Bring us back whatever news of the Quraysh may reach you.

Bring us back whatever news of the Quraysh may reach you.” `Abdullah exclaimed before his , after having read the letter, “I hear and obey! Let any one of you desiring martyrdom set out with me.” The people accompanied him until they reached Nakhlah. A man called `Amr ibn al­-Hadrami passed by them with al‑Hakam ibn Kaysan, and `Uthman and al‑Mughirah ‑ the two sons of `Abdullah ‑carrying goods which they had bought in at‑Ta'if: raisins and condiments.

When the people saw them, Waqid ibn `Abdillah came forth and stood before them. He had pre­viously cut his hair (which was a sign of entering into, or being released from, the state of consecration). Thus `Amr and his said to one another: “These men are here to perform the lesser pilgrimage; you have nothing to fear from them.” The of the Apostle of Allah consulted among themselves ‑ it being the last day of Rajab ‑ saying: “If you kill them, you would have killed during a sacred month.

Yet if you were to let them go, they would enter Mecca tonight and would be well protected against you.” They thus agreed to kill them. Waqid ibn `Abdillah shot `Amr ibn al‑Hadrami with an arrow and killed him. `Uth­man ibn `Abdillah and al‑Hakam ibn Kaysan requested and obtained a pact of security. As for al‑Mughirah, he escaped, and they were unable to capture him. `Abdullah ibn Jahsh and his brought the camels and the two captives to the Apostle of Allah.

He said to them: “By Allah, I did not command you to engage in any fighting during the sacred month! ” He then withheld the two captives and the camel loads, and did not touch them. The people themselves were filled with remorse. This is because they thought that they would perish with their transgression.

The people of Quraysh also reproached the Muslims saying: “Muhammad has violated the sanctity of the sacred month.” Allah, therefore, sent down the verse: They ask you concerning the sacred month, shall there be fighting in it? . . . (Qur'an 2:217) . When this verse was revealed, the Messenger of Allah accepted the goods and the ransom of the two captives.

The Muslims said: “We can never hope for the reward in the hereafter for this battle, but only for the material reward of the booty.” Thus Allah sent down to console them: Those who have accepted faith and have migrated. . . until He says: such are those who hope in Allah's mercy ( Q ur'an 2 218 ) . This event took place two months before the Battle of Badr.