Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 328
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 328 goes further and prescribes: ‘Allah does not forbid you to be benevolent and to act equitably towards those who have not fought you because of your religion, and who have not driven you forth from your homes. Surely, Allah loves those who are equitable’ (6 0:9). The sixth year of the Hijra was one of considerable activity. No important battle was fought, nor any great expedition undertaken. But small parties were constantly in motion, for the chastisement of hostile tribes, or the interception of caravans, or for the repulse of robbers and marauders. There were as many as seventeen such affairs during the year. They generally resulted in the dispersion of the enemy and the capture of flocks and herds; they also served to uphold the prestige of Islam. In the very beginning of the year, the Holy Prophet received intimation of some hostile design on the part of the clan Qurta, a branch of Banu Bakr, who were settled at Dhariyyah in Nejd, seven days’ journey from Medina. He dispatched a light detachment of thirty mounted men under the command of Muhammad bin Maslamah Ansari to Nejd. Little opposition was encountered and the clan scattered, leaving their women and children behind. Muhammad bin Maslamah took no action against the women and children and, havin g captured a number of camels and goats, returned to Medina. On the way back, they captured one person on suspicion of hostility who did not disclose his identity to them. In fact, he was Thumamah bin Uthal of Yamamah, an influential chief of Banu Haneefah. He was bitterly hostile towards Islam and was always after slaying innocent Muslims. On one occasion, he conspired to kill an