Life-of-Muhammad

Life of Muhammad sa 147Soon after this historic circuit of the Ka‘ba, tworenowned generals of the enemy joined Islam. Theyproved renowned generals of Islam. One was Khalid binWalid ra whose genius and courage shook the RomanEmpire to its foundations and under whose generalshipcountry after country was added by Muslims to theirEmpire. The other was ‘Amr bin al-‘As ra , the conquerorof Egypt.BATTLE OF MAUTAOn return from the Ka‘ba, the Prophet sa began toreceive reports that Christian tribes on the Syrianborder, instigated by Jews and pagans, were preparingfor an attack upon Medina. He, therefore, despatched aparty of fifteen to find out the truth. They saw an armymassing on the Syrian border. Instead of returning atonce with the report they tarried. Their zeal forexpounding Islam got the better of them, but the effectof their well-meaning zeal proved to be the very oppositeof what they had wished and expected.Reviewing events now, we can see that those who,under enemy provocation, were planning to attack theProphet's sa homeland could be expected to behave in noother way. Instead of listening to the exposition, theytook out their bows and started raining arrows on thisparty of fifteen. The party, however, remained unmoved.They received arrows in reply to arguments, but they didnot turn back. They stood firm, fifteen againstthousands, and fell fighting.The Prophet sa planned an expedition to punish theSyrians for this wanton cruelty, but in the meantime hehad reports that the forces which had beenconcentrating on the border had dispersed. He,therefore, postponed his plans.The Prophet sa , however, wrote a letter to the Emperorof Rome (or to the Chief of the Ghassan tribe who ruledBusra in the name of Rome). In this letter, we may