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

146 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
have no intent to take blood-money for him. And we will not prevent you from
burying him."
Yiinus b. Bnkayr quoted Ibn Ishaq as stating, "Nawfal b. 'Abd All& b.
al-Mughira al-Makhziimi came forth and made a challenge for combat. Al-Zubayr
accepted and went out to battle hi, striking him so hard that he split him in
two and badly dented his sword. He then left, reciting the lime,
'I'm a man who protects and defends the Prophet, the
chosen one, al-ummi", the untutored."'
Ihn Jarir stated that when Nawfal became trapped in the trench, the Muslims
began hurling rocks at him. So be said, "A death better than this, I pray you,
fellow Arabs!'' At that 'Ali went down and killed him. The polytheists then
asked the Messenger of God (SAAS) for his body, offering a price for it. But
he refused to take anything from them and allowed them to remove it.
This hadith is to be categorized as ghalib, "unilateral", from two sources.
Al-Bayhaqi narrated through Hammad b. Yazid, from Hishiim b. Wrwa, from
his father, from 'Abd All& b. al-Zubayr, who said, "At the battle of al-khandaq,
I was put in the fortress with the women and children. With me was Wmar b.
Aba Salama, who would bend over so that I could get on his back and observe.
I saw my father charging fust here, then there, attacking everything that came
before hi. That evening he joined us in the fortress, and I commented to hi,
'Father, I watched what you did today!' He responded, 'So you saw me, son!'
'Yes,' I affirmed. 'Well, may my father and mother be your ransom!"'
Ibn Ishnq stated, "Abti Layla, that is 'Abd All& b. Sahl b. 'Abd al-Rahmzn
b. Sahl al-Ansai, brother of Banii Hnritha, related to me that 'A'isha, mother
of the faithful, was in the fort of Banii Haritha, one of the most secure of the
Medina forts, during the battle of al-khandaq. Umm Sa'd b. Mu$dh was with
her there. 'A'isha said, That was before the veil was imposed on us. Sa'd passed
by wearing armour so small that his whole arm was exposed. He was carrying a
spear and as he brandished it, he would 011 out,
"Stay awhile and let Hamal watch the fight
There's no harm in death when the time is right!"'
'His mother called out to him, '"Hurry along, son! By God, you're late already!''
I commented to her, "Umm Sa'd, I just wish Sa'd's armour was larger." I was
afraid he would be struck in those very places; and indeed an arrow was shot at
Sa'd b. Mucadh that severed the artery of his arm."'
Ibn Ishaq went on, "'A~im b. Wmar b. Qatada told me, 'It was Hibban b. Qays
b. al-'Ariqa of Banti 'Amir b. Lu'ayy who shot at him and when the arrow struck,
36. This adjective has been the subject of much study. Some consider it to refer to someone
coming from Mecca, known as the U rn al-Qura, "the mother of all cities". Others interpret it to
mean unlettered, untutored and therefore a reference to the miraculous nature of the Qur'zn and
the impossibility of its having been composed by someone who lacked education.