Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 348
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 348 to fighting and you destroy your own people, you will be the first among the Arabs to perpetrate such a grave wrong, but if Quraish overcome you all those who are with you will soon desert you. ’ At this, Abu Bakr started up and warmly resented the imputati on. Urwah, not heeding him, became still more earnest in his speech and, according to the familiar Badawi custom, stretched forth his hand to take hold of the Holy Prophet’s beard. ‘Back!’ cried a bystander, striking his arm. ‘Hold thy hands from off the P rophet of God. ’ ‘Who is this?’ asked Urwah, surprised at the interposition of a red - haired ungainly youth whom he could not identify as he was wearing a helmet. ‘It is thy nephew’s son, Mughira bin Shu’bah. O ungrateful one,’ he exclaimed, ‘it is but as ye sterday that I redeemed thy life. ’ These and other scenes at the interview struck Urwah with a deep sense of reverence and devotion of the Muslims towards the Holy Prophet; and this he endeavoured to impress upon Quraish when he carried back to them a mess age resembling that taken by Budail. But Quraish were firm. Whatever his intentions, the Prophet should not approach the city with any show of force, and thus humble them in the eyes of all Arabia. ‘Tell him,’ they said, ‘that this year he must go back; bu t in the year following he may come, and having entered Mecca perform Umra. ’ Urwah told them, ‘I have travelled much and have had the opportunity of being present before Caesar, Chosroes and Najashi, but I have not observed any one of them being accorded s uch honour and respect as I have witnessed the followers of Muhammad according him. My advice is that his suggestion is just and fair and you should accept it. ’ Having heard Urwah’s discourse, Halees bin Alqamah, a chief