The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page clxi
GENERAL INTRODUCTION Musailimah ordered one of his limbs to be cut off. This done, he asked Ḥabīb again, "Do you believe Muḥammad to be a Messenger of God?" "Yes," replied Ḥabīb. "Do you believe me to be a Messenger of God?" "No. " Musailimah ordered another limb to be cut off Habib's body. Limb after limb was cut off in this way and Ḥabīb's body was reduced to many pieces. He died a cruel death, but left behind an unforgettable example of personal heroism and sacrifice for the sake of religious conviction (Ḥalbiyyah, Vol. 2, p. 17). Ummi ‘Ammārah accompanied the Prophet in several wars. This party of Medina Muslims, in short, attained to great distinction for their loyalty and faith. They came to Mecca not for wealth, but for faith; and they had it in abundance. Moved by family ties and feeling legitimately responsible for the safety of the Prophet, ‘Abbās thus addressed the party: O Khazraj, this my relation is respected here by his people. They are not all Muslims, yet they protect him. But he has chosen now to leave us and go to you. O Khazraj, do you know what will happen? All Arabia will be against you. If you realize the risks entailed by your invitation, then take him away; if you do not, then give up your intention and let him stay here. The leader of this party Al-Bara' replied assuredly: We have heard you. Our resolution is firm. Our lives are at the disposal of the Prophet of God. We are decided, and only await his decision (Halbiyyah, Vol. 2, p. 18). The Prophet gave a further exposition of Islam and its teaching. Explaining this, he told the party that he would go to Medina if they would hold Islam as dear as they held their wives and children. He had not quite finished when this party of seventy-three devotees cried, 'Yes,' 'Yes,' in one voice. In their zeal they forgot that they could be overheard. 'Abbas cautioned them to speak low. But the party was full of faith. Death now was nothing in their eyes. When ‘Abbās cautioned the party, one of them said aloud, "We are not afraid, O Prophet of God. Permit us, and we can deal with the Meccans right now and avenge the wrongs they have done you. " But the Prophet said he had not yet been commanded to fight. The party then took the oath of fealty and the meeting dispersed. The Meccans did get to know of this meeting. They went to the Medina encampment to complain against these visitors to their chiefs. 'Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul Chief of chiefs knew nothing of what had happened. He assured the Meccans that it must be some false rumour which they had heard. The people of Medina had accepted him as their leader and could not do CXXXV