Then he would surely deceive them with his sorcery.
Then he would surely deceive them with his sorcery." Another man suggested: "We should rather expel him from our lands, and thus be free to serve our gods." Satan again said: "This view is even worse than the two preceding. This is because you are dealing with one who is of the fairest countenance, and the most eloquent of the Arabs. You shall only be sending him out to the desert dwellings of the Arabs that he may deceive them with his magic and eloquence.
You will not have long to wait until he overwhelms you with men and horses." Thus were they all bewildered. Finally they asked Satan: "What do you advise?" He answered: "The only way is that you bring one notable from every clan of the Quraysh; one man of the sons of Hashim should also be included. They should each take an iron bar or a sword and rush at him, dealing him altogether one single blow! Then would the responsibility of his blood fall on all the people of Quraysh.
The sons of Hashim would be unable to demand revenge for his blood, since they themselves would share in shedding it. Their only recourse would be to accept the blood price. Give them blood money for three - or even ten - men, if they so wish." Then with one voice, they all said: "The right opinion is that of the old man of Najd!
Abu Lahab suggested: "We should rather keep watch over him till the morning, then go in to attack him! " They thus spent the night around the Messenger of Allah's house. The Messenger of Allah asked that a bed be spread out for him. Then he said to `Ali: "O 'Ali, would you defend me with your own soul?" "Yes, O Messenger of Allah", he readily agreed.
The Prophet continued: "Sleep in my bed, and use my mantle as cover." 'Ali then slept in the bed of the Messenger of Allah and covered himself with his mantle. Gabriel came and said to the Messenger of Allah, "Depart!". The people gathered around the house, and seeing someone sleeping in his bed, they surmised that it was the Messenger of Allah.