Muslim losses in the battle of Mu'tah in north Arabia - in...

Muslim losses in the battle of Mu'tah in north Arabia - in today's Jordan - encouraged the Quraysh to stir up unrest in the land and break the treaty that they had signed with the Messenger of Allah at Hodaybiyah. They began to distribute weapons to their allies and urged them to attack the allies of the Muslims at night, in breach of the peace treaty they had with the Muslims. The Messenger of Allah left Medina on a Friday in the month of Ramadan in the eighth year of the Hijrah.

He took with him all the Muslim troops which numbered ten thousand and nearly four hundred horsemen. Then the Messenger of Allah proceeded until he arrived at Marr al-Dhahran, the heights of Mecca, in the evening. He ordered his companions to light more than ten thousand fires. News of his progress had been kept hidden from the Quraysh who were concerned and feared that he might attack them.

It is reported that Abu Sufyan, the Prophet's archenemy, was saying: 'I have never seen such fires as last night nor such a camp.' He said: 'What is the news and what are all these fires?' The narrator responded to him: 'The news is that the Messenger of Allah has arrived here.

He has come with a force you cannot resist; with ten thousand of the Muslims.' Abu Sufyan said: 'What is to be done?' I said: 'By Allah, if he defeats you he will surely strike your head off so ride this donkey with me so that I can take you to the Messenger of Allah and I will ask him for an amnesty for you.' So he rode behind me.

It is related that Ali ibn Abu Talib said to Abu Sufyan ibn al- Harith: 'Go to the Messenger of Allah and say to him what Joseph's brothers said to Joseph: e By Allah, Allah has preferred you over us and we have certainly been sinful f6 Then the Messenger of Allah said in answer to him and seeking to best him in speech: e He said: Let there be no reproach upon you this day. Allah will forgive you and he is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy f7 6 The Holy Qur'an: Joseph (12): 91.

7 The Holy Qur'an: Joseph (12): 92. The banner of the Muslims was with Sa'ad ibn 'Ibadah and when he passed by Abu Sufyan he said to him: 'Today is the day of slaughter, today the women will be captured'.