112 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD"Abii Bakr answered, LIf you have heard of him who is the Messenger of God,
this is he here.'
"'We have heard,' Mafriiq answered, 'that he says he is.'
"He then turned to the Messenger of God (SAAS), and asked, 'What do you
propound, 0 Brother from Quraysh?'
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) then came forward and sat down, while
Abo Bakr arose and stood shading him with his cloak. The Messenger of God
(SAAS) then spoke, 'I call upon you to bear witness that there is no god but God
alone who has no associate, and that I am the Messenger of God. I ask you to
shelter and protect me until I can carry out what God has ordered me to do.
Quraysh have come out against God's commands and have denied His
Messenger. They have sided with wrong against right. But God is All-Powerful,
All-Praised.'
"'What else do you propound, 0 Quraysh brother?' he asked.
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) then recited to him, 'Say: Come! I shall
recite for you what it was your Lord forbad you: that you must not associate
another with Him, and that you must treat your parents with kindness' up to the
words 'That He enjoined upon you that you might he pious' (surat al-AnCzm;
VI, v.152-4).
"Mafriiq asked, 'And what else do you propound, 0 Quraysh hrother? I swear
these are not words of any earthly mortal; if they were, we would know them to
be.'
"Then the Messenger of God (SAAS) recited to them, 'God enjoins justice,
compassion and charity to your relatives. He forbids adultery, immorality and
oppression. He exhorts you so that you will take heed' (sprat al-NahI; XVI,
v.90).
"Mafriiq commented, 'I swear, Quraysh brother, you are certainly advocating
ethical conduct and good behaviour; and yet your people have denied, rejected
and opposed you.'
"Apparently Mafriiq wanted to involve Hani' b. Quhay~a in the discussion
and said, 'This is Hani' h. Qubayva, our sheikh and religious leader.'
"Hsni'said, 'I heard what you said, 0 Quraysh brother, and believed what you
said. I consider that our abandoning our religion and following you in yours
because of one meeting we are having with you which had neither introduction
nor follow-up, and without our giving it full consideration nor examining what
the consequences would be of what you suggest - that would be a lapse in judge-
ment, rashness and inadequate consideration for consequences. Lapse of judge-
ment only comes with haste. We have behind us a people for whom we should
be reluctant to make any pact. You should retire, as we should too; you should
think it over, as we should.'
"Apparently Mafriiq wanted also to involve al-Muthanna b. Hxitha in the
discussion, for he then said, 'This is al-Muthanus, our sheikh and military
leader.'