The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page cxc
GENERAL INTRODUCTION who later became a Muslim. It is said that whenever the murder of Khubaib was related in Sa'id's presence, he would go into a fit (Hishām). The second prisoner, Zaid, was also taken out to be murdered. Among the spectators was Abū Sufyan, chief of Mecca. Abū Sufyān turned to Zaid and asked, "Would you not rather have Muḥammad in your place? Would you not prefer to be safe at home while Muḥammad was in our hands?" Zaid replied proudly, "What, Abū Sufyān? What do you say? By God, I would rather die, than that the Prophet should tread on a thorn in a street in Medina. " Abu Sufyān could not help being impressed by such devotion. He looked at Zaid in amazement and declared unhesitatingly, but in measured tones, "God is my witness, I have not known anyone love another as much as the Companions of Muḥammad love Muḥammad" (Hishām, Vol. 2). About this time some people of Najd also approached the Prophet for Muslims to teach them Islam. The Prophet did not trust them. But Abū Barā', chief of the 'Amir tribe, happened to be in Medina at the time. He offered to act as surety for the tribe and assured the Prophet that they would commit no mischief. The Prophet selected seventy Muslims who knew the Quran by heart. When this party reached Bi'r Ma'ūnah one of them, Ḥarām bin Malḥān went to the chief of the ‘Amir tribe (a nephew of Bara') to give him the Message of Islam. Apparently Ḥarām was well received by the tribesmen. But while he was addressing the chief, a man stole up from behind and attacked Harām with a lance. Ḥarām died on the spot. As the lance pierced through Ḥarām's neck, he was heard saying, "God is the Greatest. The Lord of the Ka'bah is my witness, I have attained my goal" (Bukhārī). Having murdered Harām in this foul manner, the tribal leaders provoked the tribe into an attack upon the rest of this party of Muslim teachers. "But," said the tribesmen, "Our chief, Abū Barā', offered to act as surety; we cannot attack this party. " Then the tribal chiefs, with the assistance of the two tribes who had gone to the Prophet to ask for Muslim teachers and some other tribes, attacked the Muslim party. The simple appeal, "We have come to preach and to teach, not to fight," had no effect. They started murdering the party. All but three of the seventy were murdered. One of the survivors was lame and had climbed a hill before the encounter began. Two others had gone to a wood to feed their camels. On returning from the wood they found sixty-six of their companions lying dead on the field. The two counselled together. Said one, "We should go and make a report of this to the Holy Prophet. " Said the other, "I cannot leave a spot where the chief of our party, whom our Prophet appointed our leader, has been murdered. " So saying, he sprang single-handed upon the disbelievers and died fighting. The other was taken prisoner but was later released in fulfilment of a vow which the tribal chief had taken. The murdered party included 'Amir bin Fuhairah, a freedman of clxiv