THE CRIME OF ABU SOFYÂN, AND THE GOING OF THE IGNORANT BEHRÂN TO MADINAH WITH THE INTENTION TO KILL THE PROPHET OF THE LATTER DAYS — UPON HIM AND HIS FAMILY BE THE BLESSING OF ALLAH!

Historians and chroniclers narrate that, after Abu Sofyân had returned from the war of the ditch, he said to a number of men: ‘Is there anyone among you who will go to Madinah, will find an opportunity, and will avenge us upon Muhammad, who is walking about alone in the bazârs, and is so intent on promulging his apostolate that he cares neither for friend nor foe.’ These words having been over­heard by an Arab [of the desert], he betook himself to the house of Abu Sofyân, and privately said to him: ‘If thou wilt support me, I shall do the business of Muhammad. I am well acquainted with the roads, have an excellent sharp dirk, and fear no one.’ Abu Sofyân was glad, approved of his intention, provided him with food and with a camel, saying: ‘Thou art not to divulge this secret to anyone.’ The Arab replied: ‘Be secure on that score; for no one except myself and thee shall know anything on this sub­ject.’ The Arab accordingly started one night from Mekkah, and, after traversing the distance, arrived in a short time in Madinah, where he made inquiries about his lordship the apostle, and, being told that he was in the tribe Bani A’bdu-l-ashhal, he immediately tied up his camel and started on foot in search of the apostle of God. At the time the said Arab had reached his place of destination, his lordship the refuge of termination—u. w. b.—happened to be sitting with a number of his companions, engaged in conversation, at the gate of the mosque. When his blessed vision alighted on the envoy of Abu Sofyân, he said: ‘This individual meditates treachery; but Divine grace intervenes between him and me.’ When that fellow came nearer, he asked: ‘Who among you is the son of A’bd-ul-Muttalleb?’ His lordship replied: ‘I am the son of A’bd-ul-Muttalleb.’ The Arab then immediately approached the apostle of God like a man intent to speak to some one; but Asyd B. Khadzyr pulled him up, saying: ‘Be off from the apostle of God, thou accursed fellow!’ And, laying his hand upon the Arab’s girdle, he felt a dirk under the robe. He accordingly exclaimed: ‘O apostle of God, this is a traitor!’ The Arab thereon, falling at the feet of Asyd, said: ‘Grant me my life.’ The latter, however, held him fast, and his holy and prophetic lordship—u. w. b.—turning to the Arab, said: ‘Tell the truth. Who art thou, and what business hast thou come for? Thy veracity will be of advantage to thee if thou speakest the truth, but in the contrary case God the Most High Himself will inform me of thy inten­tions.’ The Arab asked for quarter, and on receiving it stated his case; whereon he was, at a signal of his holy and prophetic lordship, imprisoned by Asyd. The next day the apostle of God called for the Arab, and said to him: ‘I give thee liberty to depart whenever thou listest; for, verily, thou canst do a better thing than this [attempt at my life].’ The Arab asked: ‘What thing is it?’ The lord of existences replied: ‘It is to bear witness to the unity of God, and to believe in my apostolate.’ The Arab then exclaimed: ‘I testify that there is no God but Allah, and I testify that thou art the apostle of Allah. I never feared anyone, and dreaded not sharp scimitars; but when I beheld thee my intellect failed me, and my soul was over­powered by weakness. Thou hast guessed my intention, whereas no one except myself and Abu Sofyân had knowledge of the secret. I knew not that the Bountiful Sovereign is inspiring and guarding thee; but the amity of Abu Sofyân is the amity of Satan.’ After the Arab had uttered these words, his lordship smiled; the former tarried a few days, and then asked leave to depart. His request having been complied with, he left Madinah. As, however, Abu Sofyân’s criminal attempt had been renewed, his holy and prophetic lordship—u. w. b.—commanded A’mru B. Ommyah Dhomairi and Sollâm B. Moslamah to go to Mekkah to watch their opportunity, and to assassinate Abu Sofyân B. Harb. Accordingly they started for the sanctuary [of Mekkah], and reached their destination after duly tra­versing the distance. Whilst, however, they happened to be circumambulating the house of the Ka’bah, an idolater recognised them, and shouted: ‘O inhabitants of Mekkah, here is A’mru B. Ommyah! Be on your guard against him!’ A’mru says: ‘When the people of Mekkah saw us, we departed. Ebn Moslamah mounted his camel and fled towards Madinah, whilst I hastened to the mountains. On that occasion O’thmân B. Mâlek encountered me, but I struck his breast with my poniard, and he shouted so loudly that all the people of Mekkah heard his voice. The atten­tion of the inhabitants being concentrated upon him, they ceased to search for me, and I made use of the opportunity to hide myself in a cave, and then in another, where I saw a one-eyed man, who had led his sheep from the meridian sun into the shade. As he was reclining I heard him utter the words: “I shall not become a Moslem as long as I live; nor is the religion of the Musalmâns a good religion.” He also spoke insulting words concerning the apostle; but I waited till he had fallen asleep, and then pressed one extremity of my bow on his sound eye, and I pressed it so strongly that it entered his brains. When I left the cave I met two Qoraish spies, one of whom I shot with an arrow so that he went to hell, and the other ran away. Both of us arrived safely, and we were honoured by being allowed to kiss the feet of the apostle of God.’ When Abu Sofyân became aware of what had taken place, he took great pre­cautions to preserve his life.