The Prophetic Method

THE PROPHETIC METHOD in the face of the enemy, they realized that God’s help was with him. Their flagging spirits were rekindled, and they returned with a new determination to the field of battle. So unbounded was their new-found enthusiasm that they would not even wait for their floundering camels to turn around: they jumped off the backs of their mounts and ran back to the battlefield on foot. Suddenly the course of the battle changed. Now it was the enemy’s turn to take flight. The Muslims won the day, along with booty amounting to 24,000 camels, 40,000 goats and 40,000 ounces of silver. They also took some 6,000 prisoners. Despite this victory, the situation continued to deteriorate. The Thaqif were the second most prominent tribe in the whole of Arabia. They also owned the only fortified town on the peninsula. They were now besieged in Ta’if, but during the three weeks of sieges, they inflicted more losses on the Muslims than they had received at Hunayn. Moreover, their opposition to Islam was so deep-rooted that when one of their number, ‘Urwah ibn Mas’ud Thaqafi—who was reputed to be “dearer to his people than sweet maidens”— came to the Prophet and accepted Islam, they forgot their previous affection for him, and cruelly riddled him with arrows. Once again, the Prophet’s inner strength came to his rescue. As the siege was tightened, ‘Umar asked the Prophet to pray for the destruction of the people of Ta’if; instead, the Prophet prayed for their guidance. He was entirely free of anger and prejudice in this treatment of them. Finally,