page 34
34 men in battle array and, leaving them with his instructions, retired again to supplicate the Divine. He was prostrate before his Lord in agony when the general fighting began. Abu Bakr ra approached him and put a gentle hand on his shoulder, saying: Messenger of Allah, thou hast prayed enough. The Prophet saw raised himself and announced that God had just given him to understand that the time had arrived for the fulfilment of the prophecy revealed sometime earlier at Makkah: ُمَزْهُيَس ُعْمَجْلا َو َنْوُّلَوُي َرُبُّدلا ِلَب ُةَعاَّسلا ْمُهُدِعْوَم َو ُةَعاَّسلا ىٰهْدَا َو ُّرَمَا The hosts shall be routed and will turn their backs in flight. Aye, the Hour is their appointed time; and the Hour will be most calamitous and most bitter. ( Surah al-Qamar, 54:46–47) The Muslims had their backs to the rising sun, while it shone on the faces of Quraish. For a short while the advantage appeared to be with Quraish on account of the superiority of their numbers and equipment. The Holy Prophet saw took up a handful of gravel and sand and threw it in the direction of the enemy. Immediately a fierce gust of wind began to blow gravel and sand into the faces of Quraish, which almost blinded them, and made their move- ments erratic and ineffective. The issue now was no longer in doubt. The flower of chivalry of Quraish was soon left upon the field, dead and dying. Seventy, all leading men of Quraish, including Abu Jahl, were killed and an equal number taken prisoner, including the Prophet’s uncle, Abbas, and one of his sons-in-law. Of the Muslims, fourteen, six Emigrants and eight Ansar, became martyrs but none was taken