Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 200
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 200 back to Mecca? This would redound to your great credit. ’ Utba expressed his willingness to follow this advice and added, ‘Hakeem, after all the Muslims and we are closely related to each other. Would it be right that brother should raise his sword against brother and father against his son? Go to Abul Hikam and put your plan to him. ’ On his side, Utba mounted his camel and began to urge people that fighting between close relations was not called for, and that they should return to Mecca and leave Muhammad t o his devices and let him settle with the other Arab tribes. He added, ‘We shall see what happens. Besides, the fight in front of us is not easy. I am not a coward but those people appear to me eager to purchase death. ’ The Holy Prophet espied him from a d istance and observed, ‘If there is a spark of nobility in the host opposing us it is certainly in that rider of the red camel. If these people follow his advice, it would be to their good. ’ When Hakeem bin Hizam approached Abu Jahl and mentioned his plan to him, he retorted sarcastically, ‘Well, well, Utba now sees himself opposed to his relatives!’ He then called to Aamir bin Hadhrami, brother of Amr, and said to him, ‘Have you heard what yo ur confederate Utba now says, and that at a time when we are in a position to wreak vengeance for the killing of your brother?’ Aamir went into a paroxysm of rage and tearing off his clothes, according to Arab custom, began shouting, ‘Woe to Amr, woe to Am r, he is not being avenged. ’ This created an uproar among the Quraish host and everyone became eager to fight. Abu Jahl’s taunt had greatly provoked Utba and he came forward with his brother Shaiba and his son Waleed and challenged the Muslims to single co mbat. Some Ansar were about