Life-of-Muhammad

Life of Muhammad sa 169The Prophet sa was moved and said, "Habbar ra , if Godhas planted in your heart the love of Islam, how can Irefuse to forgive you? I forgive everything you have donebefore this."One cannot describe in detail the enormities thesemen had committed against Islam and Muslims. Yethow easily the Prophet sa forgave them! This spirit offorgiveness converted the most stone-heartedadversaries into devotees of the Prophet sa .BATTLE OF HUNAINThe Prophet's sa entry into Mecca was sudden. Tribesin the vicinity of Mecca, especially those in the south,remained unaware of the event until sometime later. Onhearing of it, they began to assemble their forces and toprepare for a fight with the Muslims. There were twoArab tribes, the Hawazin and the Thaqif, unusuallyproud of their valiant traditions. They took counseltogether and after some deliberation elected Malik ibn‘Auf as their leader. They then invited the tribes roundabout to join them. Among the tribes invited was theBanu Sa‘d. The Prophet's sa wet-nurse, Halima, belongedto this tribe and the Prophet sa as a child had livedamong them. Men of this tribe collected in force and setout towards Mecca taking with them their families andtheir effects. Asked why they had done so, they replied itwas in order that the soldiers might be reminded that, ifthey turned back and fled, their wives and childrenwould be taken prisoners and their effects looted—sostrong was their determination to fight and destroy theMuslims. This force descended in the valley of Rautasmost suitable base for a battle, with its natural shelters,abundance of fodder and water, and facilities for cavalrymovements. When the Prophet sa got to know of this, hesent ‘Abdullah bin Abi Hadwad ra to report on thesituation. ‘Abdullah reported that there were militaryconcentrations in the place and there was determination