Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 443
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 443 as they approached Medina; Usama rode upon his father’s horse and the banner, bound so lately by the Holy Prophet’s own hands, floated before him. Abu Bakr and the citizens went forth to meet him, and received the army with acclamations of joy. Attended by the Khalifa and the chief Companions, Usama proceeded to the Mosque and offered up Prayer in thanksgiving for the success which had richly crowned his arms. Sir William Muir has summed up ( Life of Muhammad, p. 509): I will merely add that the simplicity and earnestness of Abu Bakr, and of Umar also, the first two Caliphs, are strong evidence of their belief in the sincerity of Muhammad; and the belief of these men must carry undeniable weight in the formation of our o wn estimate of his character, since the opportunities they enjoyed for testing the grounds of their conviction were both close and long - continued. It is enough that I allude to this consideration, as strengthening generally the view of Muhammad’s character , which throughout I have sought to support.