Stories from Early Islam — Page 179
179 for the night. Early in the morning Abu Sufyaan saw another very unusual sight. He saw them coming out of their tents washing their hands and feet and lining up behind the Holy Prophet saw. He was a bit frightened and asked, ‘What are they doing?’ Abbaas told him that they were only getting ready for morning Prayer. Abu Sufyaan was much impressed to see how disciplined the Muslims were. In their Prayer, they followed every move- ment of the Holy Prophet saw; standing, bowing, sitting and prostrating. He said in surprise, ‘I have been to great courts. I have seen the court of the Chosroes and the court of the Kaiser, but I have never seen any people as devoted to their leader as the Muslims are to their Prophet’. Abu Sufyaan realised that there was no chance for them to win against the Muslims. So when the Prayer was over and he was led to the Holy Prophet saw, he requested him to be kind to the people of Makkah. He was apprehensive that the Muslims might take revenge for the atrocities committed by the Makkans. He, therefore, asked the Prophet saw, whether the Makkans could have peace, if they did not draw the sword. The Holy Prophet saw said, ‘Yes, all who stay indoors, will have peace. Whoever takes shelter in Abu Sufyaan’s house, will have peace. Whoever enters the Ka’abah will have peace. Those who lay down their arms, will have peace’. The Prophet saw then handed a flag to Abu Ruwaiha, who had entered into a pact of brotherhood with Bilal, and said, ‘This is the flag of Bilal, whoever comes under this flag will