The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 3 of 4

IM&M ABO AL-FID~' ISMA'IL IBN KATHfR 99
killed. 'Amr was taken prisoner, hut when he told them he was of Banii Mudar,
'Amir b. al-Tufayl released him, after cutting off his forelock. It is claimed that
he let him go because of a pledge his mother had made.
'"'Amr then left, travelling on till he reached al-Qarqara, before Qanat; there
he was met by two men of Bann 'Amir, who made a halt at the shady place where
he had stopped. The two 'Amir men had made a pact of peace and protection
with the Messenger of God (SAAS), of which 'Amr h. Umayya was unaware.
When the two men dismounted, 'Amr asked them who they were and they
replied that they were of Bann 'Amir. He left them alone until they were asleep
and then he attacked and kidled them, believing that by doing so he was takmg
revenge against their tribe for the attack they had made against the Companions
of the Messenger of God (SAAS).
"'When 'Amr h. Umayya reached the Messenger of God (SAAS), however,
and told him the news, the latter told hi, "You have killed two men for whom
I must pay the bloodwit." He then went on to comment, "This must he the work
of Abn Barn); I was reluctant and apprehensive about this."
"'When news of it reached Aba Bar%), he was very upset at how 'Amir b.
al-Tufayl had betrayed him, and at what had befallen the men of the Messenger
of God (SAAS) because of hi and while under his own protection.
'"Hassnu h. Thahit spoke the following verses about 'Amir's betrayal of Ahn
Barn) and to incite the latter's tribe against 'Amir,
"0 tribe of Umm al-Banin, does it not distress you,
fine men of Najd,
That 'Amir has treated Aba Bd' with scorn in
betraying him?
And making a mistake is not the same as acting
deliberately.
Won't you ask Rabi'a, a man of deeds, 'What things have
you accomplished after I left you?
Your father, Abii Bars", is a man of war, while your
uncle Hakam b. Sa'd is a nobleman."'"'
Ibn Hishm stated, "The Umm al-Banin referred to was Abn BarP's mother;
she was the daughter of 'Amr h. 'Amir b. Rabic3 b. 'Amir h. Sa$a%.
"Rabi'a b. 'Amir h. Mdik attacked 'Amir h. al-Tufayl and pierced him in the
thigh, but not fatally, though he did fall from his horse. 'Amir then said, 'This is
the work of Abii Bar%). If I die, I award my blood to my uncle, and he is not to
he pursued for it (in revenge). If I live, I will later decide what to do."'
Mnsn b. Wqha recounted from al-Zuhri in approximately the same words as
those of Muhammad b. Ishq. He also stated that the leader of the Muslim party
was al-Mundhii h. 'Amr; he is also said to have been Marthad b. Ahn Marthad.
Hassa b. Thahit spoke the following verses eulogizing those killed at Bi'r
Macnna; at least, that is what Ibn IsNq stated, may God be pleased with hi.
However, God knows best: