324 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD"I captured Suhayl and I would not want for him any
prisoner from any other nation.
Khindif knows that, if injustice be done, Suhayl is the
man to charge.
I struck with a sharp sword until it bent, forcrng
myself on against that hare-lipped man."Ibn Ishaq stated, "Suhayl was a man who had a split lower lip."
He went on, "Muhammad h. 'Amr h. 'Aca', a hrother of the Bann 'Amr h.
Lu'ayy related to me, that Wmar b. al-Khacph said to the Messenger of God
(SAAS), 'Let me extract the two front teeth of Suhayl b. 'Amr, his tongue will
protrude and he will never speak ill of you again. The Messenger of God
(SAAS), said, 'I will not mutilate him, for if I did, God would mutilate me, even
though I am a prophet."'
I observe that this hadiih is incomplete in its line of authorities; indeed, it may
be defined as mu'dal, "problematic".
Ibn Ishaq stated, "I have been informed that the Messenger of God (SAAS)
said to Wmar about this, 'Maybe he will take a stand for which you will not
criticize him."'
I observe that this refers to the stand adopted in Mecca by Suhayl when, fol-
lowing the death of the Messenger of God (SAAS) some of the Arabs rebelled.
Hypocrisy arose in Medina and elsewhere, and Suhayl stood up and gave a pub-
lic address in Mecca in which he urged the people to remain firm in the true
hanifreligion. This will he related in its proper place.
Ihn Ishaq stated, "When Mikraz negotiated with them about Suhayl and ulti-
mately satisfied them, they said, 'Give us what is ours.' He replied, LTake me
hostage in his place and let hi go until he sends you his ransom money.' They
released Suhayl and kept Mikraz with them."
Ibn Ishaq quoted some poetry of Mikraz that Ibn Hish-m suggested might not
be authentic. But God knows best.
Ihn Ishnq stated, "'Abd Allah h. Aha Bakr related to me, saying, "Am h. Ahii
Sufyan Sakhr b. Harb was among the prisoners."'
Ibn Ishaq stated, "His mother was the daughter of Wqba h. Aba Mu'ic."
Ihn Hisham, however, said that his mother was Wqba's sister; and he added
that it was 'Ali b. Abii TSib who had captured him.
Ihn Ishaq stated, "'Ahd All& b. Ahn Bakr related to me, as follows, 'Aba
Sufyan was advised to ransom his son, 'Amr. He replied, "Shall blood and
money combine against me? They killed Hanzala, and shall I now ransom 'Amr?
Let him remain with them; they can keep him as long as they want!"'
"While he was thus imprisoned in Medina, Sa'd b. al-Nu'mw b. Akknl, a
hrother of the Bana 'Am b. CAwf and also related to the Bann Muqwiya, went
forth on pilgrimage, accompanied by his young wife. He was elderly and a
Muslim and had sheep at al-Baqic. He left for there on pilgrimage with no idea
he would he imprisoned at Mecca, since he was a pilgrim; Quraysh only ever