“I have left Muhammad and his men at Hamraul Asad and they...

“I have left Muhammad and his men at Hamraul Asad and they are in your pursuit and they are moving very fast and in a serious manner and Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) is about to reach here with the vanguard.” Abu Sufyan said: “Returning from here is cowardice and rebellion and those who rebel are never successful. Now when we have gained victory, if we return we would be defeated. Then Naeem bin Masud Ashjai passed them. Abu Sufyan asked where he was headed.

He said that he was going to Medina to purchase goats for his family. Abu Sufyan said: “If you pass by Hamraul Asad and you happen to meet Muhammad and his men, tell them that the chiefs of Arab tribes and their confederates have gathered in our support and make them terrified so that they may return to Medina. I will give ten camel loads of dates and raisins. Naeem accepted the offer and he reached Hamraul Asad the following day.

He asked the companions of the Prophet where they were headed and they said that they were in pursuit of Quraish. He said: “Go back, because all the confederates of Quraish who had not joined them in Uhud have gathered in their support; now very soon their vanguard is about to arrive you don’t stand a chance against them.” The Holy Prophet (S) said: “Allah is sufficient for us and how good a protector He is.