Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 223
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 223 and other tribes on the sea - coast being already in the interest of Muhammad, the Syrian trade by that route was now absolutely barred. There remained the eastern route to Babylonia. This passed through the territories of two powerful nomad tribes, Suleim a nd Ghatafan, both allied to Quraish and employed by them as carriers, They inhabited part of the great plain of Najd in the centre of the peninsula. There Bani Suleim had their headquarters in a fruitful plain, the seventh station from Mecca on the caravan route which crossed the tableland to the head of the Persian Gulf. Quraish now turned their eyes towards this territory, and entered into closer bonds with the tribes inhabiting it. Henceforth, the attitude of Suleim and Ghatafan, especially of the former , became actively hostile towards Muhammad. Incited by Quraish, and by the example of Abu Sufyan, they now projected a plundering attack upon Medina, a task in itself congenial with their predatory habits. Timely intelligence reached Medina that they had b egun to assemble at Qarqarat al - Kudr; Muhammad, anticipating their design, hastened to surprise them at the head of two hundred men. On reaching the spot he found it deserted; but a herd of 500 camels, feeding under charge of a single boy, fell into his ha nds, and was divided as spoils of war. The boy was made captive, but afterwards, on professing faith in Muhammad, released. A month later, Bani Ghatafan were again reported to be collecting troops in Nejd. Heading a strong force of 450