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

500 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
Abii Da'iid is alone in giving this. Ihn Majah also related it, from a hadith of
Ibn Khuthaym, from Aba al-Tufayl, from Ibn 'Abhas, hut in abbreviated form.
Imam Ahmad stated that it was related to him by Yahya h. Sa'id, from Ibn
Jurayj, who said that al-Hasan b. Muslim related to him, from Tawus, that Ibn
'Ahh% informed him that Mu'awiya told h i, "I missed the Messenger of God
(SAAS) with an arrow head." Or else the words he spoke were, "I saw him
missed by an iron arrowhead (shot at him) at al-Marwa."
Both authors of the sahib collections gave it from a hadith of Ibn Jurayj. Muslim
also related it, from a hadith of Sufyan b. Wyayna, from Hisham b. Hujayr, from
Tams, from Ihn 'Abbns, from Mu'awiya.
Abii D2'tid and al-Nasa'i also related it from a hadith of 'Abd al-Razzaq, from
Ma'mar, from Ibn Tawus, from his father.
'Ahd All& b. al-Imam Ahmad stated that it was related to him by 'Amr b.
Muhammad al-Naqid, quoting Abii Ahmad al-Zubayri, quoting Sufyan, from
Ja'far b. Muhammad, from his father, from Ibn 'Abb%, from Mu'awiya, who
said, "I missed (the arrow I fired at the) head of the Messenger of God (SAAS)
at al-Marwa."
What is implied above is that it is inferred that this was at the 'umra from
al-Ji'rma.
This is because on the 'umra at al-Hudaybiyya, he did not enter Mecca but
was prevented from so doing, as has been explained heretofore. Regarding the
'umrat al-yadz', Abii Sufyan had not yet accepted Islam and none of the Meccans
remained there when the Messenger of God (SAAS) entered it, having preferred
to leave for that three-day period of his stay. As for the 'umra that was performed
in conjunction with his hay; it is unanimously accepted that he did not free himself
thereof. And so it is obvious that the mistake committed by Mu'awiya, son of
Abii Sufym, may God he pleased with them both, when he shot close to the head
of the Messenger of God (SAAS) at al-Marwa, could only have occurred during
the 'umra from al-Ji'rzna, as we have stated. But God, Ahnighty is He, knows best.
Muhammad h. Ishaq, may God have mercy upon him, stated, "The Messenger
of God (SAAS) then left al-Ji'rma to perform the 'umra and gave orders that
the battle spoils be kept at Majanna, near Marr al-Zahmn."
I observe that it is clear that the Messenger of God (SAAS) had retained some
of the spoils to employ it to gain goodwill with those bedouin he might meet
between Mecca and Medina.
Ihn Ishaq went on, "When the Messenger of God (SAAS) had completed
this 'umra he headed back to Medina, leaving 'Attab b. Asid as his deputy over
Mecca. He also left with him Musdh b. Jabal to instruct the people in the faith
and to teach them the Qur'an."
Wrwa and Miisa h. Wqba relate that the Messenger of God (SAAS) had left
Mu'adh and 'Attab as his deputies in Mecca before he had gone out to battle
Hawzzin, and then reappointed them when he returned to Medina.