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

168 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Imam Ahmad related it also from another line at great length; in that account
there are other interesting aspects. He stated that Yazid related to him that
Muhammad b. 'Amr narrated to hi, from his father, from his father 'Alqama
b. Waqqa~, who said, "'A'isha stated to me as follows, 'I was leaving on the day
of the battle of al-khandaq, following after our forces, when I heard the sound
of movement behind me. Then I saw it was Sa'd b. Musdh, accompanied by his
brother al-Hiwith b. Aws, carrying his child. I sat down on the ground and Sa'd
passed by, wearing an iron coat of mail from which his arms and legs protruded.
I was concerned about injury to these limbs of Sa'd; Sa'd was one of the greatest
and tallest of men. As he passed, he was speaking the verse,
"Remain awhile; let Hamal see the battle. How fine is
death when its time has come!"'"
She continued, '7 got up and ran into a garden. There I found a group of
Muslims; among them were Wmar b. al-Khar(i%b. One of the men had on a
subgha" (by which she meant a m~ghfar, a "helmet"). "Wmar asked, 'Why are
you here? I swear, you're bold! What's to protect you if some disaster should
happen or you got cut off?' He went on criticizing me until I wished the earth
would open to swallow me on the spot! Then the man lifted the helmet off his
face and I saw that it was Talha b. Whayd Allah. He commented, 'Hey, Wmar,
shame on you! You're overdoing it! From today on, whatever aligning or taking
refuge there is will be to God, Almighty and Glorious is He!"'
'A'isha went on, "Then a Quraysh man named Ibn al-'Ariqa shot at Sa'd,
saying, 'Take that! I'm Ibn alLCAriqa!' It struck and severed the main artery
in his arm. Sa'd then prayed, '0 God, do not make me die before you give me
satisfaction over Banii Qurayza!' These people had been his allies and colleagues
before Islam. Then his wound stopped bleeding and God sent the gale against
the polytheists and spared the believers engaging in battle; God is indeed
powerful, strong. Abii Sufym and his force then went to Tihma, while Wyayna
b. Badr and his force withdrew to Najd.
"Banii Qurayza then returned home and sought protection in their fortresses.
The Messenger of God (SAAS) returned to Medina where he ordered a leather
tent he set up in the mosque for Sa'd. Then Gabriel came, the folds of his
clothing covered with dust, and he said, 'Have yon put down your weapons,
then? By God, the angels haven't put down their weapons yet. Go forth and do
battle with Banii Quray~a!'
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) then put on his breast-plate and had it
announced that the men should prepare to depart for battle. He passed by Bana
Ghanam who were his neighbours close by the mosque. He asked them, 'Who
was it passed by you?' They replied, 'Dihya al-Kalbi went by.' Now Dihya
al-Kalhi was similar in beard, age and face to Gabriel, upon whom be peace.
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) proceeded on to Banii Qurayza and besieged
them for 25 days. When their suffering from the siege grew intense, a message