The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISM~\'~L IBN KATH~R 255
stayed behind now, except for Abii Lahab b. 'Abd al-Muttalib; he sent al-'Asi b.
al-Mughira in his place. He hired him for a debt of 4,000 dirhams al-'&i owed
him that he could not pay."
Ibn Ishaq stated, "Ibn Abn Najih related to me that Umayya b. Khalaf had made
up his mind to stay behind; he was a dignified old sheikh, tall and portly. 'Uqba
b. Abii Muby< came up to him, while he was sitting there in the mosque with
some of his family, carrying a censer with lit scented embers which he placed
before him, saying, 'Here, Abn 'Ali, enjoy the perfume! You're just a woman!'
"Umayya responded, 'God damn you, and what you bring!' He then got himself
ready and left with the others."
This, then, is the anecdote as given by Ibn Ishaq. M-Bukhm told it quite differently.
He stated, "Ahmad b. 'Uthman related to me, quoting Shurayh b.
Maslama, quoting &%him b. Ynsuf, from his father, from Aba Ishaq quoting
'Amr h. Maymiin, that he heard 'Abd Allah b. Mascad relate the following from
Sacd b. MuCadh. Sa'd recounted that he was a friend of Umayya b. Khalaf and
that when Umayya visited Medina he would stay with him, just as Sa'd would
stay with Umayya when he came to Mecca.
"After the Messenger of God (SAAS) had moved to Medina, Sa'd went to
stay with Umayya in Mecca while performing the Cumra, the 'lesser pilgrimage'.
Sa'd asked Umayya, 'Would you look out for me some time when it's empty
there and I can circumambulate the ka'ba?' Umayya accompanied him forth at
close to midday, but they were met by Aba Jahl, who said, '(Abii) Safwm, who
is this with you?' He replied, 'This is Sacd.' Aha Jahl said (to Sa'd) 'What's this?
Do I really see you going in safety around Mecca when you've given shelter to
the Sabians and proclaimed your help and protection for them? I swear, if you
weren't in the company of Abii Safwan you'd not return home safely!'
"Sag replied, raising his voice, 'If you were to block my way here I'd do worse
to you by blocking yours to Medina!'
"Umayya asked him, 'Sacd, don't raise your voice to Abij al-Hakam; he is the
leader of our valley.'
"Sacd responded, 'Let's talk no more of it; and, I swear, I've heard the
Messenger of God (SAAS) say that they are going to kill you!' Umayya asked,
'In Mecca?' Sag replied, 'I don't know.'
"Umayya was very much afraid at this.
"When he returned home he asked his wife, 'Umm Safwm, do you know what
Sag told me?' 'What did he say?' she asked. 'He claims that Muhammad told
them they would kill me! I asked him whether in Mecca, and he said he didn't
know. So, I swear, I'm not leaving Mecca,' Umayya told her.
"When the day of the battle of Badr arrived, Abn Jahl assembled the Meccan
force by asking them to save their caravan. Umayya did not want to go to battle,
but Abn Jahl'came to him and said, 'Aba Safwzn, when people see that you are
staying behind, you, one of the valley leaders, they will remain with you.'